Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-27
Augusta, Me-, June rs. 1916.

, <Au6uSeo' VIC, uilc Sos Law
To the City Council of the City Of
Augusta:
The city treasurer and city solicitor
to whom was referred the matter OF
the purchase Of an auto fire truck for
the Augusta fire department. beg leave
to report: That the purchase Of six
cylinder truck at a cost OF between
$4,000 and $1,000 is not in their opin
ion expedient at the present time for
reasons as follows:
1. The high state Of efficiency main
tanned by the Augusta fire department
with it's present equipment.
2. The present tax rate.
g. The extraordinary expenditures
to be made during the current year.
including payment Of the $12.590.50
note for repairs on the Kennebec
bridge in 1914 and aid to families and
dependents of members Of Co. M. 20
Infantry. of the National Guard of
Maine authorized by resolution of the
city council on June % inst.
Respectfully submitted,
MELVIN s. SAWTELLE,
City Solicitor.
ROY L. WARDWELL,
City Treasurer.
The failure Of the foregoing reports
to advocate the purchase of an auto
fire truck was a disappointment to
those who had advocated its purchase
although the wisdom Of the stand
taken in the matter by the solicitor
and treasurer could not be questioned
and the chances are that the matter
would have been allowed to drop had
Il not been for the passage of another
order which was introduced later in
the evening and which provided for
the purchase Of two auto trucks for
the highway department. This order
read as follows:
Ordered, That the committee on
highways and sewers be and hereby
are authorized to purchase for said
two auto trucks for the use of the
highway departments Of said city, the
same to be purchased from the appro-
priation for said department"
The order, which was introduced by Al
derman Sanborn, chairman of the COM
mittee on highways and sewers. caused
some discussion by other members Of the
board because Of no mention of the
amount of money to be expended for the
truck. Alderman Anderson was opposed
to the passage of the order for that rea-
son. The order was finally passed by
yea and nay vote. two aldermen voting
against it.
Among other matters passed was roll of
accounts No. 6, amounting to $96S4.9S; an
order that the taxes against the property
of Fred Brown be abated an order appro-
priating the sum of $40 for six band con-
certs to be played during July and Aug
ust; an order for a hydrant at the pump
ing station at East Winthrop; an order
that the taxes of the city of Augusta for
the year 1861 when assessed. shall be
due and payable on Aug. l, 1916, and that
interest at the rate Of six per cent per
annum from that date shall be charged
on all taxes remaining unpaid on Sept. I,
1916: an order that the petition of Eliza
Sullivan for settlement of the city's bill
of taxes against her real estate be grant
ed. and that the city treasurer be au-
thorized to accept the sum of $50 and to
give a suitable receipt for said taxes and
release the said city's claim upon her
premises that the city treasurer pay the
Titcomb Real Estate Association the sum
of SIS for use Of the Pettingills Corner
baseball grounds; an order that the taxes
assessed against the property Of Mrs
Cram be abated, also that the taxes Of
Mrs. Clara Blanchard be abated to the
amount Of sfS52S
In convention public auto licenses were
granted to J. w. Dana, E. Zoub, Albert
Boucher and G. H. Getchell.
In municipal officers in was ordered
that Winthrop street be oiled.