The Republican journal., 1917-04-19
Coupons outstanding and unpaid as Of
March 8, 1917 are as follows:

There is on deposit in cash 1920 90
toward the payment of these outstand-
ing coupons.
Payment of one years interest to
March l. 1917, has been endorsed on the
S22, 600 Memorial Hall Association bonds.
which are owned by the Belfast Free
Library and which matured March /,
1916.
We call your attention particularly to
the final Trial Balance of the City as
presented by the Treasurer, which is
concise in form, simple to understand,
and genuine in its values. Practically
all valueless assets have been charged
off and eliminated There has been thus
charged off during the year, belonging
to previous Administrations, S2l70 80.
The 1916 City Government paid its own
bills, reduced the City's actual indebted
ness S19l.66. and increased unexpended
appropriation balances 1881. IA.
All departments of the City that call
for the expenditure of funds are in splen-
did running condition and in shape to
benefit the coming years by the large
expenditures that have been necessary
for school houses, bridges, rehabilitation
Of roads and streets and the forming of
2 substantial foundation in the City's
financial structure on which to rebuild.
Sufficient taxes should be assessed an
aually 10 gradually liquidate the local
year-end indebtedness and again provide
4 working balance.
The custom followed for the past two
years of submitting by the Treasurer at
each monthly meeting of the City Gov
eminent a full Trial Balance of the CITY
should be made permanent one. The
people should study these Trial Balances
and become conversant with them Every
taxi payer should obtain copy of the
City's Annual Report, analyse it, and
thereby know what the City Government
is doing first hand instead of taking the
information second hand and often from
those incorrectly informed. We also
recommend that the Reports be analysed
yearly in our Public Schools, that our
young men and women may become in
telllgently interested in the City airs
They should be taught that Belfast is
the best place to live in, not the worst,
and should be encouraged to remain in
Belfast and build up the City with new en-
terprises rather than migrate elsewhere
and build up other cities. Money should
be provided to establish new industries
for them to engage in. When this is
done, Belfast will grow and prosper as it
never has prospered before. While we
should welcome all healthy enterprises
from without, the real growth of every
community must come from within from
enticlng its own people to remain and
Craving others in. No niggardly pol cy
toward the city's attractlveness should
be countenanced.
Streets and sidewalks should be i'm
proved, sewers built, every effort made
to make our city attractive to our young
people and all those who come in and
pass through it. Our schools should be
standardized and made more efficient
80 that people desiring to locate where
they may educate their children would
think of Belfast first. We have appar-
emily depressed bit in our report, but
not in reality, for money is what is need
ed to accomplish these things and the
spending of the dollar which brings five
in return and saves five more already ex-
pended is not only good business but
brings success, growth. and happiness
This city is a $1,000 600 corporation and
needs to be haHdled in a broad-minded
way as you would handle $4,000, 600
business.
The controversy With the Water Com
Tpany has been carried to a final conclu-
sion before the Court and every conten-
tion of the city and the validity of the
contract sustained. The Importance of
this result, though perhaps not fully
realized as yet, will be recognized and
appre ciated as time goes on by those
who think for themselves. This decision
established beyond question the fact that
the City is to receive it's Hydrant Ser
vice forever free after twenty years
payment on each Hydrant. Water pres
sure, heretofore intermittent and most
IN satisfactory, is now steady and salts
factory, and the Company now recognizes
its responsibility to furnish a satisfac-
tory pressure according to contract at all
hours of the day. The increase in water
rates as of January LIST has been under
investigation and at this writing is in
shape to bring before the Public Utilities
Commission in a contest on the increase
of rates.
The recent increase of Insurance Rates
on Dwellings has had the Mayors atten-
ton and the matter should be further
pursued and such precautions and regula-
lions adopted as will speedily bring the
City within the Schedule C. of the New
England Insurance Exchange. The pur-
chase of the new Fire Engine, now un-
der lease, will be factor toward this
end.
The complete list of property owned,
excepting school property, will be..found
an the Property Account.
G. w. WESCoTT,
RALPH H. HOWES.