Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-04-09

Jay Wardwell, a most promising young
man of this town, died In Connecticut re-
Gently from typhoid fever, after an illness
of about three weeks. His remains were
brought here for interment, Wednesday.
He was % years of age, and drummer
for Bill & Caldwell, straw goods manufac
turers, of New York city.
Willie Staples, youngest son of Judith
Staples, died Sunday after very brief ILL
ness.
One of the most unique and sensational
turn-Outs that have appeared in town for
many day arrived here Saturday. 1t
proved to be our enterprising neighbor,
George w. Leach, workman in the Ellis
worth shoe factory, who had completed a
journey from Ellsworth to North Penob-
scot, a distance of nearly twenty miles,
with an clephanto OK harnessed in an ancient
looking chaise which must have been used
by several generations of doctors. He
started from Ellsworth about 3 o'clock in
the morning and reached home about 10
o'clock A. NJ, in good condition. He ex-
cited considerable attention on the road
and was greeted with applause.
We had severe snow-storm aud blow
last Friday, the toughest of the season.
We have some good teachers and their
services are readily engaged. Flora Marks
teaches in district No. 5, Estella Perkins
in district No. II, and Florence Marks in
North Bluehlll
J. II. Littlefeld, Esq, arrived home from
Augusta, Wednesday.
Our assessors have been taking the val
uation. The late valuation places the
property of this town about S40,0 high
han hat ~ haa
tive increase in the valuation of the prop
critics of this town we shall not be pre-
pared to believe until all the data have
been fully examined and analysed. Our
farms and farm buildings constitute the
large bulk of the property assessed in this
town, and certainly there has been very
material decrease IN the market values of
these estates since 1880, at least twenty
five per cent. The heavy drain upon our
wooded estates, we think, has lessened the
value of our lumber interests. 70 be
sure some new manufacturing interests
have sprung into existence and quite a
number of new buildings have gone up,
But we think the capital invested in these
enterprises will not offset the decline in
other values. There has been but very lit
tie money or personal property in the form
of notes or other obligation taxed in town.
Farm buildings should be taxed in connec-
ton with the farms on which they are sit
uated as a rule and not be classed with
village or city property of this kind. The
location of buildings constitutes one of
their most important elements of value.
We have seen more money put into farm
buildings than the farm itself, together
with all its appurtenances, would possibly
bring at its highest market value. And
yet all capital thus invested is subject
ed to great waste, and a large part of 1t
paying annual income derived from occu-
pancy of less than a mill on a dollar.
Facts aided by a little fair logic will show
beyond reasonable doubt that the more
than one hundred and twenty three millions
of dollars invested in farm property in the
State Of Name is used at annual loss of
about five mills on dollar With less
than two-tfths OF the capital invested in
manufactures that is represented by our
great farming interests the total receipts
from manufactures are more than three
and three fourthl times those received
from agriculture; aud yet 70 say nothing
Of The millions invested in trade and trans
portation on the back of agriculture is
strapped about nne-half the burden of tax
alton of the State. Agriculture in the
State of Maine to-day is not self-support-
ing. The 10000 persons engaged in sgri-
culture are not receiving the pay of un-
skilled lahorer~, and yet every farmer who
owns and cutiyateS his farm Is capital
i>t, and If by common consent fairly sue
ce>>ful. must be- skilled laoorer, and To
some extent a scientist. sn economist. and
business man OF considerable executive
ability