Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-08

that fixed the valuation Of the Water
Company pursued the hight course. That
Board wss composed Of william H.
Libby, Orrin Williamson, and Joseph H.
wslI, certainly genfleaaep ir every way
we'll qualified TO perform this duty fairly
and properly.
The valuation Of s5s,J00 placed by
them upon the Augusta Water Company
is--aside from Portland whose company.
bonded over Two millions, and paying
six per cent dividend on its stock, l. taxed
for 500 900 is fhDnsdad doiIars higher
ssaa The safnafton upon any alter Water
comcdxy IN Nafns.
As We have aid. Ia most places the
water companies are exempt from taxa
ton. The places where they are taxed
and which come the nearest 20 Augusta
In valuation are the following;
Valuation
Gssdfa~r t2s 100
WassrviIls. ESQ
Bath, zS.ve,
k<.ehiapA 2S SO
Ia other places where the water rom-
panies are taxed the valuation IL stIll
lower
II NUT BE- borne 10 mind by orr citi-
zens thxt the entire valuation Of the
Water Company has been added 10 the
valuation Of the city before It's advent,
and the amount OF It's tax decreases just
90 much the burden borne ty our eiti-
zens.
The reservoir Of the company, which
Ia taxed for 1000 WAS built upon
piece Of land purchased from the
city, and which before 1t came
into the possession Of the company did
not pay aoy tax whatever.
The Pumping station Is also wholly
an addition to the valuation OF the city.
Many believe that, under the terms Of
the exemption to the Edwards Company,
the pumping station could not legally
be taxed but the company has not made
this point. Indeed IL has never
made the slightest attempt To
escape taxation, but ebeerfuIly ac-
cepted the valuation which the
Board Of Assessors placed upon IL
notwithstanding the fact that 1t was
higher than that Of any water company
10 the State.
Aside from the great general benefit
10 Augusta Of an adequate water supply,
our citizens have the Water Company to
thank for a greater security from fire
losses than they have ever enjoyed before,
a fact which has reduced the insurance
rates annually on Water street alone more
than $1,000. The pipe of the Togus line
Of the company lies wholly on private
property for which IL /, obliged to pay
rental. Not only does the Water Com
pany give Augusta the lowest hydrant
rental enjoyed by any city in Maine, but
By the terms Of its contract it furnishes
free Of charge water for the following
purposes, viz for testing the fire appar-
atus; for public fountain in Monument
Park; for six watering troughs; for
ak drinking fountains; for flushing
sewers; for buildings or rooms used by
the city for city purposes; for drinking
purposes In the schoOlhOuses along the
line OF its pipe in the village and VIII
liams school districts: for all school pur-
poses in the Cony High School; for
sprinkling the streets, and for other pub
lie purposes.
This ia the record Of the Augusta Wa
ter Company, and 1t ia one OF which it
may very justly feel proud. Tie city
gets from 1t more tax and lower water
rates than any other city in Maine re-
ceives from Its water company.
Our contemporary has studiously
avoided abiding to the fact that by the
terms Of the contract, the city n tains
the right of purchasing the entire plant
OF the Water Company, whenever it
chooses to do 30. at an appraisal. If it
Ii indeed that terrible octopus which it
has been pictured, and which. having de
vourcd the greater part of the munici-
pality, Ia now even threatening the Age
ESTABLISHING mt Itself, with all its presses
and type and editors, IL would certainly
seem ~ II the trembling remnant of the
body polite should hasten to avail itself
OF the protection Of this saving clause :
In the face of the plain facts concern
the Augusta Water Company, which we
have given our readers, the Nominations
Of the Age regarding the company, look
ineffably small and cheap. They consti-
tute simply one portion of the annual
deluge of narrow demagogical buncombe
that floods the columns of that organ
every year for few weeks prior to the
municipal election.
The Journal has no space for warfare
Of this character. 1t believes that the
Augusta Water Company is or, dit to
the city. and that the stockholders of il,
both Democrats and Republicans, are
deserving Of the thanks of all our citi-
aens for the good work they have done
for Augusta.
The Journal is thankful, that it has
never yet been necessary in furthering
the course Of the party it stands for, to
attack and disparage the public enter
prises OF our city or to slur the men
who have carried them forward.
This is field which 1t has no desire
to work in. The Age enjoys monopoly
of Ii, with no one to dispute its claim