Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-23
CITY REPORTS
FOR MUNICIPAL
YEAR, FINISHED

The city reports for the municipal
year ending January 81. 1926, made
their first appearance yesterday and
a large number of the books were
given out from the city clerks Office
at the city building. A number of
the reports contained in the book
have previously been published but
there is much which will be of gen.
eral in. crest.
The trustees of the Waterville
Public Library were saddened during
the year by the death of one of their
loyal members, Judge Frank K. Shaw
and the library report says in part:
1.-THE Trustees Of the Public Library
in submitting their annual report
would at the outset pay tribute to
one Of their number. Frank Kings
bury Shaw, who died suddenly Janu-
airy IS, 1926. He had served the city
in several CAPACITIES, was recorder Of
the municipal court. 1926; judge
of the same court, 1S97-1912: and
had been engaged in the practice Of
law in this city for 40 years; had
served as member of the Board Of
Education, and as Trustee of the
Univ AADAakys LAG aAoStAeAA 5So Si'S
duties of his trusteeship in this Ii
brary with great fidelity, and his fell
low trustees express Their sorrow at
his death and their sympathy with
his family"
report says: 1.-THE year 1885 has
surpassed all record in the breadth
and efficiency of the work of the IL
| brary. The city is especially fortu-
nate in its library staff-Miss Jennie
A. Smith. librarian: Miss Mary
Tobey. associate. and Miss Marion
Tobey, assistant librarian.
Mr.. Burns, caretaker, has performed
his duties in very satisfactory
manner.
1.-THE city is growing-the schools
are increasing. let the library have
corresponding allowance, and your
trustees will be able to show even
larger results. 1t is the City Library,
and grateful for the cooperation Of
the Mayor and City Council in the
past, the Trustees are encouraged to
believe that adequate support will be
given, corresponding to constantly
increasing service"
During the year 1924 books were
added to- the library, making a total
number Of volumes of 1882. The
aggregate attendance for the year
was 35,744 and the total circulation,
1856.
In the report of the street commits
sioner, Roy l.. Page, the resurfacing
of large number of streets is men,
toned. OF the city's bridges the re-
port says: 1.-THE bridge at Low
Brook was repaired early in the sea-
son. New stringers were put in and
new planking placed. The bridge at
the pumping station was replanked,
as was also the Marston bridge.
Cedar bridge was replanked and the
railing repaired. The bridge is in
very bad shape and must be rebuilt.
Thirteen thousand feet of planking
has been used in the above repairs.
Quite a large amount of gravel was
hauled as filling in connection with
the building of a new concrete abut-
ment at the Gilman street bridge"
OF much interest is the report of
w. w. Berry, chief of the Waterville
fire department, and he makes the
following recommendations:
II am pleased to state that this
department has responded to only
It's calls this year, As box alarms
and '127 still alarms and loss sus-
tanned from the same has been very
small.
II wish to call to the attention of
the city government the fact that
for the past year the department has
been run on small amount of fire
hoce and it is my personal opinion
that this should be changed at once
and a plan adopted Of making a pur-
chase each and every year Of 1000
feet of first class woven, double
jacket fire hose.
Just a word here-it has been
my personal plan to purchase this
hose from one of two companies and
I have been successful most of the
time in carrying this program out,
but once in while some smart fire
committee takes 1t upon themselves
to make a purchase for some other
company and the city suffers there
by. Now there should be no letting
up on this program Of purchasing
hose until the department has at
least 1900 feet of AL hose. The
sewer department should not be al
lowed the use of any fire department
hose but should have hose of it's own.
And 1t is also plain to me that the
fire department account should re-
ceive credit from the state depart
ment account for rent, from the use
of the stable in the rear of the Gen.
trail fire station and the Central sta
ton should receive repairs this
present year, which are imperative.
"It seems to be a common case
for every city council to Slide the fire
department by, but 1t Is not good