The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-19
DeerIng and Portland Finances.

To the Editor of the Press:
When Deering became town, in 1871, 1t
assumed under its act Of incorporation two
thirds Of the debt Of the parent town Of
Westbrook, and 1t was also held to the pay
ment Of large sum. (s1O, ,625) to the new town
Of that name. In 1873. when these matters
had been fully adjusted between the two new
towns, the debt Of Deering stood at S72,Sl7,
which was the highest point 1t has ever at
tanned relative to valuatlon-3.9 per cent. In
1877 1t was 2S3 per cent; In 1887 1t was down
to 1.S8 per cent Then the town built school
houses, an iron bridge. began upon Its sys-
tenn Of sewerage, and raised the per cent. to
$50, where 1t now is.
Mayor True in his inaugural gives the
statement Of debt of his good city. From
this 1t appears that the debt Of Portland has
been reduced 80 per cent. in the fourteen
years from 1877 to 1891, and that 1t now Is,
approximately, per cent. Of the assessors
valuation of 1890 Reports Of assessors
show the average rate Of taxation for these
fourteen years to have been, In Portland 20.
In Deering 1.73. II Deerlng had taxed itself
during these years at the same rates, year
by year with Portland, 1t would have raised
the sum Of slS2,345 over and above the
amount 1t did assess in that time; enough to
have paid the town debt three times over, al
most. II the extra amounts so assessed had
been invested year by year as collected, af-
ter the manner Of sinking fund. the ac-
cumulated fund at per cent. would have
been more than quarter Of million dol
lars.
Since Deering was town till 1890 there
has been no period of six consecutive years,
when 1t could not in that time have paid its
debt by taxing itself at the rates of Portland
for three years, and have had the same
amounts for all charges which 1t actually
had. 1t could have done 1t In this way In
the fre years from 1879 to 1888 Inclusive: or
in the three years 1SS45-6.
During this period Of fourteen wears the
town has expended for new school buildings
an amount larger than the town debt in 1880
In other words the old debt was paid and a
houses.
The abolishing of the district system COM
PEELED the town to build school houses
throughout Its whole territory. This neces-
slty Is now fully met. New school buildings
VIII De needed only as the population IN
creases. But the introduction OF Seoago
water makes the construction OF sewers im-
perative. 1t does not seem, however, tnat
the cost Of these need apPsl any any one 70 Ihe
Deerinr can better build them herself.
The engineers estimate Of cost Of the, pro-
iected system Of sewerage, :-NSn which iLeudes
hrid9s with East Deering is In round num-
beTs $4,000. One-third Of this under the
sewer law falls upon the town equal to 1 A
ner cent. Of the present valuation. Annex
alton adds a debt OF 2.5 per cent. at a iump.
But the sewers will not all be called for at
once. Indeed 1t may be safely assumed that
before the time Of completion Of the whole
system the towns proportion Of its cost will
not be more than per cent Of the valu-
alton.
IL the enabling act Is adopted the debt of
Deering Is doubled. In this no wrong is
done the minority Of voters; they are simply
outvoted, and the majority must rule. But
there does seem to be an Injustice In lmpos-
ing mortgage upon the property Of women,
and children, widows and orphans, who are
powerless to oppose.