Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-30


having the seating capacity Of 1924
President Redington presided at last
nights meeting and plainly stated that
| the business Of the meeting was the
discussion of the project to build a
| city building and he desired those pre-
sent who were not members of the
board Of trade to participate in the de-
lberatiOns of the meeting.
| Hon. NJ. G. Foster was requested to
explain to the meeting the plans hung
| upon the wall. Mr.. Foster did this in
a very concise manner. 1t is noted that
the plans of the proposed building al
lowed OF an apartment for the public
| library and that the municipal court
room will be large enough to admit
the superior court. The court room
| would be 53x31 The tower of the build
| ing rises in the center of the Park
| street elevation and will be arranged
To contain a city clock. Mr.. Foster
| said no estimate had been made on the
cost of the building as nothing definite
| had been determined as to just what
would be required for rooms
| President Rcdington said the object
| of the meeting was to make some kind
| of Il stand on the question of having a
| city building for the benefit of the city
council He thought Mayor Webb's
| idea would be to have mass meeting
| of citizens which would express their
desire one way or the another that the
city council might know what the citi-
| zens require them to do
| Hon NJ. G. Foster called for criticism
Of the project or the plans displayed.
| President Redington replying To a
| spectator said no estimate had been
| made of the cost but IL was clear that
the city could have building for some
| where from $4,000 to 500 900 He
| did not think II would require 500 900
or that $50, 600 would quite do it,
G. T.. Mathews was Of the opinion
that most citizens want the building
lie believes the city needs IL ana
should have IL now. John Ware. Esq
| asked If the city was IN a position
| financially to horrow money for tho
| purpose. City Solicitor Waldron said
the city w@s not. IN bis opinion In pa-
| sition to float bonds for the purpose
He believed the building Is needed ana
| suggested that when the building is
| built not less than 81. 800 should b..
Expended. The city has a right to build
| such building for the use OF its diff
cfent departments but the city cannot
| legally build an Opera house III, is
| not IN favor uf raising the rate of tax
| alton. Mr.. Waldron thinks the money
can be raised So that the building
could be pat up this year and in two
years the debt could he made a bond
| Mir. Waldr"n is in favor az locating the
| building as near Main street as pos
| slble.
w. b, Arnold had not ANYTHING in
particular to say other than that the
| city needs the building and the sooner
IL is built the better
| John Ware. Esq. is decidedly in
| favor of building something like what
was mapped out and thinks that a
| good amusement hall or Opera house
is one of the greatest needs of the CITY
| at this time. He wants a substantial
building at Il reasonable cost and thar
would be all that will be necessary for
| many years
Horace Purinton believes that the
building IS necessary and should ~,
| putt at once. If the business men
| take an interest in city affairs. the
city can easily save each year a large
part OF the expenditure for building.
4
ard as regards city buildings. and the
present condition is really disgrace
to the city. The citizens should be al
lowed to vote on the question.
Colonel 4. S. Bangs: Il am inter-
| ested in this matter | am getting
along in years and | have been going
into the old City hall for 80 years. and
/ | have gone into that old pen all II
| RpDreSts hp
largest tax payer of the city we are
willing to be taxed to build a City hall
| | would like to attend one first-class
| performance in a iirst-class hall in
this city. II this matter is postponed
| for 10 years. l may not be here l may
be over the river. l think the build
! ing is necessary. Men of my age can
remember when we had no lights on
| the streets, then we had Kerosene
lamps, and now we have electricity
when we do have it. and that is a lux
| ury. We need a good, substantial
building that would be a luxury"
| Hon. 5. :. Brown was glad to see the
unanimity of the people for an Opera
house A Waterville pastor had told
| his congregation recently that one of
| the greatest needs of the city Is an
| Opera house. and if the word comes
from the pulpit, the city Is bound to
have it. Mr. Brown was frequently
appauded during his remarks. He be-
lieves the open question is the method
of putting the matter through. He
also believes the city council will take
hold of the matter if they can be sat
stied that the people want them to.
| President Redington said he had the
authority Of the Rev. FIR. Charland to
say that the reverend gentleman ia
vors any honest plan through which
the city may have city building and
| Opera house President itedngton
| also. had the authority of John e.
| Home to say the same
DR.. Ressey spoke in favor of the
building. Hon G. +. johnson then Of
| feren the following resolution:
| Whereas. 1t is plainly apparent that
| the city of Waterville needs a new city
| building constructed with the purpose
| of containing quarters for all the diff
crent departments of the city govern
| mcnt. for a free public library; for the
rooms of the superior and municipal
| courts. together with an Opera house
suited TO the demands of the times. |
| therefore be l.;
Resolved. That in the judgment of