The Portland daily press., 1891-05-05
ANNEXATION OR NOT.
Tho AntIs lAre BEGINNING TO Stir In
Deerlng.
They Put In a Solid shot Yesterday
Noon.
Prospects OF Big Town Meeting
when the Vote Comes.

thriving neighbor's domain. The annexa-
| tionists who expect TO meet little organized
| opposition, will probably be disappointed.
There Is not much apparent activity on the
part of the anti-annexationists but the
careful observer will see some OF the old
chieftains of the clan housing about In
| quiet way that means ''look out" The an
nexationists are elaborately organized, and
| will make brilliant fight. 1t has been
thought that II the annexationists could put
800 votes into the meeting they would be
/ sure to carry their cause. But one Of the
most experienced politicians in Deering de-
clared the other day that 500 ivotes could not
do 1t. II this is so, 1t means that there Is
the prospect of one of the largest meetings
in the history Of the town.
| Yesterday, the anti-annexationists, who
have been lying low so far. began to put In
| few blows. The. heaviest blow was pam
phlet that was sent through the mails and
| delivered yesterday noon. The paternity OF
| the pamphlet Is not assumed by any ne,and
1t is not rabidly anti-annexationist on Its title
page; but as the reader gets into 1t he finds
| that its tendency will be to make votes In IA
vor of the old order Of things. 1t Is espe-
clally intended to fire the hearts of the farm
ers and prejudice them against the city taxes
and the city assessors. Whoever wrote 1t
knows what the English language is for. and
| how to use it.
The following extract embodles the main
| arguments advanced by the pamphlet:
"Some of the taxpayers of Deering have
come to the conclusion that annexation to
Portland under this act, which includes the
whole town, would not be for their best in
terest and that Of the town. Following are
a few of their reasons:
Contrary to their expectations, after
hearing so much about an inflated and 'ex-
cessive' tax valuation. so made for the pur-
pose OF keeping the rate Of taxation down,
| they find that the State Valuation Commits
sion for the. purposes Of assessing the state
tax and Of making our valuation ratable
with the rest OF the county, doomed the
town of Deering for about S470,000. addi-
tional valuation; that is, over one.sixth Of
lands valuation they added doom Of about
one-eighteenth of their total valuation, while
Cape Elizabeth Jared better than Deering at
| their hands. Many towns in the county
were doomed, but the one In which the Cum
beTland county commissioner has his resi-
dence. namely Deering, fares the worst.
Surely. Deering must have been flagrant
case of undervaluation.
This difference between one-sixth and
one-eighteenth is one-ninth of the whole
valuation. On tax rate Of $40 on $780,
Deering's rate for '9c-it accounts for over
So Of the $40. III united to Portland, our
valuation must, in due season, be adjusted to
compare with the higher standard Of the
rest of the then city, Notwithstanding the
unconstitutional provisions of the enabling
act fixing the valuation for term Of years.
(rhs provision, fixing the valuation for ten
years, IL not unconstitutional, saves itself
from that at the expense Of stnltiiying itself
In its last clause, where IL provides that ann
circumstance affecting the value Is sufficient
for change OF valuation.) As said above,
this difference between the Portland and
Deering standards of valuation will account
for difference In Deering's favor Of over So
on $1,000 in the rates OF taxation OF the two
places and 81 on $1,000 figured on Deering's
aggregate valuation means annually $500;
| In 10 years, S3S, 900; enough money to actu-
| ally pay for and maintain very extensive i'm
pr0vements, which would be ours In fact;
| as much, If not more money than the act
provides for as a Deering Improvement fund,
to be spent, however, as the city council
shall direct.
Taken from another point of view, $500
per year VIII pay per cent interest on a
bonded boz de6 indebtedness or permanent loan Of
spent ationce in Deering without increas-
ing our taxes above what our present rate
would be IL assessed on Portland standard
of valuation.
"Again our rate of S1s in 30 would have
been but SIT II our valuation had been as
high as the Portard standard No ones taxes
would have been less. however, for 1t would
have been In the valuation instead Of the
rate. Portland's rate for the same year was
$40 20.
"Deering's tate for the coming year Is
estimated at S19, the same as last year.
POrtlands assessors estimate their rate at
S23 70 on $1,000 In spite of the higher valu-
alton, equal to about S26 on a valuation as
low as Deering's. How would our farmers
fare at the hands of the Portland assessors,
when, after ,appraising $36.OOO0O0 Of city
property, still hard pressed, as they always
are for more money for city purposes, they
come out to look over the farmers who are
holding and using their land for farm pur-
poses? Will they be in frame of mind to
| sympathizs with them, to understand that
| the land is not house lots In the market, but
hay fields? Farmers, judge for yourselves.
considering the improvements and the
advantages which we enjoy, Deering's rate
| of taxation IL not high even at $40. Com
pared with other places In the state of equal
| size and standing, 1t Is less than most any Of
| the cities, less than our nelghb0r, West
| brook, as low as in Cape Elizabeth, lower
| than In Waterville. Upon inquiry. the
| Waterville assessors estimate their rate Of
taxation for 81 at $40. Hallowell estimates
| at $40; Bath estimates S235 80. For the three
preceding years Baths rate averaged S22;
| Westbrook estimates $40.
Speaking Of improvements and advantages,
Deering has probably the best system of
| schools to be found in any town In the state,
| comparing more than favorably with many
| of the cities. under the supervision of COM
| mittee OF seven, part of whom are under the
| provisions of our special law. elected each
| year to serve three years, thus ensuring
| continuity Of method and purpose. We have
| supervisor elected by them from their num-
Der so exceptionally proficient that our in
FAINT mother, Westbrook, has also borrowed
| his services in that behalf.
"We have special sewer act, amended by
| this last legislature so that 1t Is eminently
| equitable and adequate for all the future
needs Of the town. Two systems Of sewer
/ age have already been commenced under
this law, one to include the watershed from
Deering's bridge to MorrilPs Corner, the
| other to include East Deering village. Prob
ably others will soon follow II needed.
"The last legislature also created sewer
commission for Deering, one member Of
which Is elected each year to serve for three
| years. They Will have control OF the con-
struction Of sewers and of the sewer assess
ments.
"Deering has the same water supply as
Portland, and superior and cheaper supply
for electric lighting. Deering lights are 1000
candle power, those in Portland are said to
be 1900 Deering pays 500 per light, Port
land pays considerably more.
"Our friends, the annexationists, are great
ly concerned about our fire department We
have now hand fire engine In the largest
| village, hose houses with carriages supplied
with hose in nearly every section of the
town, which, taken together with the Seba-
| kOs 10 NV % sSa @SA saAAAJ oosVO0
localities; and after all, annextion will not
| make Deering geographically nearer
| to Portland. Deering can buy and support
| one. two, or any number of steam fire en-
gines as cheaply as Portland can for her :;
| Deerlng must buy and support them, annex
alton or not, II we have them, or else Port
| land must donate them to US. viii Portland
| do thatf Portland has not yet satisfied her.
self. Commercial street wants more protec-
tioD, the West End is asking for more. Sha II
we go to Portland for that purpose, only to
see the two or three additional fire engines
which we want and have paid for, placed on
Commercial street and at the West End
| when by buying for ourselves we can make
sure of them? We should remember that
| Deering Is twice the area of Portland. 70
| protect Deerlng as effctually as Portland Is
| protected would require then twice as many
engines. OF course we do not need them
| and 1t would be gross extravaganza to have
| them, but fewer engines would not cover the
| ground as Portland Is covered. We are al
| ready protected as we'll II not better, consd-
ering our Sebago and the proximity of Port
land, against any extensive c0nftagration as
| any place of our size In Maine; moreover, II
1t should be thought necessary Deering can,
at much less cost than we should be assessed
for the purposes Of the Portland Fire De-
partment If we were part of Portland, OBJ
| tain a connection with the Portland fire