Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-19

said that that gentleman did not care
ssor tho contract for the building that
he had no other interest in the matter
excert that he wanted the city to nave
a city building. The speaker advo-
Gated the building by some legal means
and he desired that the contract be
advertised all over New England. He
also was authorized to make an offer
from party of capitalists and that
was that the city could have build
ing by paying rental on the same for
a term of 80 years and then the build
ing would become the property Of the
city without further expense.
Mr.. Redington then read the rates Of
taxation. debt and debt limit of the
cities of Maine as published In the
Journal of Monday morning. Mr.
Redlngton said that he had in his pos
session "A petition from over 200
women Of Waterville praying the city
council to build suitable city build
ing. 1t is not fact that il will be
necessary to pay $4,000 right down for
city building. the city could take 20
years to pay for it IL itwas 50 desired.
The speaker asked the audience To
look around and see what they were
offered the following motion:
That the city council be and is here
by instructed by the voters assembled
in mass meeting. to commence as soon
as possible after due delberation, the
construction of ii city building, said
building to contain rooms and apart
mcnts for all the city officers vaults
for the city records. rooms for a pub
lie library, an assembly hall. and an
armory for the militia. The ways and
means To be determined by the city
council Said building not to cost
over So. 200.
! The motion was given second read
+ ing by the moderator.
| Harvey II, Eaton addressed the meet
| ing and said ii appeared to him that
the city was In position to build He
| spoke OF the way the valuation OF the
city is fixed. The Lockwood Mills
property is assessed for but q little
| over 81 jon. 600. and 10 stakeholder in
| that corporation but considers that
property as worth at least s.. 900 600
| He knew OF but one man in the city
that is assessed for $4,000. and there
vas not one person in the hall but
would feel offended If any one said
there is not a man in the city worth
SO. 000. When the saluation of the city
was properly fixed there would be no
more trouble abou, the debt limit as far
as the City hall is concerned.
Hon w. T. Haines was called for.
and in responding said he would like to
hear from some person who was OPP
posed TO the prospect. and as no one
would respond to his invitation. he
could not see why il was necessary for
him to talk on the subject of building
a city hail.
Mr. Haines recalled the first town
meeting he ever attended in Watervilc|
when he made speech, and he had
made a speech in every town meeting
since. The project of 16 years ago was
the sewer plan. that the opponents at
that time claimed would burden thu
town with heavy debt. but the sewers
were put in. and if there was any one
In the hall who with all that the sewers
cost. would go back To- the condition of
things of &c years ago. he should rise
up In his place and oppose the project
of city building.
If any one wanted TO go back to old
days with the water system and the
electric lights. let him stand up and
oppose this project. The present hall
was built i'll 1896 and it had been re-
paired and remodelied. Ii is one such
as you might expect of Benton, it is
one such as might be expected in China
but they have got better Oakland has
a better one, and Fairfield. our next
door neighbor, not half as large as Wa
telville. has palace compared with
Waterville's present hall. Mr.. Haines
spoke of the benefits To he derived from
a convention hall in order that Water
vile might become the convention city
of Maine. Mr.. Hanes was eloquent
ana was frequently interrupted by APP
plause.
DIR. +. l.. Jones was called for. and as
h" rose in his place and addressed the
Chair, the moderator said:
Doctor. won't you come forward"
DR.. Jones: Il can't get forward.
there is not room enough in this City
hall To get forward. If we cannot have
hall in which the voters of this city
can come in and sit down. We had bet
ter burn this one and have a tent"
tApplausel.
The question being on the motion of
Mr. iedington. a large vote was regis
tered by a show of hands in favor of
the motion. only about a dozen voting
against.
DR. Jones then moved that the city
council be informed that it is the desire
of the citizens that city hall should be
built at once and that the said council
should at once lay their plans toward
that end.
II. w. Dunn spoke in relation to the
hall being raised or slanting floor. or
such as is usual in opera houses. He
opposed this part of the scheme. and
also was opposed to the idea of any
body building the structure but the
city.
Hon. S. S. Brown wanted to know
where the city was going to get the
money.
Mr.. Redington:.'I will lend it to the |
city. or find parties that will" CAP
plause).
Mr.. Brown was of the opinion that if |
the meeting adjourned under the pres
ent condition of things, ii would be a |
mistake and the city would not have a |
city hall.
Mr.. Jones NOV al to reconsider the |
action taken on his previous motion.
Mr. Dunn OppoSed such reconsidera- |