The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-03-19

one-half or less what new engine would
cost, and be practically just as good for our
purpose.
hose has been placed in charge of W. II.
| Clifford on NOrthpOrt avenue, for the pro-
lection of property in that vicinity.
| A new hose wagon and extension OF nre
alarm to hose room and houses OF Seaside
hose company adds materially to the eff1c-
iency of this company.
I helieye that the personnel of our fire
department is of the highest and most ef-
| ficient character, and that il our hremen are
given effective fire fighting apparatus they
cannot be excelled as fire fighters Their
indignant protest when assailed for political
effect met the approval of every fair-minded
citizen.
The superintendent of schools reports
| that they were never in better condition, or
| the teachers more capable and efficient
| while the percentage of attendance is very
| high. This department is still hampered by
| crowded rooms, poor ventilation, etc, ana
this condition must continue until the ola
| buildings can be replaced by a modern
school building.
| The conditions that seem at present to
prevent the erection of desirable building
are so well known to our citizens that 1t is
unnecessary to explain them here.
Ii any feasible plan can be devised by
w LlCu lLo City Call piOCul uloo oio oSiloot
| building without waiting, L feel assured
F, you will gladly render your assistance.
The status of the city's Interest IN the
| Peirce Block has been definitely ascertalned
| through exhaustive written opinions by
Hon. William P. Thompson and Hon. Her
| bert NJ Heath. These opinions demonstrate
beyond doubt that the proceeds from the
| Peirce Block will he available when Mr..
Frederick arrives at the age of 55.
Shorn of all sophistry and evasion, the
city's interests are made very clear by the
| legal opinions referred to.
| Good legal talent believes that with MIR.
Frederick's consent, matters could be ar
J ranged by order of the court in way that
would not cost MIR. Frederick cent, or
jeopardize his interests in the least, and
still permit the city to utilize its interests IN
the Block, in procuring an up-to date school
| building within comparatively short time.
| L find that our educational department.
has expended in 1907 7-OS, ST., ,467. "A as against
| $14,S31 IS in 19O5-O6, and $14,94067 in
19O6-O7.
| The appropriation last year was ST. ,13O
larger than in 1906. This additional amount
was appropriated to meet what appeared to
be the urgent needs of the school depart
ment, one of which was stated to be due to
| the fact that the February pay roll for
teachers in 1907 and also in 1908 would have
to be provided for. This condition of pay
ment of two February accounts in the same
1 y
This department also received 1867 53
more bank and mill tax from the State than
| in 1906, and $S6.S3 increase from superin-
tendent, tuition, etc. In addition to these
extra amounts, the Board has OverdraWn
$401.17 For more definite information as
| to their expenditure, would refer you to
| the committees report.
! The requirements of the school board
| seem to Call for increasing amounts year by
year, and while this department should not
be hampered for lack of necessary funds, it
should, like other departments, be kept
within as economical bounds as possible
| without hindering its efficiency.
| The teachers in some grades are right
| fully complaining that they are not recev-
ing adequate remuneration, and If possible,
F., something should be done in the way of a
| reasonable increase of salary in such cases.
| But little permanent improvement. on
school buildings is anticipated at the pres
ent time, as it is generally conceded that
any large outlay of money on the buildings,
in what was formerly known as the Cen
| tral District, would be largely wasted, and
! good business would seem to indicate that
| all we can do is to keep them in as safe and
comfortable condition as possible until they
can be torn down and replaced by a modern
| school building.
| l would recommend that appropriations
| for this Department should be neither
niggardly nor in excess of the actual needs.
| CITY PARK.
| Last spring we found the city with a
| Park in which the improvement Society
I had made some improvements, but without
/ any approved Park plan for continuing the
| work of beautifying the Park.
Acting in conjunction with the Improve
ment Society, and at very small expense to
/ the tax payers, satisfactory Park plan
was procured, and aided by public-spirited
! citizens, the work OF improvement has gone
| rapidly forward.
| The main entrance has been widened and
! graded, entire front graded and filled with
/ shrub border, side foot walks graded, a
portion of the streets widened, a large num-
ber of trees and shrubs set, City Govern
ment Grove planted, water piped entire
moved and installed, an artistic spring
house promised by MIR. and Mrs. Shea, an
ornamental gateway at main entrance
promised by Mr.. and Mrs. Cobe of Chicago.
| Work on the Park should not be permit
ted to lag, and it can be carried forward
| largely by gifts from philosophical citi-
| izens until we have Park that will be a
| very attractive feature.
The Park needs d large pavilion, also a
| dam by which fresh water pond may be
formed, an Administration Building where
! Park officials and others interested can
hold meetings, more trees and shrubs, the
| completion of streets, etc.
The plank walk in front of Park should
be removed and crushed rock walk should
take its place.
The City Government deemed it expedi-
ent to abolish the Board of Park Commits
| sioners, and enacted an ordinance creating
| a Park Superintendent. competent Park
Superintendent who can give the Park
proper attention during the spring and
summer months should be elected and. |
would suggest that his compensation be
fixed at $40 per day for the time he is ac-
tually employed at the Park.
/ would recommend that small apprO-
priatiOn of not exceeding $500, be made
for the Park and that the care Of the Park
streets be included in the Highway De-
| partment of the city, as the work can be
| done much more economically by our Street
| Department than ii performed separately.
With the Park streets once in good cOndl-
| ton, the expense of keeping them in repair
| will amount to but very little.
| l would suggest that there be two Park
Days appointed for the setting of trees and
| shrubs, one at an early date for deciduOus
| trees, and one later for evergreens, and
| that the citizens be invited to donate trees
| or their equivelant in money.
OUR WATER CONTRACT.
! The Water Company has never fulfilled
| the requirements of its contract with the
city, and has willfully and persistently con-
tinued to disregard the city's rights.
| The contract provides that at the eXpir-
alton of 20 years the city should have free
hydrant service ON the original hydrants,
and November 80, 1907, rental on fifty hy-
drants amounting to $1,000 per year, ceased.
Other hydrants have been Installed from