Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-27
THE new CITY GOVERNMENT
ASSUMES CHARGE or AFFAIRS.
Augusta Holds First Evening Inauguration
In Its History==New Officials Induct=
ed into OffiCe==Mayor New
bert Delivers Address.

mills This large bond issue was Ions
ago Justified by results. The mills are
here and have been here. and their great
pay-roil has gone into the life OF the city
while the assessed valuation upon this
property OF more than Sl,oD0,000 yields an
bonds have not all been paid. $4,000 was
paid in the first 20 years, and in 1885,
$4,000 was refunded. The burden OF
this 100000 has been and is being borne
now annually due 10 the amount OF
about $1,000
'rhe $65, 600 bond issue of 1894. sold te
pay for the Kennehec Bridge. is still out
standing and will mature in 1919 This
Improvement of State and Grove streets
WAS paid Tor ny the $4,000 bond issue OF
1899 These bonds will mature in 1921
In 1908, by vote of the people, the city
sold bonds to the amount $4,000 for per
manent highway Improvement. Again i:
1865 $4,000 bond issue was authorized
This issue comprised the funding OF
school notes Of the village and Williams
districts, amounting to $4,000 and SIC,
600 to complete the macadam highways
These two bond issues are provided fol
by a sinking fund deposited in the Au-
gIstd Trust Company. $1,000 is annually
appropriated for this sinking fund and
al the maturity of these bonds the cash
will he in hand to pAy them.
In 1909 the city was again bonded. by
vote of the people. for $4,000 to build tht
addition to the High school. The issue
for the Rines Hill railroad cut and the
refundng of $1,000 of the old Sprague
debt. Again in 1872 the people voted 6
bond issue of $4,000 to pay for land anf
for the construction o. the new Gram
mar school These Two bond issues fol
school buildings. aggregating, s7S'00o0O
annual installments. The High schoo
bonds already are reduced from $1,000 to
$4,000
Reduction of Bonded Debt.
Four annual installments Of the Ole
Sprague debt amounting to $4,000 ars
still to be paid CT refunded. Which Is
the wise course? In addition to the ere.
ation OF the sinking fund for good roads
amounting a this time to about $4,000
and the annual installments on account
of the two new school buildings amount
ing yearlY To $780, may il not be asking
toe much of this generation to pay al
the bonds of the old Sprague issue as
they matureT In the near future ! hope
eral sinking plan calling for an annua
appropriation for reduction Of city deb
that will at least in part meet the. DIFF
ficulty without TOO great an additional
burden upon the taxpayer
Police Department.
The department of police is always in
the public eye Its standard should be
high. its efficiency unquestioned. GU
citizens have the right to demand, ane
do demand. that the men whom we shat
choose to police this city shall be men
of especial fitness. They ask that we Sc
leet men of character, sobriety and hon.
esty. The marshal and those under him
will be sworn to the faithful discharge
of their duty, and this duty is no small
one 1t embraces the safety and peace
of the city. the security of our homes
and the character of our youth. 1t is the
desire of all good citizens that Augusta
be kept clean and sweet, that order be
maintained, that law be enforced, aud
that public evils which may not entirely
be done away be limited and controlled.
Our people are justly proud of the city s
good name. and are Jealous OF Its repu-
tation. In every particular the mar
shal should cooperate with the mayor
and the city council in every effort to
make Augusta as fair within as II is
beautiful without
Poor Department.
The poor department is under the
charge of a single overseer, The duties
of the office are many and difficult
big item in the annual cost of the sup
port of the poor relates to the supplies
furnished to persons not inmates at the
city farm. 1t is my belief that much
abuse attaches to this method of par
tial support Augusta is willing to care
for It's unfortunate poor. and the re-
Spouse is quick to the call of the needy.
AS municipality, however, this city
performs a big part of its duty in this
respect when it provides home and
generous support at the city farm for
those who are unable to care for them
selves. The ordinary cases of temper
AIRY want and the dispensing of charity
can better be done by individual eiti-
zens or charitable organizations. Indis-
criminate giving to such as apply at the
Office of the overseer of the poor may
prove only premium on shiftlessness
and improvidence, an encouragement TO
idleness and the Sinking of domesuc
responsibility on the part of men and
women well able to provide for them
and tllair families / m p
that the joint committee on poor de-
partment carefully investigate these
conditions and consider the method in
vogue as compared with the admins
fration of the poor departments of other
Maine cities. Whatever may be the