Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-12-13
Elaor D,wsersf:

El,for Dsuecrsf.
wish for little space In the Demo
crat 10 talk with my brother farmers In
r~gsrd to the present condition OF our
county buildings, and show why there
are very good reasons that their 'oca-
ton he not changed and new ones errct-
et.
First, \ would like to know Why u IL
that every few years three or four inter-
e-ted men (men Who expect to be per-
sonaliy benefited) sudsi~nly discover
that our public boildings are In I'D.
lapliated condition, ipconvenient ana
totally Inadequate for the courts and
business 81 the county, and therupon
sst themselves Immediately al work 70
bring about change OF lccation and the
ercetlon Of new buildings In their Own
village which this time IL south l'sris)
hoping thereby Ia increase their business
and enhance the value of their property
At the expense % the taxpayers OF the
county.
Nov to the.e taxpayers let me say
and \ am warranted In saying) that the
county building. In Oxford County with
the exemption of the jsil) ne regards any
nee,lei repairs or any lncouSenience that
in any way hlndrrs, retArds ar obstruets
the public business, are In much better
retsir aud much more convenient Tor AL
the purposes for which such buildin1s
ar, u.eA, than are the buildings upon .
majority of our farms for the purposes
for which farm balldlng. ar used.
hi. being true, why are we asked 70
incur the great. needless aud uncailed
for expense Of erecting new balldins.
when iho.e ~e already have are amply
sufficient for all the business of the
county. which !. decreasing each year
10 the gentlemen Who ask this think We
have grown so prosperous that We are
Willing tn b. tsxed for a series 81 years
Tor their hen.fitt ot have they forgotten
that the burden 81 taxation rests the
mott heavily upon IA, from the fact that
our farms and our animals are exposed
Ia view, while capital and cash escapes
because covered aud kept from -ishtt
Then, too, Ne are asked Just AZ time
When We we're congratuaiing ourselves
that our county had no Indebtedness,
bat instead. q large surplus In the treas
ury, In consequence ~ decreA.ed pub
lie business. therefore q decrcasei en-
psnditure; lust at the time, too, ~hsn Ne
werr almost huggtng ourselves that the
condition % the treasury Vas such q. '"
warrant the commissioners Ia reduce the
county estimate. fifteen hundred dollars
a year Tor the next two years, thereby
relieving the tax payers Ia the amount
20 thr~e thousand dollars Tor the next
two years.
We are told that the increase Of taxa
ton that will arise for new county build
ing. L. simply a bughesr, and no, worthy
ot consideration. Hut the mortgages
that hang over Va and constantly menace
even the possession 90 our hsms., are
not hugtears, bat something rial and
tangible, for our utmost efforts and those
~ our overworked wives and children
fall Ia ilft them. Our Indebtedness "
not bugb.ar, bat weigh. like an inca-
pa. upon u., preventing our making the
needed repair. on our decsytns homes
aud improvements upon our farms, thus
enhancing their value and enabling Va Ia
live la more comfort aud get bet
ter reward for our lAbors.
ask the farmers 81 Oxford County,
II before Ne Law the additional burien OF
Increased taxation Which would be the
Inevitable re.ul, 10 new county baildings,
u Ne hadn't letter walt until our taxes
are rradjustei upon . more equitable
h.sis,-antil Ne sre not taxed Tor all ne
possess, bat even for all Ne ose. for no
ic,iuction l. made In valuation In con-
sequence Of our mortgages and indebted
ness. while capital In great measure es-
cspes it, lust proportion % the public
hur,iens. Hadn't Ne better walt until
/ farm property ceases Ia depr'cistc In
yAlu. every YEAR, Walt until there are
fewer farmers who are bccoming Dis
hsartenci and discouraged, q. the d.
/ lapidai.d home. and abandoned farms
seen on every road testify To be nov the
true condition % thlngst
might 20 on In the same line were
Il not for taking too much room, but ]
wlsh 10 touch for moment another
point. Capt Bolster Ia his communlcs-
lion say. that nearly every one nova
days travels % the county seai by rail- Ia
south Paris, thence by coach. lie ."-ms
to have forgotten that ~e haven't Got
the four OF I've dollar. that IL required
Tor car fare lying around loose, 80 Tor
economy. sake take our teams Ia save
our money. which. a. sometimes hap
pens, Ne haven't got. Nov have no
doubt that % Capt. Bolster and few
other. In hi. vicinity (snd Ne can readily
understand why) Il appears Ia b. very
much farther and much sleeper grade
20 ~ 90 Pari. llill and back again to
south Paris than II will be when new
Building are erected there, for tho.e
having business al the county .eat Who
live In Woodstock, Milton, Franklin,
Rumford. Hanover. Ando,er, Byron,
Roxbury. Mexico, Dixheld, Peru, Can.
ton. Hartford. sumner, Buckneld, and a
large part % Paris, Ia 20 past Paris HUI
% south Pari. and back BY ia. liill
again on their return Ia their homes.
Ons point more. There Il great dan
gvr that BY any action on the part III the
voters ~ the county In favor OF chang
Ing the location ~ the county scat and
srccilng new bailding. al great cost In
place IL those that nov meet all require
msnis, will cause a division of the coan-
| ~, In which case an Increased TAXATION
/ will D. our portion for all time, for that
part 81 the county left will have To pay
what all have paid heretofore.
GEORGE y. HAMMOND.