Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-18
Tw0 SIDES OF TIE RIVER.


and purchase upon the eastern side in or
der to cut down his taxes for schools. Be
it known to those unacquainted with our
city affairs, that the city on the western
side of the river has a consolidation of
several school districts into one, in which
the schools are graded, managed by a
competent board of directors, taught by the
most efficient teachers that can be pro-
cured at good salaries, and in which fine
building for High and Grammar school
with modern improvements and furniture
was completed last year at cost of some
thirty thousand dollars on the western
side the old district system which prevails
generally in the smallar towns Of the State
continues. OF course the school tax is
more upon the western side than upon the
eastern. Does. it follow therefore that in
a mere pecuniary point Of view. to say
nothing of other considerations, the east
ern side is the best place to invest money
in taxable property? We mention the
two sides of our river for no other purpose
than because they represent in this school
matter a principle. Let us look at it.
There are some who seem to think that
all taxation for town or city expenses is
money lost to the community. They pay
grudgingly and believe it a virtue to cheat
the assessors all they can conveniently
Every town has such men. Never were
persons more mistaken. Perhaps it is
useless to tell them so, for they wouldn't
believe il if they could. Now of the taxes
which are raised in towns nearly every
dollar is spent within the limits of the
town. Instead of being lost they 60 from
hand to hand, back to the merchant, GRO
Ger, baker, farmer, teacher, road builder,
circulating through all classes of commu-
nifty. Besides creating employment and
business for the citizens they leave roads,
bridges, school houses, education, as their
result, and protect property from fire and
persons and property against rowdyism.
lawlessness, and crime. "Oh, yes, says
Mr.. Penurious, ~ am ready to admit all
that, but what good is public park, or q
thirty thousand dollar schoolhouse, or
graded schools and first class teachers,
and why should we be taxed for such USE
less and expensive luxuries Why can't
we pursue the course they do upon the
other side of the river, stick to the old dis
trict systeme never had but three
weeks schooling in my life. All this cost
Is foolish, useless; it is sheer robbery to
tax me to help pay the bills We can
tell Mr.. Penurious few facts which he
has not thought of. He is not robbed by
the city; he Is treated better than he would
treat himself. There are circumstances
taking place under his nose every day that
would teach him his error if he would I'M
derstand. Our schools upon the western
side of the river bring good families into
the district as well as wealth. They edu-
cate the children. Before five years,
(mark the prediction) the eastern side of
the river win be obliged to go in for the
abolition of the district system, in self de-
fence. Taxation may be little lower
there nov, but the intelligent man with
family or an eye to property interests will
not locate where his children can only get
four or five months cheap schooling, when
he can locate upon the western side and
have ten months for them with the best of
privileges at no more or but little more
cost than upon the other. The same prop
erty is not worth SO much, win not sell so
rapidly nor bring so large price in the
market in towns, where there are none
or very poor public advantages, as in
towns where they furnish such advant-
ages with liberal hand. Massachusetts
has drained away from Maine large
share of our best manhood and wealth
because that State has supplied them pub
lie privileges which they could not have
here. She has been liberal in such mat
tiers through a far-sighted policy. Taxes
have been heavy there in consequence
but wealth has accumulated. No commu-
nifty can have good schools, roads, and
other public advantages without taxation.
In his late report upon taxation Mr.. Wells
says that ''the State of Massachusetts and
the city of Boston take precedence over
all the governments and communities in
the civilized world in respect to the extent
and weight of their taxation" In CON-
pensation for this Massachusetts ranks first
In intelligence and culture and second in
assessed property per capita among the
States, although inferior in natural ad-
vantages to many of them. The same
authority which We have quoted from
above, the report of Mr.. Wells, saws sit
is not by any means to be argued that tax
alton, in itself is necessarily an evil.
"on the contrary. says he, ait can probab-
ly be demonstrated that there is no one act
which can be performed by community
which brings in so large return to the