Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-27


conclusion as regarding the whole mat
ter l am sure that your Judgment will
be tempered by mercy. yet uninfiu-
enced by the professional plea for aims.
Fire Department.
The organization of the fire depart
ment is of vital interest TO every cltI-
zen. The fire hazard is daily menace
of financial ability of the city we believe
our fellow citizens will support us in
such measures as will promote the great
est efficiency of this department. APP
paratus is constantly being improved
and progressive policies are advised
Without doubt the horse Is destined to
be superseded by the automobile hre
truck Other cities are experimenting in
this line and it behooves us to look well
to the future. The agitation for new
central fire station may Wei wait
for in the event of the department
adopting the automobile truck at no
distant day, the proper place for
central fire station may be else
where than any location heretofore pro-
of a few thousand dollars will make the
present station safe and well suited to
the needs of the department for several
years. our fire department has good
record to its credit and should be en-
couraged in every way to still further
increase it's efficiency. The department
is loyal and faithful, the remuneration
is small and the obligation OF the CITY
towards the men who night the hreS l.
large. They should not be left in doubt
of the eity's appreciation of their ser
vices. and this appreciation can De
shown in no better way than by an IN
telligent response to the growing heeu Oh
the department.
Street Department.
The street department not only calls
for large appropriations, but it is by tal
the biggest proposition confronting this
or any city government at the oeslhIlihs
of new municipal year Every munlel,
pality is awake to the value of good
roads. The State is leading in TINS I'M,
portant matter, and much is expected
from the pending legislation which will
provide a working method for the eX-
penditure of the authorized &W0Ooo bono
issue In the administration OF oul
street department | cannot too strongly
urge the practice of the strictest econ
omy in the expenditure of the people s
money. Much work upon our many
miles of streets and highways waits to
be done. 1t cannot all be done. Ihat
work should first be undertaken Whete
the need Is greatest and upon streets
and highways most used by the genera
travelling public
In addition to necessary repairs ano
much needed Improvement of streets
highways and sidewalks. this city gov,
eminent should consider the permahent
work waiting to be done on Rlnes mn
and Western avenue and the continual
ton of the tar macadam pavement or
Water street This pavement should be
laid as far south and north as may pe
justified by the appropriation aVallably
for such a purpose. Under me new ldN
no State money can be applied to sucf
work within the limits of city streets
Digging UP of Streets.
This is a practical question of more
than passing moment. The practice Is
all too common of building a piece OF
street and then straightway tearing Il
up to repair or lay underground gas
Torrance is both foolhardy and costly
In this matter recourse should be hat
to the provisions of Chapter "a OF tht
Public Laws of 1911, which in substance
provides for an emergency permit ano
the replacement of a street by the city
at the cost of the individual firm or cor
poration asking the permit. In TINS, as
in all matters pertaining to the public,
shall insist upon the city's rights MOI
will special favors be granted
Parks and Fairgrounds.
Augusta is lacking in public parks ant
Fairgrounds, nor is this situation easily
remedied. Monument Park is small ant
If little practical value This open. spot
however, should be made as usefui X
the public as its limited area will per
nit while other smaller and neglected
spots. wherever found, should be re
claimed from the Travelled way and MADE
20 please the eye.
Augusta needs for public park pur.
poses the square bounded by the River
Bowman, Cony, Williams and Arsena
streets At least it should sometime be
buildings west of Bowman street and q
strip east of Bowman street Ranking ole
Fort Weston. This is historic ground
Of which fact our people Were ere r rem1adeie
cut Foot Guards last summer ana the
recognition of the Arnold expedition b
the setting of the boulder overlooking tn
kennebec. Fort Weston should be re
stored and preserved and the adjoinlng
properties be forever controlled by the
city.
izen to erect here for himself lasting
monument by purchasing and presentinl
to the city a part or the whole of the
area named. Such a benefaction woulc
net alone reclaim historic ground ant
beautify the city. it would contribute te
the comfort and pleasure OF the genera
public and the health and happiness OF
children now and in all future genera
tons. The opportunity awaits the ben
efdctor.
City Bell Ringer.
There may have been time in the his
tory of the city when some value at
tached to the ringing of public bel
three times a day throughout the year.
Fut that time passed long ago. Today
no ringing of a bell either at seven
o'clock in the morning or at noon or at
nine O'Clock at night Is necessary 10 re-
mind anybody Of the hour. The keeper
Of clocks strikes the bell at $3.50 each
day for the correction of time and tins
is quite sufficient. The city has no cur
few regulation in force, and the ringing
Of the nine o'clock bell is constant
source Of annoyance 90 the many fam
lilies within the more immediate neigh
borhood. The tendency in all cities is 10
anv Justification for the loud changing
of a great church bell especially at nine
o'clock at night, an nour when children
are in bed and quiet has settled upon the
city.
Unless sufficient reasonable objection Is
fort Incoming from the public, / snail rec
ommend that the office of City bell ringer
be done away with and the annual sal
airy of $l25.00 be put 10 better use.
Purchase of Supplies.
Any corporation doing the business OF
the magnitude of Augusta has a system
of purchasing supplies. Lack OF system
breeds careessness resulting in eXtraY-
agance and loss. | recommend the pas
sage of an ordinance providing Tor the
purchase of supplies or articles of amy
description or the contracting of any M
debtedness in the name of the city of
Augusta by written order on regular re-
auistion blank provided by the city. The
requisition should carry no power to pur-
chase or contract amy Indebtedness I'M
less approved in writing by the Mayor.
The ordinance will further provide that
all bills presented for payment shall be
approved by the Auditor and shall be
signed by the person, firm or corporation