Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-08

has become a thing of beauty. The
Shrine Club Of Gardiner is to be con-
| graduated in having such a beauti-
| full home.
Thanks are also due the churches
| of Gardiner. fraternal organizations.
Gardiner Hospital, District Nurse
Association, Associated Charities.
and all those agencies which have
cooperated in civic matters with the
end in view OF making etter city
and a happier people.
A few months ago, our community
| was shocked when word came over
the cables telling us of the death OF
| a fellow townsman. in Europe. One
| who loved our city and in serving as
mayor and president of our board
| of trade, gave freely of himself in
| everything that would make for a
| better and happier people. / pause
| to pay my tribute to the finest sort
| of citizenship as exemplified by
| Charles H. Gray, who last summer
| was killed in an automobile acct
dent in France.
The financial standing Of our city
at the present is not all that we
| might desire. The assessed valua-
| ton OF Gardiner Is SA.7S3.392. Our
| indebtness Is approximately $4,000.
| Our borrowing capacity about $685.
| GO. This leaves US q margin before
! we reach our extreme limit OF about
| s65, 5000. I am informed that the re-
pairs to the piers OF the Gardiner
| and Randolph bridge have been de-
| ferred longer than has been prudent
and that now the bridge is unsafe
! and will have TO be attended TO with
out further delay. The cost will be
| very heavy and will necessftate an
| other bond issue TO finance it. which
will put us very close to the limit
| OF our city's credit; a very unsafe
| position to he in.
! in 1918 the total assessed valua-
ton OF Gardiner was s3,S00,0l6; in
| 1923, S4.f33,392: in 1918, the tax. rate
/ was SAT n thousand; in 1928 $3.50 n
! thousand. There has been large
| advance both in the valuation and
| the tax rate during the last few years
yet our streets and sidewalks have
been continually going back.
| We shall expect the assessors to
make a careful and thorough eXami-
| nation of all assessable property and
secure an equal and fair valuation to
| appoint board of assessments re-
view to consist of twelve citizens.
two from each ward to pass on the
| work of the assessors in the valua-
| ton of real estate. a similar plan
is carried out in other cities with
| good results and I believe that this
plan would result In a better feeling
among our citizens as to the uni
| formity of valuation.
In regard to the tax rate of 1924,
1t is too early to make predictions.
There is much to be done this year.
yet with reasonable economy and
foresight in all departments, the rate
under present conditions need not be
subject to any great changes. The
attitude of many of our heaviest tax
| Payers has been very encouraging
They assured me they were willing
to pay a greater tax if they could
| have the necessar improvements
Municipal progress and development
| costs money. but our aim shall be
to keep expenses down to the lowest
level commensurate with n progress
sive and businesslike operation of the
city's business. There should be a
| few physical changes in the city
building. Our citizens are entitled to
the privilege of seeing their city
clerk alone, If necessary. which Is not
/ possible under the present arrange
ment with the tax collector occupy
| ing the same office. There should
| also be installed a women's lavatsry
and toilet. would recommend for
your consideration the appointment
OF a police nlatron. I believe there is
no question about the good which
such an officer could accomplish here
! in Gardiner.
Our greatest problem is the con-
| dition Of our streets and highways.
| Good streets are IN asset to any
city and the reverse is true where
| they are in bad condition. An eff
F.! tort should be made to put them all
| IN passable shape and keep them
that way. Water street repaved.
Brunswick avenue and Bridge street,
| which make up the trunk line of the
State highway through our city,
! should be repaired. The streets at
the present time are a liability from
| the adverse criticism and advertis-
ing we got from the travelling public
and tourist passing through Gardi-
| nCr.
The road to South Gardiner
should be given attention as early
| as possible in the spring as this is
| the only main road out of that en-
terprising section of our city. lr
should be put in rs good condition
as our means win possibly allow.
| These two roads are State aid roads
and I believe we cal. have Water
street included.
In looking into the subject of
State aid. / find it is apportioned
according to the valuation. We
would be entitled to S14G6. IL we
| would put up a like amount. In
| addition TO this. IL the funds are
available, they would give five times
| that amount If we would appropri-
| ate four times. which would amount
| to a total of $S796 from the State If
we would furnish $3.50. recon-
mend that we avail ourselves of this
help. One other street should be
given early attention, and that is
the street TO our hospital, Dresden
avenue. We have q splendid hos
pital, doing n wonderful work. but
1t has been regrettable that through
lack OF funds, Dresden avenue has
not been properly maintained for
our sick and suffering to pass over
in going there.
Our city stables and storage sheds
in the rear of the City building
should be repaired and fenced in.
Mr.. Russ. our retiring street COM
missioner, informs me that this de-
partment meets with quite q heavy
loss each year from people borrow
ing his equipment. and tools. and
not returning them. This practice
should be stopped. He also reports
that more or less of it has been stol-
en-. 1t would pay the city to spend
| few dollars and put more of Its
equipment under lock and key.
Our fire department needs some
additional equipment such as new