Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-03-15
INAUGURATION
NEW CITY GOVERNMENT TAkES
UP WORK OF YEAR.
Mayor Fosters Address - An Up
timistic View of Coming Year
Minor Officers Elected.


ings forenoon, afternoon and eve
ming. elected minor city officers,
fixed salaries, and discussed city at
fairs generally. Mayor Fosters adj
dress. printed in full below, pre-
sented some of the needs and aims
of the coming year, and took an OPP
timistic view of Ellsworth's lmmedl-
ate future.
The meeting was called to order
by City Clerk Ashe. 1t was voted 10
accept the returns OF the several
ward clerks as evidence of election.
City Clerk Ashe then called the roll
the full board responding as follows:
Ward HAIRY c. Stratton.
Ward q Edward F. Small.
Ward Russell J. Smith.
Ward Lyndon H. Phillips.
Ward 5-Walter Fl. Cushman.
The aldermen were sworn in by
the city clerk and organized by the
election of Edward F. Small as
president. Aid. Smith and Phillips
were appointed committee to es-
cort Mayor George S. Foster to the
chair. Prayer was offered by Rev.
George S. Brookes. The new mayor
was sworn in by the city clerk.
MAYORS ADDRESS.
The mayor delivered the following
address:
Mr.. President, Gentlemen of the Board,
and Ladies:
1t is very pleasing to this board to
have received for the second time the
endorsement and support of both po-
litical parties. l believe last year
there was some feeling that this would
not be a wise move. However, you
were willing to give us an opportunity
of trying it out. While we realize
that some mistakes have been made,
on the whole, l believe, the admin
istration has been fairly satisfactory
to the majority of fair-minded citi-
zens. With our experience of last
year we certainly should make bet
ter showing than we did last year, and
you may be assured of receiving our
very best efforts.
There were some, l know, VINO
thought we were a little extravagant
in our appropriations for schools and
streets, however, 1 am satisfied that
the school board has shown excellent
results with the extra money ap-
propriated, especially in our high
school; and in the whole number of
teachers employed, we have not lost
one by being outbid by other towns.
The condition of our streets has been
materially improved, and we are very
much in hope that we shall be able to
do some permanent work the coming
year.
1t looks now as though we would
have plenty of business this summer.
The action taken by the board of as
SCISSORS in. reducing the valuation of
the power company is already produc-
ing results. There seems to be no
question but they will build dam at
Brimmer's bridge, which means an
outlay of many thousands of dollars in
taxable property. In my opinion,
there has been a decided change in the
attitude of our people toward the
power company and the power COM
pany toward us, and there should be
the fullest cooperation between these
two corporations if we hope to de-
velop our town. They have already
made some concession in power rates,
and they have under advisement the
possibility of reducing our lighting
rates materially.
Inc SlduudIu VII ~ 10 laying Oul
about forty thousand dollars in i'm
provements on it's property. The
foundry is doubling it's garage ca
pacity. The Morang Robinson Co. is
planning extensive work, The Boston
University boys are coming to us
again this year. with about five weeks
longer season, which is very valua-
BILE asset and should be encouraged
all possible. We have the assurance
of several new homes being built. The
Thorsen Farms are employing a great
many men, and if the Hancock Sulli
van bridge is not held up, Ellsworth
ought to be prosperous for some time
to come.
l presume many of you have looked
over our city report. Those who have
cannot help being impressed with
what the State superintendent, school |
board, eour own superintendent and
Principal Abernethy have to say re-
garding our dilapidated old high
school building. This Is matter that
simply must be carried through. We
are occupying it on borrowed time,
and should not be surprised to hear of
it being condemned at any time This
should be given very serious thought
by every member of our community.
1t is hardly fair to put this immense
up to a few. The city is
in no position to make large bond is
sue, and the only way we will ever
have new building is by each and
every one of us giving of our time and
money as literally as our circum-
stances will allow.
! am not going to promise you that
our tax rate will be any lower this
year. We are already below the
average of cities in Maine. There is
great deal of repair work to be done,
especially to our city farm buildings.
The library building is in very bad
condition and our schoolhouses must
be renovated. All this in addition to
our regular work. If we can all be
reconciled to being assessed little
more for the next few years we will
soon make our home attractive
to outside industries as well as
IN