Mayor Fuller's Address. City of Hallowell, Kennebec County, Me.: Municipal Year Ending March 1, 1887. Mayor's Address and Annual Reports Made to the City Council of Hallowell, For the Municipal year ending March 1, 1887. With a List of City Officiers. Augusta: Charles E. Nash, Printer 1887 page 2-10 ******************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Project Archives by Tina S. Vickery ********************************************************************* MAYOR FULLER'S ADDRESS. Gentlemen of the City Council: To-day begins a new municipal year, and our fellow citizens have with great unanimity, chosen us to administer the government of the City. They have highly honored us in placing in our hands such a trust, and we have taken a solemn oath to perform those duties to the best of our ability. Let us therefore, by our punctual attendance at the meetings of the city council, by the careful selection of the various officers of the city, and by exercising the same care and judgment in the managing of the business of the city that we do in our private business, prove to them that their confidence has not been misplaced. In accordance with custom, my first duty is to briefly lay before you the financial condition of the city, with such suggestions as to the wants of the various departments, as may occur to me. The financial condition of the city is, I believe, in a very satisfac- tory condition, and our indebtedness is steadily if slowly deceasing. From an examination of the treasury accounts I find that our liabilities are $19,700.00, and that our resources are. $2218.86, leaving a balance against the city of $17,481. 14. CITY DEBT. One thousand dollars of the city debt falls due this year, also a temporary loan of $800.00 made by the last city government to cover a deficiency. An appropriation for this amount ($1800.00) will be necessary. INTEREST ON CITY DEBT. There was appropriated for this purpose last year $1250.00 and expended $1325.26, some coupons having been paid that were due, but not presented for payment the previous year. I think an appropriation of about' $1200.00 will be needed this, year. FIRE DEPARTMENT. The Fire Department, under its able chief, has maintained its old time name for vigor and efficiency, while fortunately their calls to duty have been few. It is a well known fact that Hallowell has a Fire Department that can be relied upon for the speedy suppression of' fires and saving of property. It is for us to keep the efficiency of this department at a high standard. The amount appropriated last year was $500.00. There was expended by order of the city council $450.00 for new hose, and about $265.00 for repairs on reservoirs and other incidental expen- ses. As I know of no large expenditures to be made in this depart- ment this year, I think that the appropriation could be somewhat reduced without detriment to the interests of the city. SUPPORT OF POOR. The cheerful support of the unfortunate poor is a christian duty, and a burden that must borne. The continued depression in business during the past year, has added somewhat to the number of deserving poor in our midst. While the overseers of the poor have kept the expenditures within the appropriation, it has only been done by the exercise of the great- est care and vigilance on the part of the chairman of the board, who, while turning none away that were deserving, has located the re- sponsibility for quite a portion of them upon other towns in the state, and has collected from these towns the sums advanced.. The management of affairs at the farm, has been characterized with neatness and economy. The Superintendent and his wife are entitled to much credit for the interest they have taken in the affairs of their department. By the report of the City Physician, I see that he recommends some slight change in the manner of heat- ing the Alms House, that the inmates, who are nearly all aged and infirm, may be made more comfortable during the severe cold weather. I trust that before another winter the change may be made. The receipts and expenditures of the overseers of the poor, the past year, were as follows: RECEIPTS. Amount appropriated, $1800.00 Amount from produce sold, 216.14 Amount from other sources 889.67 $2905.81 EXPENDITURES. For poor on the farm, $1239.79 For poor Off the farm, 624.02 For poor other towns, 485.71 For Hospital for insane poor, 231.29 Superintendent of farm, 325. 00 $2905 81 I do not think that the appropriation for this department should be reduced. POLICE. The report of the City Marshal shows that a large portion of his duties consist in the suppression of disorder occasioned by the use of intoxicating liquors. Of one hundred and thirty, the whole number of arrests made, one hundred and five, were for crimes and misdeeds directly traceable to the unlawful sale and use of rum. There were also twenty-five seizures of liquor made by the marshal and police, last year. Of the number of convictions, I am not informed. I believe that the marshal has tried honestly and faithfully to carry out the wishes of the people, in regard to the closing of the rum shops, but I do not think that he has met with the success that he deserves. A lawyer will find so many loopholes in the law, for the escape of his client, that it seems almost impossible to convict. As I understand, the amendments that have been made to the liquor laws this winter, they are wholly in the interest of the suppression (not the license or regulation) of the traffic. I trust that you will select as police, only such men as are in Sam- patty with the enforcement of this law as well as all others. Our night watch have, I think, been faithful in the discharge of their duties. The position is of such peculiar responsibility that none but men of the best character and known faithfulness should be appointed. ANNUAL REPORTS. REPAIRS ON CITY BUILDINGS. The amount appropriated last year was $300.00 and the amount expended was $281.55. By the ordinance of the city, the superin- tendent of public buildings purchases all the fuel necessary for heat- ing of the school buildings, the City Hall and the city government rooms, and where furnaces are used he shall have the care and management of the same. In the payment of these bills, it has been the practice to charge to the school fund all these bills that went to the schools, thus making the heads of two distinct departments, approve bills to draw money from the same appropriation. $600.00 were drawn from the school fund in this manner, last year. I think that this practice should be changed, and would recommend that when you make the appropriation usually made for repairs on city buildings, it be made for repairs on city buildings and fuel, and that all bills approved by the superintendent of public buildings be paid from this appropriation and no other; then the school committee knowing how much money was appropriated for schools, would be able to make their expenditures to correspond. If after investigation these recommendations meet with your approval, it will, of course, be necessary to increase this appropriation to cover the amount needed for this purpose, and a corresponding decrease in the school fund would be in order. The buildings under the care of the Superintendent are all in good condition, with one exception, the London Hill school house, and that, with but a small outlay for new floor and windows, can be made as good as the rest. The grounds about nearly all of the school buildings need grading and improving to correspond not only with the condition of the buildings but also with the private lots in their vicinity. The Superintendent has, during the past year, spent much time and shown a great interest in the duties of his position. SALARIES. There was appropriated last year $1800, and expended $2159.63, some $175, of which belonged to, and should have been paid the previous year. As the amount expended for salaries is a matter wholly in the hands of the City Council, and can easily be estimated at the beginning of the year, the appropriation should be made to just meet the expense. CITY WATCH. There was appropriated last year $1100 and expended $1116. DISCOUNT ON TAXES. There was appropriated last year $1250, and expended $2576.51. This is also an account that can be very nearly estimated ; if you make the discount for the prompt payment of taxes ten per cent, you will need about the amount spent last year; if you make the discount but five per cent, the amount appropriated last year would, probably be a great plenty. Whether it is more satisfactory to the citizens to continue in the way they have got so well accustomed to, or whether a change should be made, is a matter for you to determine. FREE HIGH SCHOOL. There was appropriated last year $1000; received from the State $250; total $1250. There was expended for term ending in March, 1886, that should have been included in the previous municipal year, $600; for the three terms ending March, 1887, $1600; total $2200. By the contract now in force with the Classical School, the city pays $500 at the close of each term, or $1500 for the school year for the tuition of our High School scholars. This contract expires with the term ending in June next. What the future may have in store for this school I am not able to inform you, but have no doubt that it will continue to do its work. I am confident that a saying in money, and very Much more satisfactory results to our scholars may be obtained by so grading our city schools, that we may have a city High School, which would be in all respects under the direct control and management of the superintending school committee. This is a matter that will require your careful consideration. If our scholars are to continue to attend the Classical School in, the future as they have in the past., I hope you will make your appropriation sufficient to cover the expense. SCHOOLS. Our schools are generally in a prosperous condition. The receipts And expenditures for the past year were as follows: Appropriation, $2800 00 Received from the State, 1394 04 From Farmingdale for scholars, 40 00 Total, $4234 04 Paid salaries and incidental expenses, $3561 54 Sundry bills on Rolls of Accounts, 644 56 Total, $4206 10 The estimated expense of the schools for the coming year, not including the bills for fuel, and care of rooms, that I have included in the estimate for City Buildings, &c., is as follows : Salaries of teachers, $3400; incidental expenses, $200; total, $3600. From this take the estimated amount that will be received from the State, about $1300, which will leave $2300. This amount seems to me to be the least that you can appropriate to enable the committee to pay their bills without crippling the efficiency of the schools. As there seems to be no way of economising in this department, except either by reducing the length of the school term - and it is tile judgment of the school committee that this cannot be done to any extent without serious injury to the work of the schools - or by reducing the salaries of the teachers, and certainly our experienced teachers are receiving no larger compensation than is necessary to keep them in their present positions, nor more than other cities and towns are paying for the same work. For I maintain that teaching is an art that can only be acquired by practice, and that a teacher in her first year - no matter how much book learning she may have - is not worth as much to her school as she will be afterward, any more than an apprentice to any trade is worth as much as a master workman. I think that the financial affairs of our school committee have been kept in a very unsatisfactory manner the past year. They have paid all bills by order on the city treasurer, not having had themselves any direct personal control of the funds of this department. I do not know of any law that says they should have, but I think that it would simplify our book-keeping methods somewhat, if they should have the paying of bills coming properly under the head of school expenses, in the same manner that the street commissioner or over- seers of the poor do with theirs. It would not be necessary that the whole committee should give bonds that this power be vested in them. At the beginning of each year let them choose one of their number as treasurer of the board, be to take charge of the finances and pay all bills. Let him give bonds for the faithful discharge of his duties, as do all other officers who have the disbursement of money. He might of course be relieved from some of the other duties of the school committee, but should always have an equal voice in all matters financial or otherwise. CEMETERY. The cemetery, under the management of its board of trustees, shows marks of good care and attention. The lots in the old ground are now all taken up, and also all the graded lots in the new. At the time the trustees entered upon their duties some three years ago, the cemetery was not in very good condition, and quite a sum of money had to be expended at once in the purchase of tools; a suita- ble building built for the use of the Superintendent; a new fence built; gravel bought for the grading of lots, &c. The ordinances provides that these expenses be paid from the cemetery fund. There was no, fund to draw from, so these bills have from time to time been submitted to the City Council, and were ordered paid and charged to the cemetery fund. As fast as lots were sold the money was placed to the credit of this fund, but up to the present time there have not been lots enough sold to pay the ordinary expenses of the cemetery, together with the unusual expense to start with, thus leaving the cemetery fund apparently in debt to the city. This balance last year was $292.63. There have been lots sold and credited to this fund the past year $382.50, and warrants drawn against the fund of $302.94, leaving the balance against the cemetery at the present time $213.07 I learn from the trustees that in their judgment it will be necessary the coming season to lay out and grade new lots, set out quite a number of trees, and make other improvements. As the ordinances require that "all bills for expenses incurred in the care of the cemetery shall be paid by the treasurer of the board," they feel that some fund should be at their disposal to use for this purpose. I would recommend that a small appropriation be made for the cemetery fund which would pay this seeming indebtedness to the city, and which the trustees could use without waiting for the sale of lots to create a fund. The Centennial Burial Ground Association have now a fund of $400, invested in notes of the city, the income from which is used by them with the concurrence and advice of the trustees in aiding in the care of the cemetery. The past year some of the trees were trimmed, and others, where it was deemed advisable were removed displaced headstones were reset; paths repaired, &c. HIGHWAYS, ETC. And in this department I will include the following appropriations made last year: For highways, bridges and culverts, $2500 00 For sidewalks, 800 00 For hauling gravel, 325 00 For stone crusher, 1000 00 Also amount collected by commissioner, 133 74 By the report of the finance committee we find that there has been expended by the street commissioner $3648.74, about $1000; of which was for sidewalks, new and old; $318.74 for hauling gravel; and $100 for land taken in the widening of Greenville street. In addition to this amount there was expended on Winthrop street, by virtue of a contract made by the city with the Hallowell Granite Works the sum of $1000; , making a total of $4648.74 that has been expended on our streets the past year by the city. And I have been informed that the Granite Works have also expended in addition to this amount some $3000. As you are all aware, the City Council last year contracted with the Hallowell Granite Works for the keeping of Winthrop street from the railroad crossing to the Quarries, in repair for five years, the city to pay them the first year $1000; , and each year for four years, $600. Truly it has cost a large sum to keep our highways and sidewalks in the generally good condition that is demanded by public necessity and convenience. Yet if the citizens demand of you, and you of the street commis- sioner, that plank sidewalks be built all over the city, and that every highway and by-way be turnpiked and graveled, and kept smooth enough for a trotting park,- let him do the work as judiciously and economically as he may, a large amount will be expended and taxes increased proportionately. The City Council should be very cautions when ordering the street commissioner to perform work, as while he would of course be very desirous to obey orders, his work must to a great extent be planned early and correspond with the money he has to spend. If after his work as 'laid out is nearly finished, he receives your orders for new sidewalks or new roads to be built, the interests of the city must suffer, or the appropriation be overdrawn,- and the latter except in case of great emergency, 1 hope you will not allow. In making your estimate for this department, these facts should be taken into consideration: That our sidewalks require almost con- stant attention; that the sum of $600 to be paid as per contract must be provided for; and that the amount for the remainder of the city must be sufficient to keep the streets " safe and convenient for travellers," as we by law are obliged to do, and that anything more than this will be for luxuries, very pleasant to have, but possible to get along without. APPROPRIATIONS. One word more in regard to the appropriations: A large part of the expense of the city can be almost exactly estimated and appropri- ation made to just meet them, such as those for city debt, interest, schools, salaries, discount on taxes, police and city watch, but for fire department, engine men, highways, support of poor, and perhaps some others, the best foresight can only approximately predict, as these expenses are to great extent contingent upon various causes not under the control of official discretion such as depression in business or plenty of work; no fires or a conflagration, heavy rains or light showers ; no law suits or a full docket. The best you can do is to exercise the greatest care in making Lip your order for the appropriations. Make them of the smallest amount for each department that you deem reasonably sufficient without being penurious, and then exact of each officer expending the same a rigid economy. And when the order has passed let there be a sincere effort to keep within it. CONCLUSION. Gentlemen, I welcome you each and all to the duties and labors of your position. I have briefly laid before you in an imperfect manner, some of the work pertaining to the interests of the city, upon which you will be called to act. These matters are in your hands ; upon you devolves the responsibility in a great measure, whether the coming municipal year will be one of prosperity and harmony or not; by working together, pursuing a liberal policy to all enter- prises, which are and will be for the, best interests of our citizens ; by vigilance and promptness in supporting your officers in the fear- less performance of their duties, you will at the close of your term of office merit the approving sentence from all good citizens, "Well done, good and faithful servants." Let us not be unmindful that we are in the hands of Him who controls the destiny of nations; and may we so perform the duties of this life, that at its end, we may be prepared to enjoy the blessings He has promised those who take Him for their guide and teacher. J. W. FULLER.