Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-16

Editor of the Kennebec Journal:
May I offer brief comment re-
garding the composite comnunica-
ton of our mayor and aldermen
which appeared in your today'ss is
sue? To my mind this composition
is more important in what It evades
than in what it says. Outside Of its
purile attempts of personalities. evil
IDENTIFY intended to prejudice the real
issues involved. 1t may be divided
into three parts:
I. A justification for re-surfacing
Water street because by appropriate
ing $1,000 for this week, we can OBJ
tain from the State $3.50.
Q. An effort to gain sympathy by
claiming that the referendum holds
up all department expenses except
ing for emergency work.
3. A justification for failure to
get the voters views on three prop
ositions, to wit Cd street lighting,
CD 're-surfacing Water street, (3l
installing a fire alarm
It is significantly silent regarding
the three criticisms that have been
advanced against the city govern
ments administration.
l. Why, in the face of the gen.
eral public expectation that the ap-
preparations of last year would be
sufficient to meet the current ex-
penseS of this year and could be used
more wisely in general outlay, pre-
vent the increase in the tax rate and
| an increase in the valuation, there
| has been an increase of appropria-
ton and must be an increase in tax
rate and valuation.
=. lWry. the city government, in
face of the vote of last year. should
contemplate the expensive and
wasteful luxury of Water street IL
| Elimination?
| 3. Why, before having Water
street carefully examined by COM
petent engineers as to what would
be necessary tc be done gunder
| ground, as well as on the surface,
and an estimate of the cost1 based
| upon facts as found. be given to
the public-Why should this work
be commenced before we kn6w the
full cost and the nature and extent
of the Improvements
| Incidentally we do know that the
city government intends to increase
the appropriations of last year to
S25,OOO. and to meet this Increase,
proposes to carry the tax rate to
about 40 mills and increase the val
uat1on to $255.OOO. and no amount
of juggling with figures or promised
bonus, or Macedonian cry for SYM
pathy will efface these facts from
the minds of the thinking voters.
1. AS to their first proposition.
there is no doubt the proper re-sur.
facing Of Water street would be a
great improvements This work in
wolves, however, many questions
Among them, what is the extent OF
the work contemplated, and is it To
be permanent or temporary am
to be sure only lawyer. but I SUBJ
init to- wiser heads this question
Should not the first step be to max.
ing careful survey of conditions
above and below the surface, as the,
did in Waterville, before proceeding
with similar work, and obtain &C.
tual figures of what the cost will be
before doing SO? I further submit,
that the present estimate, costs OF
re-surfacing Water street fs mere
guess work. To start this WORK
without proper survey, plans and es.
Inmates, will be the height of folly
Once the city begins the construc.
ton on guess work it will have t.
see it through even If It costs $40..
600. q
II the work is to be temporary
then 1t Is more than vast6t1l. II