Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-03
LAND AGENTS REPORT

| the year have been considerable important.
He has conveyed of the public lands by deed
13,l9S.02 acres, and contracted to settlers by
Land Certificates 10,sl1.76 acres, also to
the Swedish immigrants 300 acres. In ac-
cordance with resolves of the legislature he
has advertised for proposals for the timber for
ten years on lot in Aroostook for the Maine
Wesleyan Seminary and Female College and
one in Franklin county in aid OF the Milford
and Princeton Turnpike, also on lot in SOM
erset county. Surveys of these lots have been
made, also surveys ofparts of Dickeyvllle
| and Madwaska, also of lands in town OF M t.
Chase, and townships fourteen and fifteen,
range three, in Aroostook, the last being
known as New Sweden.
| The report gives detailed statement OF the
building of roads and bridges and the use of
the appropriations for that purpose, and, re-
marks 1t is believed that the appropriations
made by the last Legislature for the building
and repair of roads and bridges, have been
faithfully expended. The work was generally
done early In the season. The summer was
unusually dry, and the roads, upon which re-
|
much more than they would have been in
| less favorable season.
Mr. Burlegh, was actively employed con-
| siderable time with the Swedish settlement,
but refers to the report of the Commissioner
| of Immigration for mention of his operations
| in that direction. Hon. Noah Barker was en-
ployed as assistant in the Land Office the ear
ly part of the year, but leaving to make sur
veys, Edwin c. Burleigh acted as assistant to
the close of the year.
MUNICIPAL AID TO M4NiFACTJRES.
| No. ii.
THE FuNcTIoNs OF MUNlCIpALlTiE>-[C Cos.
| To the Editor Of the Journal:
| The varied offices and duties referred to in
the former article as fulfilled by municipal
ties without constitutional objection from any
quarter, though exceedingly unlike in charac-
ter, are nevertheless in the public apprehen-
sion and with general consent grouped togeth-
er in one class and described as public offices
and duties That is to say, offices and duties
in which the public do. and may prop
| erly, concern themselves The various ex-
penditures made in fulfilling them are justi-
fed on the ground that the offices and duties
are for public advantage.
| 1t is sometimes declared that these eXpen-
ditures and Offices are justified because matters
of public necessity. 1t can however hardly be
declared necessary, however advantageous it
may be, for towns to keep liquor shops, or a
breeding animal, or to manufacture gas, or
to supply water TO its citizens, or to operate
farm etc. But it may be convenient often
times, and advantageous for them to attend to
these matters and on the ground of conven-
fence and advantage, if it all, they are justi
fed in attending thereto. In fine, public adj
vantage is recognized as valid argument for
public expenditures, and so without dispute,
without question: and so it has been for an
| indefinite time
1t is proper to observe that not all the du
ties above noted are performed by all munich
palities; that part of these may be performed
| for a time, and then discontinued, and then
again resumed; that other duties may be ad-
ded to these, as required; large license,
under the constitution, being allowed either
by law or by common consent, as to what
offices shall be attended to at various times
and under varying circumstances, according
as public advantage dictates.
| THE MUNICIPAL GAS FACTORY.
4 1t appears, then, to examine a special case
somewhat in detail, that municipalities may
without constitutional objection, levy tax
upon their citizens, and invest the proceeds in
a gas factory, either with or without private
cooperation; may erect buildings, purchase
coal and supplies, may perform gas-ftting
service, in competition it may be with private
gas-fitters, or even to their exclusion; en-
ploy all needed hands for all the varied
services involved. They may do this even
though any number of the citizens, less than
a majority be violently opposed to the whole
investment, even though not one-thfd, or
even a smaller proportion, make use of the
gas, or can afford to use it, on account of its
greater cost They may refuse to accommo-
date very many of the citizens who do want
to use the gas, on the ground that the expense
of reaching their dwellings or stores may be
too great, or for other reasons.
Now in all this, it might be alleged with
great plausibility, towns do really take private
property for public purposes, against the
will of the citizen, and without making him
any compensation. "What rights have in
the gas-factory?" the indignant citizen might
exclaim, whose house situated upon the out
skirts of the town, the gas corporation, i. e.
the municipality, refuse to pipe and light
"Yet am taxed against my will, and without
any recompense, to build and run factory
for the advantage Of other folks They won't
light my house or even my street. They
won't give me anything to do, either in build
ing or operating the concern, unless they
please. They hire my neighbor, who dosnt
pay half so much tax as !, but they won't hire
me. They give his son clerkship in the