Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-05-13
ELLSWORTH'S ADVANCE.
some Of the improvements Which
Mayor Davis is Carrying out.

In Mayor Henry L. Davis, the people OF
Ellsworth think they have found a Moses
VINO Is leading them out OF the wilderness
OF ills through which they have long
wandered, and already they begin to see
the light OF better times,
| The new mayor entered upon his dut loo
with none OF the excitement which char
"e'er'Hed the entrance into office OF his
| populist predecessor; he made no inaug-
urai speech consisting of bright hued
promises, but when the moment came for
MIN to don the robes of office, he stepped
TO the side OF the table about which the
| city fathers congregate, took the oath of
office, made five minute speech in which
he outlined some of the things he would
IKE 10 see done IN Ellsworth, and then he
went to work.
Inc same brevity OF words and direct
ness OF effort which marked Mayor
DAVIS entrance into office, are now work.
ing marvellous change in Ellsworth. He
Is saying little, but every day marks the
beginning OF some new work. II ia M
unusual sight to see the mayor swinging
PICK on the road, showing the laborers
at work there what he wanted done and
how to do it. And this is the man at
whom the popocrats, when he was nomi-
mated, yelled "aristocrat", hoping thereby
10 gain the workingman's VOTE
1t may be well to explain before going
further, that besides being MAYOR. Mr.
Davis is also street commissioner of Ellis
worth. When the election OF street COM
missioner came before he board of alder
men, the mayor volunteered to serve in
that capacity without pay. 1t is needless
TO say that the offer was accepted by the
aldermen, and Mayor Davis was then and
there elected. 1t is in the line Of his
duties IN the latter capacity that he is
working some OF his greatest improve
mehts. AT present he dils pidated plank
walks in the business part of the city are
being ripped up to make way for over
hall mile Of concrete walk " hich will be
laid within the next few weeks. New
plank walks are being laid on many OF
the residence streets of the city
But it is not with regard to the streets
alone That the new mayor is working re-
form. 1t has been the practice for wears
IN Ellsworth in the collection OF taxes 70
allow liberal discount on taxes paid be-
lore certain date, and not to charge in
terest until year had passed. This ar
rangement, on the face seems to offer an
lhducement to tax payers to paw their
taxes early and get the benefit OF the dis
count. But when one considers that the
amount paid by the city in discounts is
PAID by the Taxpayers themselves, it
taxes out lew moments figuring to show
that the heavy taxpayer who holds back
his taxes for year, is the gamer by so
doing.
\ few OF the heavy payers were not
$40" to recognize this, giving the tax
collector no end OF trouble, and keeping
the city treasury dry hen money was
most needed. AS consequence it WIS
necessary for the city To make frequent
temporary loans to tide over the running
expenses.
Mayor Davis decided that here was an
opportunity for reform, and this wear a
small discount viii be allowed for the
hrst month after the tax-collectoris
warrant is issued, and after that time
per cent. interest will be added. The
mayor thinks il that Will not bring in
the taxes, nothing will.