The Republican journal., 1918-03-21

.-.SSS ~Se"OOh cittlu&S VI tuC Olty SOuH.
Gil at such stated times as may be ar
ranged for the consideration of current
affairs.
Efficiency in operation is my hobby and
l have no doubt in this we shall not at all
disagree. In fact, expect that in all
acts OF the City Council, both in the Sc
lection of officers and ip the direction of
the Clty's affairs, there will be that spirit
OF cooperation, give and take, considera-
ton for the opinions of others, that will
make our decisions. practically unani-
nous at all times. That man is pighead-
ed or fool who will not change his mind
when seeing something better to adopt
We thrive on the adaptation to our own
uses of the thoughts and ideas of others.
1t is useless for me to enter into a dis
cussion of the City's several depart
ments. You all have we'll formed opin-
ions Of these subjects. If for one thing
more than another we are elected, we are
perhaps more particularly called into
office to take up the consideration and
adjustment of the railroad question. Our
larger bond issue Of SAT-, 900 secured by
the stock of the railroad comes due Aug.
18th of this year and should not be per-
manently refunded until the railroad re-
| lease is effected. The temporary refund
ditions will best permit. We believe the
people expect us first to find out what
the railroad is earning, is worth, and
arrange release on such terms as seem
to us just to both contracting parties
We hope to be able to lay before the City
Council at once plans for the carrying
out of this duty.
We all desire to see Belfast expand and
| grow, to see the trade rightful]y belong
ing to Belfast remain here. Belfast Ger
tainly has the natural advantages for ex-
pansion and growth and we shall deem it
privilege to be in any degree an in.
strument toward the encouraging of such
results.
1t is the duty OF the city government to
think and study as to how they can help
in making Belfast bigger, better and
more prosperous. We are prosperous
now, but we wish to be more SO. Can we
not keep our boys and girls at home and
draw Others in to build up added indus
tries instead of sending them away to
build up other cities? New industries
from without are good but added indus
| tries from within are better. Should not
every encouragement be extended to our
farmer boys to stay with the farm and fit
themselves for their vocation? 1t re-
quires as much common sense, ability
and skill to operate farm successfully
as any other business. A prosperous
! farming community means prosperous
Belfast. In these features the Board of
Trade and City Government can act to-
gether and be of mutual assistance. Let
US all then, individual, farmer, merchant,
Board of Trade and City Government,
get our shoulders to the wheel and push
! forward with punch.
AS a means to the accomplishment of
progress and growth, our city schools
should be of the highest standard posi-
| BILE, inviting people seeking place where
/ they may economically educate their
children to locate here. Our sidewalks
should be improved as fast as our finances
will permit; our sewerage extended each
/ year; our streets made attractive; our
roads, particularly the main lines Of con-
nection with the outside world, made as
passable as possible. Excepting for our
schools, in our highway department is
where our largest expenditure occurs. l
think we all agree that surfacing with
gravel is the best method of procedure
consistent with our finances and climate,
if not indeed the best for our climate re-
gardless of finances. | believe this city
government is unanimous that the ex-
penSe of permanent grading should be un-
dertaken only when to be Immediately
followed and preserved by a gravel sur
facing.
1t may not be out of place to mention
! here the working relation of our State
! and City highway construction, which |
think perhaps is not fully understood by
people in general. The road from the
Belmont line to the Searsport line, ex-
cepting for the City limits, has been des-
ignated by the State trunk line. The
road from Vine street to the Waldo line is
State aid road These two strips of road
aggregating about ten or eleven miles are
under State patrol Having this patrol
is optional with the City. If the patrol is
accepted, the State will appropriate $500
towards its maintenance, 5000 additional
per mile maintenance on the State road
on the trunk line, and 500 per mile
mantainance on the State aid road on
/ the Waldo or State aid line. The
city is required to contribute for patrol
expense the same ratio per mile for the
number of miles that it appropriates for
it's unimproved highways If the City
does not accept the patrol, it loses these
special State aids.
The State also this year will contribute
dollar for dollar with the City toward the
building of State Aid road. Heretofore
the State has contributed 75c. against
the S1.0O by the City. In case any City
or Town will double their appropriations
in one year, the State will contribute for
the. additional appropriation Is per cent
more, or $1.25 for each dollar by the
City.
I The City of Belfast is entitled to ap-
propriate for State Aid road 81, 1888. 49,
The State this year will contribute as
much more. Should we appropriate a
second amount of Sl,333. 80 the State
would contribute 1875 per cent of that, or
81, 777.77, an appropriation, therefore, by
the City of 81, Goo 66 would insure an as
sistance from the State of SIS, ILL.,, total
available fund of SIS, 777.66 for State Aid
Highway. am merely citing the possi-
bility for our information and considera-
ton Under any and all circumstances,
however we must equip ourselves with
every means possible to accomplish
most economical expenditure of our high
way funds.
The rate charged for insurance on
dwellings under hydrant protection should
have immediate attention. When the
new insurance classification was applied
to Maine by the New England Insurance
Exchange in the fall of 1916, Belfast was
placed under Class D, We needed then