Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-07

Aseesss Prcposatioc. .11ads b. Well
K~w Augusta . -atIsaaa.
| Edsfors Of tie Kesse5ee yswrssl:
| DEAx Ssas: There have recently sp-
psas.d, :. difne7s times, In you pspsf,
several i,ems snd COMMUNICATIONS IN regard
| - qsssIe.s sor she city on FRS. A. 9 tax
pxy er and cisiz &c Of Augusta, have taken
great Interest in ih. nader Il seems 70
ne. however, fhas no prDptr suggestion has
been m ID, wi 10 carried ont, would
adea asssly provide for the cisy's nssd 10
this direction. In = Tax Pxyer'S lstssf two
easements are made shica merit saesnfon.
the fsss IL: If Il. - I'VE: scvifahle Tor the
city to osn public building Is certainly
should not be until the ci,y 10 able % have
ons fully adapted to sll i1 vAnss-vEch
should include the tye~urers cfiice, rooms
for the two orA1eaes Of gSvefamens, the
city clerk, thu board Of ASSESSOR, thu
municipal court, Af d police headq1azseTs.
With this agree - far - il goes, but that
10 not far enough. The municipal building
must contain An asmoTy for the local
militia company. There should alec
be o@ces for the mayor, the city NJ
tosney, and the more important j1int com
mittees Such building must be srrans-d
20 ~ to be partially self supporting. il not in
deed, entirely 90 "rsx Payer further
states that accommodations equal to thosr
offered by the Savings Bank building NAV
be obtained for ons half the annual cost OF
that building 10 the city, viz $500. This
would not incluie the police station. sl5o
per year. nor Msonian Hall. $500 per
year. totsl according to his nRufes OF
$3.50 per ear. This does not include ail
the necessary room. either, the assessors.
the committees, the municipal eorrt, aud
the atsor.es still being ulproyid.d for.
In the letter from the Hon 8. W. Lane
he ssks what better sccom odatioas than
| the bank building sre offered and st vhss
cost. No reply has been received from
LAX Payer" bu. will be glad to show
the az M AyoF bow Municipal Building cah
De Obtained 1t less cost ib'n the B,ns
b1ildins and the sc.ttersd Offices For u
must be borne in mind that the Bank builf-
ing will cnlv contain proper quarters for
about one suird Of Ihe city's basioess and
officers
AZ the wee. end Of the KenDsbec bfidge
on the south side 10 large amount Of land
owned by the Hoo. j. II Williams 1t
ms lItbtHBe VIC W." WV So
street and low water mark, Of over 60 feet
and RUS back for . Very considerable dit-
tauce II is = sold granite ledge. which
according to several experts whom l have
consulted sn from nv o.n experience 10
rebuilding the wall of my store, would
afford an uneqaalled bed for fouDdaiiops
nave talked Toe matter over with the owner
and have found him, Ia this matter a. ! all
T. L. huth Ia foh hal fg
city. From my knowledge of M VIII
liams feel at liberty to state ihsi che c'tr
would not .uff = in any trade tn {
il might make with him. But, /"
order to give the outside cost If the
building sm Ab,ut to propose | will place
the cost Of suitable lot win the full front
age on the bridge at $1,000. Upon this lot
At . cost Of only $40 900 cJuli be erected
building that would be al ornament and
credit to the capital Of the State. On the
level of River street would be the police
station, municipal court room and lookup
At the bridge level would be room for t~o
stores Is wide - any in the city. 3 broad
entrance and stairway, and several fine
Offices. One Of these stores would be used
for the city treasurer and collectors office.
the other and The Offices would be rented.
On the second fl Tor would be ali the CITY
Offices ard officers, aldermen and councils
room, etc the third floor from the bridge or
fourth from River street would be devoted
to q large and high hall and several rooms
for armory purposes Does not this plan
snsver Hon. S. W. Lance first request for
n better proposition for municipal quarters
than the one advanced in favor of the Bank
building?
Now ~ to the second part Of his interro-
ga,ion q to the cost. According to Tax
Payers figures, which have not been con-
tradicted the Bank building would cost the
city $1,000 q year. Add to this the police
station $50 . year. Meonisn Hall, at $500
a year, and G. A. r. hall for council meet
ings at "a. 90 night, once in every four
weeks, makirg $50 year, . grand total OF
$500, exceeding Tax Payers limit Of
$3.50 by $3.50.
The lot and building l propose would
require an issue Of s25 900 worth Of bonds
At per cent this would be $1,000
. year interest and allow for per cent
discount on the sale Of the bonds. To this
add the cost Of 9 janitor, $500 year, also
$500 q year for insurance and repairs, 3
most ample amount and the gross annual
cost would be 1880, from this. however.
subtract At least $500 which store in such
. very desirable location would rent for,
and at least 5000 year that the offices on
the bridge floor behind the stores would
bring. viii not include the profit on th.
Armosy Hall. This would make the net
cost Of ruch builiirg only $500 year
Below Tax Payers" figures By $3.50
below the cost Of the Bank building ard
offices By 500 a year. Remember tie
srest advantage that would accrue TO the
CITY in having every enc OF its officers and
offices together; in owning its build
ng; think Of the location, at
point where every citizen of Augusta
would be accommodated in his transactions
With the city. simply ask the level
headed business men ard tax payers OF
Augusta to look into the plan and see
whether or no it is not the best offered l
have talked With many Of the leading men
and ind that they all spprove of this plan.
Very respectfully, ]. E. DEvIsE.