The Portland daily press., 1889-01-08
pEERINc's WANTS.
The Question Discussed at Length
by Citizens last. Evening.

The Question Discussed at Length
by Citizens last Evening.
Although it was stormy last evening the
citizens of Deering turned out so well to the
meeting in Lewis Hall at Woodfords as to
show that the interest in the question of an
nexation is still very active. Chairman
George C. Hopkins called the meeting to or
der and the discussion of the question be-
gan. Mr.. Hopkins related how the citizens
committee had met the town committee. and
how the two committees had failed to agree
as to the best method of procedure.
The citizens committee are for annexation;
the town committee for a separate city char
ter.
Mr.. Hopkins also explained the provisions
of the enabling act which it is proposed to
present to the legislature to secure the an
neXation. The bill would probably divide
the town into sections for the purposes of
wards. That part to the West would go in
to and become part of what is now Ward
of the city. while the rest of the town would
become separate ward. "A provision would be
put into the bill that all agreements, exemp-
tions and privileges now existing in Deering
Dc lcbdtucus WHli6 bu6 city WOulQ as
sumo the.liabilities of the town. The bill,would
also provide for the issue of about $4,000
worth of four per cent bonds to be deposited
with trustees and sold for raising the money
needed for the construction of sewerage.
which will be needed the most in the region
lying between the city and Morrilps Corner,
at East Deering and at Libby's Corner. So
far as taxation is concerned the bill would
stipulate that the valuation of the real es-
tate in Deering should not be increased un-
til 1900; that after that time the valuation of
the farms should never be placed at higher
valuation than the average valuation of the
farming lands of the county aud that those
nds which are not farms and would not
directly benefited by the
ewers, street lights, ETC., should not have
an increased valuation on account of annexa-
tion.
Mr.. Hopkins followed this explanation
with speech summarizing fully and clearly
the arguments in favor of annexation.
Mr.. F. o. Bailey said that the town COM
mittee had appointed sub committee, on
which were Messrs. L. B. Chapman and
Isaac G. Elder, to prepare city charter, and
that they were now at work upon it.
In response to an inquiry as to whether
the committee now drafting city charter
were TO report to the citizens committee, Mr..
Hopkins said that they were not The cit
izens' committee hoped, however, that there
would be harmony between the two commit
tees.
Mr.. Warren Sparrow thought the town
eommitteeIhad virtually rejected all overtures
ia -
in drafting city charter.
Mr.. F. 0. Bailey explained that Mr.. Spar
rows inference was not correct, because the
town committee was empowered by the ar
ticle in the warrant which authorized it, only
to consider the subject of an improved
method Of town government. This commit
tee had taken legal counsel, and had learned
that it was not lawful for it to deal with the
subject of annexation. The counsel, how
ever, thought that the committee could con-
slider the subject of the abolition of the town
government and the substitution of a new
city government
Mr.. Andrew j. Chase explained that the
vote of the town at the last town meeting
contemplated form of government with
seven selectmen and permanent town Of
fee in charge of a town clerk.
Mr.. Warren Sparrow thought the senti-
ment was very evidently in favor of annexa-
tion.
DR.. Carleton Kimball thought annexation
most advisable.
Dr. Foster wanted to know if the condi-
tlons of the plan of annexation had been
seen by city officials and other influential
men of Portland, and if they approved it.
Mr.. Hopkins replied that it had.
Mr.. j. w. Stockwell presented the follow
ing resolution:
Resotved, That it is the opinion of the majority
of those present that the committee of 21 be in
structed to prepare draft of an enabling act for
the purpose OF annexation.
Twenty-three of those present voted for
the resolution, and no one against A large
number, however, did not vote.
On motion of Mr. A. +. Berry vote was
taken OF all who favored city charter Ten
men voted for it,
Mr.. F. o. Bailey then had a few wo rds to
say about the proposed changes. He thought
the situation should be looked at carefully
and thoughtfully. A change was certainly
needed, and he wanted the different PROPOSE
tlons brought forward. What was needed
first was system Of sewers. Mr.. Hopkins's
bill provided for an equalization of the ratio
Of debt to valuation in Deering and Portland
Now, well Informed people of Portland said
the city of Portland has such assets that
really their net debt was but five per cent of
valuation. Now, putting Deering's debt to
hve per cent of valuation would make it at
S135,000 1t is already 100000; so that
leaves only $35, 900 which Deering could raise
for her sewers: When that was gone she
would have to wait good while for more.
Mr.. Bailey furthermore gave the results of
an investigation of the relative taxes of the
two towns. Mr. j. F. Proctor and Gardiner
d Roberts, real estate agents in Portland,
had each given MIN prices of ten pieces of
property in Deering, which they had sold re-
Gently, and ten pieces in Portland. He had
found out also, the town. and city
properties were located in various
and representative parts of the city and
town. Mr. Proctor's city lots, were on
Vaughan, Danforth, Bracket, Waterville,
and Cumberland; his town lots were at
Woodiord's, Ocean street, Deering Centre,
Libby's Corner, Brighton, East Deering,
Aliens Corner, and Capisc Pond. Now on
the ten city lots the valuation put on them
by the city is 500 per cent of what Mr.. Proc
to got Tor them; on the ten Deering lots the
valuation OF the town is 594 per cent of what
Mr.. Proctor got for them OF ten Deering
lots sold by Gardiner and Roberts the town
valuation is Gig per cent Of the sum realized
from them, while on the city lots the city
valuation is 76s per cent of what was real
lied from the sales This in Mr.. Bailey's
opinion showed that partnership with Port
land would be an unequal partnership so
far as taxes were concerned. He then read
letters from Calais, Watervile, Waltham,
Mass, Ellsworth, &C., to show the good
workings of a city charter. AS regarded
sewers, Mr.. Bailey then called attention To
plan proposed by Col. Edward Moore. viz:
a commission to which the town should loan
its credit for 20 years by an issue of bonds
Mr. Hopkins replied to Mr.. Bailey arguing
that by annexation the sewerage could be
better taken care Of than by any other way.
In regard to the statistics of valuation Mr.
Hopkins cited at least two pieces of prop
erty in which they we're very defective; and
also showed that if the valuation was lower
In Deerlng lt would pc in favor Of Deering
property holders until 1890. Applause