Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-16

! fnents fulfilled as rapidly as the outlay
IS warranted. An advance in this di-
rection would lie a guarantee of health
and comfort l believe that from $5O(
to $1,000 should be expended the coming
| year IN the sections where sewer con-
| hectlon is most urgently needed.
| The Fire department l believe to be
well equipped mechanically and nc
| large outlay seems to be necessary
| Some new hose will need to be pur-
chased but otherwise there appears to
be no outlay required beyond some or
! binary repairs to the buildings of the
| department
The collection of taxes under the
present system has proved most salts
| factory and effects saving and con-
Nenience of some consequence to the
| city. The present collector has made
an enviable showing during his term
OF the Office aid l should hold it to be
| wise policy to retain his services as
| lorg as possible.
| Our schools are found to be in q
| thriving aid wholesome condition, and
| under the faithful supervision of Mr..
Turner can be relied upon to retain
| tfls gratifying position. | apprehend
no demand for any physical change in
| The school houses unless there Shout /
| Ce call for more efficient fire escapes.
The High school under the, as Yer.
brief principalshp of Mr.. Conant, has
shown marked improvement in disci-
| pine and the educational standard has
been well maintained.
There should he an official appoint
| Cd to have charge of the trees on the
parks ard streets of the city. Under
the title of tree warden he should be
required to examine the trees and take
measures to remedy defects and
| restore them to a healthy condition.
Many of the trees have become dis
eaSed through exposure and neglect
and further inattention viii only has
ten their ultimate decay. Our shade
trees are a heritage from former gener-
ations, and our duty demands that
their health and utility be transmitted
to future admiration a few hundred
dollars expended the first year may be
required, but the annual expense there
after would be but a triflng amount.
The growing interest in and need of
systematic forestry should be sufficient
reason for the protection of our trees
and | would advocate further the
planting of shade trees in all suitable
localities. fully believing that such
action would prove to be profitable and
beneficial.
Our board of trade, While not an
integral part OF our government. yet
has a most intomate relation to our
prosperity and progress, and the bene-
fits secured by the efforts of it's men,
bers cannot be too highly estimated
The fact that SO much industry and
population has been retained in Gardi
ner instead of being drawn to other
cities, is owing almost entirely to the
devotion of the board of trade. and
every means should be placed at its
disposal which may lead to further in
dustrial progress.
The electric road entering our city
from Lewiston hahs opened Il new era
in our transportation facilities. To
what extent the new line may aid or
detract from our prOSperity& has not
been demonstrated at this early day.
but every increased facility breeds
more business. while there is every
reason to expect more visitors and
more traffic from every new enterprise
of this nature. The removal of snow
from Water street in conjunction with
the Railway company has had d
marked effect upon the appearance OF
our principal thorOughfare.
The report of the trustees of the
Gardiner Water district deserves more
than passing mention, both for the
important relation the water supply
bears to the health, convenience and
protection OF our people but also for
the cOmmendahle administration of its
affairs by the trustees. a large outlay
has been necessary during the past
two years for substantial repairs and
installations. but besides meeting tn"
extraordinary expense incurred there
by there has been effected the retire
ment of bonds to the extent of $1,000
on the date of the report. Jan. 1, 1903,
and since that date $4,000 more Of
bonds have been purchased, leaving
bonds outstanding to the amount Of
$232. 800 These results surely indicate
a prosperous condition and the Ger
tainty of the cancellation of all the
bonds at an earlier date than was
considered probable at the time the
system was taken over by the Water
district. / mere uouDlitSS VIII w "
uuirement at some time in the future
for more development and construc-
ton, but there is no uncertainty about
its accomplishment without divertinS
from the sinking fund. The purity OF
the water for domestic. purposes has
been fully demonstrated and should be
a source of extreme satisfaction, since
there has never been any cause for dis
trust as to it's sanitary qualities, The
CITY has been entirely free from
epidemic and no sickness has been
traced to its use.
Il want to introduce once more the
| Importance of keeping the outlay ~
each department within the appropria-
| tion and the restraint which must be
used by the joint standing committees
upon any tendency to exceed the sums
| that the city council considers advis-
| able to provide. Much as the fact may
| be regretted. there is no present in
| dication of increase in valuation or
population and therefore no warrant
| for more than moderate amount of
Improvement upon our streets ana
| sidewalks. While our valuation re-
| mains at the conventional figures OF
IL