Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-17

10 d tltDcCS " llCrieh SAp PAoPNi ~
/ respectfully recommend the purchase
OF land for this purpose. at once near
enough for convenience yet far enough
removed from the residences and
travelled streets so that the material
there deposited will neither imperil
health nor be unsightly. More than
this, it would pay the city to investi-
gate the whole question Of disposing
of this waste matter according to the
most approved method. Some day the
city will wonder why rubbish and
filth was ever allowed to accumulate
in dump.
Opening Streets.
In message to the city council
year ago l referred to the long con-
tinued and costly practice Of digging
up streets Again l call attention 10
its importance. A beginning along
this line was made during the last
wear but the practice was not wholly
stopped The digging up of streets,
however, without permit and without
regulation should cease. Plans are
now worked out and blanks are In
readiness for enforcing in Augusta the
wise provisions of Chapter "a Of the
Public Laws of 1911, and individuals,
firms and corporations will be asked
to conform to this statute. The en-
forcement of this law will mean better
streets for this city nor viii new
street be opened and ruined because
some person desires in his own way to
lay or dig up water pipe.
Schools.
Augusta is proud of its schools and is
willing to give the best there is to the
boys and girls who will be the men and
women of tomorrow. The tax rate, how
ever is largely governed by the cost OF
schools. The city council, held RESPONSE
BILE for the tax rate. has TO control over
the school appropriations for these appro-
priations are not made by the city council
but in a general school meeting held In
Nav. This school meeting has power to
raise any sum for the support of schools
and it also has power to bond the city
to build school houses. In view of these
facts it is most important that our citi-
zens more generally attend this May
meeting and participate in its important
deliberations.
Highway Department.
Our system of highway work Is waste
full and archaic. The ideal system calls
for a department for the whole city with
a single head. Such a system should
have for it's head trained man, rea-
sonable salary should be paid and term
of at least three years be fixed. In this
important particular our city charter
should be amended by the next Leglsia-
ture and the people be given chance to
pass upon it. For the first time the city
has undertaken to organize highway da-
partment BY order of the city council
beginning was made in the early winter
and the work is progressing we'll An
Office has been provided for the commits
aioners with telephone connection and
clerical assistance which will more ano
more become a bureau of information and
complaint. Filing cabinets have been IN
stalled for maps, plans and note books
relating to sewer assessments, bridges
street openings, ETC., and loose leaf rec
ords of all streets and an accounting anc
cost system, which is the result OF
study of the best methods, is in process
of preparation. All this xill be an In
| valuable source of inforpation TO the pup
lie and great assistance to the department
Country Highways.
Augusta has about 80 miles of country
highways on which the work is never al
done / recommend that the city avail it
self of every dollar that can be had from
the state and that it appropriate sucf
sums as are necessary towards building
state aid roads. The State highway fund
available in 1914 is as follows:
Unexpended state apportionment
1872 ........--sst.s... sfaS.o
Necessary city appropriation to
make the above apportionment ,oo o,
available '..'.....'.- o 10 p
Available from the State ......... !, iss q
| City appropriation 1914 ......,..... l-s9sU
Total amount available for
State aid highway work $,6lSl
This amount would build about one
mile of good gravel road.
Last year about s6S per mile was spen
for maintenance on country highways
This was in addition to the cost of new
construction, and this cost of mainte
nance cannot well be cut IL our highways
are to be made passable and to be kept II
fairly good condition.
City Streets.
Augusta has about Is miles of city
streets No city government can afford II
do all that is waiting to be done WI
must choose wisely how best to spenc
the limited appropriations available fol
this work Personal wishes must b.
subordinate to the public good. The sew
| eral wards of the city which you have thu
honor to represent have no special rights
/ inconsistent with the rights of the gen
eral public The few are always hes
served as we try to serve all.
Water Street.
Water street is our main commercial
thoroughfare 1t is finished from Bridg'
street to the top of Rines hill. The ston'
| block paving north of Bridge street ant
at the western approach to the bridg'
should be relaid in cement after the styl'
of the work done south of the postoffice
This work is not expensive, costing les'
than one dollar per square yard. This
method of RELAXING stone block paving