Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-02-24

!
were available. two temporary loans OF
81. 900 each had to be negotiated. The
emergencies which have arisen during the
wear have made it impossible to redeem
this temporary loan in full. payment
of g. GOO has been made on it, and in ad-
/ dition to this, two bonds of 800 each and
one old note of 500 have been paid Thus
the interest bearing debt OF the city has
been increased Just $500.
How has the money been expendeds
One contingency which could not be
| foreseen was the expense of fighting
forest fires. The fires within the city
limits this year cost upwards of 5000.
The city expects to get some of that back
from the Maine Central railroad, which, 1t
is alleged, caused many of the fires. though
it probably will be necessary to bring suit
to do so.
We were under obligation this year to
build the new shore road on the east side
of Leonard lake. When the democratic
administration last year drew up its
agreement with the Bar Harbor & Union
River Power Co., on an estimate that both
roads would cost $500 to build, OF which
the city would pay half and the power
company half, the proposition was made
to give or take 1890 and build the roads.
The city took the 1880 and assumed the
obligation to build the roads.
This pretty piece of politics on the part
of the democratic administration i'm
proved their financial showing last year
by $500, but will eventually cost the city
some 5000. The present administration
has completed but one road this year, at a
cost of q, 100 in additionito what had al
ready been laid out.
The two roads will cost close to 5000.
instead OF the estimated $500. Had the
democratic city government paid to the
power company 81 900 instead Of grabbing
that amount to improve its financial show
ing, both roads would now have been
completed, instead of only one, and at a
cost to the city OF s., 800, instead of some
$1,000 which they will cost the city over
and above the 8, 900 paid by the power
company.
The street and sidewalk appropriations
have been overrun about s., 600. The high
ways and sidewalks were found in poor
condition, and expenses for ordinary and
necessary repairs were unusually heavy.
In addition, permanent improvement has
been made by the laying of crushed rock
in Blacks hollow on the Surry road, on
Hancock street, Water street and at Els
worth Falls, and the laying of crushed
rock sidewaiks-a policy which, if pur-
sued, will eventually result in a saving to
the city.
The appropriations for the common
schools, text books and schoolhouses have
ell been overdrawn. The schoolhouse
fund, with an appropriation of $500 and a
balance from last year of s232.s1, has been
overdrawn sl5OS; the textbook fund,
with an appropriation of 800 and bal
snce of s155.66, has been overdrawn sl5 IS;
the school fund, with an appropriation OF
$500 and balance of s6s2.5S, has been
overdrawn s72632, making total Of s7s6. IS
overdrawn in this department. The school
board, by the way, was democratic this
year.
The State road fund has also been over
drawn. The city made only the appropri-
alton required by law to secure State aid,
but the mistake was made of laying out too
much road to be built under the stringent
requirements of the State highway de-
partnent. The State road has already
cost some 500 more than the estimate and
appropriation, and will cost perhaps $500
more to complete.
Collector John II. Bresnahan has made
good showing in collection of taxes, in
spite of the hard year. He has collected
of the 1908 tax a3,14o.s7, which is some
5000 above the so per cent. of the total
commitment as required by his contract
to be collected before the close OF the fiscal
year.
There remains OF the 1907 tax s6o2. 20
uncoliected. Under his contract, Coll
lector Foster should have cleaned up all
the 1907 tax at the end of this fiscal year.
but he has been given further time by the
city government.
The above figures and statements merely
emphasize what we have already said:
That strict economy and careful guardian