Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-02-08


livan make desired appropriations for
Sorrento's roads, bridges, watering
troughs, etc. Some Of the roads, he said,
were not safe. People who come there
during the summer complain Of the roads,
and ask why they can't have as good ones
as does Bar Harbor Tho company and
cottage owners had laid out already in
permanent improvements about $3.50, 900.
They spont $1,000 for private roads last
year. The whole appropriation by the
town for Sorrento was between $1,000 and
$500.
All tho residents on the meek" had
asked for the division save one. A great
many had expressed an intention to come
to Sorrento if improvements could be
made. In the town are about 81 miles of
road. The valuation of the whole town
is about s476, 600 and of Sorrento about
Sl42, 600. AT a town meeting the vote in
relation to demonstrating against division
was 25 to "a
Cross examined he said the company
was organized in 1885 or 1886. 1t was
stocked with 100000 shares at $5. 1t
had doomed to $ll or SIC share. 1t was
first listed at 50 in Boston.
Q.--That company is practically owned
by Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Sinclair?
Al hardly think so.
Q-As matter of fact the company is
not now paying investments
A.-Didn't think it was.
Q.-With all the $3.50, oG0 invested in
Sorrento, the tax is assessed by the town
only upon s26, 600?
Alt is difficult property to tax.
Didn't think the cottagers We're COM
planning of their valuation. On forced
sale the cottages wouldn't bring more
than their valuation. The valuation
upon Mr.. Jones' cottage which cost $780,
900, is between $4,000 and $4,000. Had no
reason to complain of the valuation.
The receipts On Jones electric plant
Will not pay its running expenses. The
waterworks didn't pay. II they could
get more cottages, these plants would be
self sustaining
Q.-Is it one of the reasons that you
want town, that you believe the town
would take these unremunerativo plants?
A.-Should say that was not one of the
reasons.
t,,Ar,t tN, J,sth thnr a
French mans Bay Land Company is un-
der 5000, 600 mortgage. This is the
present resource for keeping the company
alive. To considerable extent the first |
mortgage bondholders are directors in the
company.
@. Do you remember The State tax has
recently been raised from si7o to S1375: |
A. He believed so and he acknow-
lodged this to be due partially to the
the property at Sorrento, but also due to
growth in other parts of tho town.
This was the year when the town re-
fused a certain appropriation asked for by |
Sorrento. One of the roads asked for was
not absolutely necessary but would afford
a beautiful drive.
Mr.. Lawrence's examination occupied |
the greater part Of the afternoon.
Among the witnesses for the petitioners |
were Selectman Connors, Capt. H. l.. |
Wooster, w. J. Lord, II. N. Murann,
Geo. Patten, Geo. Graham and Capt. |
Slower.
The witnesses put on by the remon- |
strants were Henry Boynton, Esq, who |
also acted as associate counsel with Mr.. |
Heath. Senator Simpson, W. o. Emery |
and Il. L. Clapham. The testimony of the |
went TO show that the town |
had acted fairly in the matter of its appro- |
priations and valuations; that the roads |
were in fairly good condition for country |
T )ads ;'.'that the effort to set off the neck |
of land from Sullivan was that of the
land company for speculative purposes. |
Senator Simpson, who was familiar with |
the origin and history of the company, |
was one Of the most important witnesses. |
The arguments We're begun at 10 Z. |
NJ. Mr.. Heath for the rcmonstrants
and Mr.. Lumbert for the petitioners. |
Mr.. Heath argued that the State should
~ m