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

of the board of last year. After the
common council had announced the
perfection of the organization with +
| FRANK Dyer as president and G. A.
Colburn as clerk, and these officers had
peen sworn to the performance of their
duties. An order was passed which
was introduced by Alderman William
son for a joint convention of the
qualification of the mayor, reading of
the mayors address, and choice of civ
officers.
In joint convention Alderman Hol-
way presiding. Aldermen Weeks and
Skehan and Councilman Ward wore
appointed committee to notify the
mayor-elect, that the convention WAS
ready to receive him. He entered the
council chamber accompanied nv
Mayor Plaisted and the oath of office
was administered to him by City Clerk
Newbert.
Prayer was offered by Rev. David
H. Evans, pastor of the South Parish
congregational church, and Mayor
Johnson then read his address, which
though brief was a clear presentation
OF the present condition of the CITY
financial and otherwise with practical
suggestions for the work Of the COM
ing year
Gentlemen Of the city Council:
BY birthrght each one of US is enti-
tied to participate in the management
of the city's affairs. This idea is car
ried cut in town life by the institution
of the town meeting AS the town
grows and it's needs increase the town
m
administration of affairs is left with
the pc ople'3 delegates. Hence it comes
about that the city takes the place of
the town and that you, the peoples
delegates are chosen for the purposes
OF carrying on the business of the
city. Upon you rests the RESPONSE
biiity of caring for the citys
welfare as you would for your own
possessions and character. and her rep
utation and her prosperity should be
your chief aim. If the signs Of the
times mean anything, they mean that
more and more as the years go by our
citizens are waking to the fact that
every man should feel himself respon-
Sble to some extent for the welfare of
the State and that only thus can We
be sure that this government of the
people. by the people and for the peo-
pie shall not perish from the earth.
Such being the responsibilities of
the individual you, the servants of
many individuals, must realize the
manifold obligation you assumed when
you accepted the honor conferred upon
you at the polls. AS the citizens have
delegated their interests to you, you
have no right and therefore no inclina-
ton to delegate those interests to
others by leaving to a few of your body
the performance of duties which belong
to YOU all. By Jealous attention to
business you will merit the encomiums
of the people ard will show to them
that their confidence in you has not
been misplaced.
The year has been marked by two
items Of unusual expenditure the
building of a large extension of the
macadam road on Bangor street and
on the Thomaston road at an expense
of about $4,000. and the erection of an
addition to the Cony High school
building which will ultimately cost
about 5000 and upon which $21,000
has been ra!d.
The funds for the above. together
with $4,000 for the refunding of school
notes. were provided by the issue of
two lots of city bonds. one lot of
$40 900 at four per cent due in 1884, and
known as Improvement and rcfundinG
bonds, covered the $4,000 for new
roads and the $4,000 for rcfundinG
school notes the other issue was for
5000 in short term serial bonds to
cover the cost of the High school build
ing. These bonds were sold at u pre-
MUM Of $i717.5o and the proceeds be
came available during the month of
February, 1903
The state and county taxes and all
temporary loans of the past year
09OS- 1900 have been paid in full.
SID 500 of the school notes have been
PAID and the remaining $1,000 will be
paid Gpon presentation with funds on
hand for that purpose
Matured CITY bonds of 1887 amount
ing to $16,300 have been paid.
The sinking fund at the Augusta
Trust co. has be, n increased by $looo
from the appropriation of 1"oS-l9o' ana
nv the amount Of accrued interest I'd
,3; the total of the sinking fund is now
s3o74.33.
The Treasurer reports as lolloWS:
Cash on haad March ,
/. 1905. ~ 'o ~, co coco 90 IA
Total Receipts, ah..,'S,.m' 9'oo''i''''
Total Disbursements. jit.e~'"t
Balance on mana 49, "a, 49, e,po . GO Il,
March l. 1909. *5''4"-'H' S''''"''' l.
Under the able management OF the
retiring mayor our roads nave pecI
put in splendid condition, the city IL
nanccs are in fine shape and the docket
is nearly clean.
ono matter has been left for our at
tention which requires serious constd-
Grafton. 1t is we'll known To you t'''t
my predecessor has MADE strenuous
and repeated efforts TO aooiisii '.o
several dangerous railroad crossings IN
tbis civ A bill is pending in the Leg
islature. which, it is hoped Will remedy
the EVIL. o
cbouId the bill fail of passage we