Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-06-21
GOOD WORK GOES ON.
Recommendations by City CourciI Re
garding the Shoe Factory.
That Il Be Valued at $4,000 for 10 Years
Several in Its Favor.

In joint convention of the city coun-
ell Saturday evening, it was unanim-
ously voted: THAT it is the sense .:
the city government of Augusta that
if the Boyd. Corey 6; Co. shoe factory
be built in this city. its valuation foT
10 years be fixed at not exceeding
$4,000"
In calling the convention to order
Mayor Choate remarked that its action
was only advisory, to be put in more
formal shape at the next meeting oi
the city council. The following gentle
men were called upon, and spoke sub
stantially as given.
C. s. Hichborn, Esq. president OF the
board Of trade, said that the proposed
factory would lie in every way a home
concern, with its office and a minority
of it's stock held in this city. / asks
no gifts, noi. that anybody should be at
any expense. He mad said to them
because the point had been so siren
uously urged upcn them by other cities
actively competing with us to secure
them--that he felt safe in saying that
the municipal taxes would be taken
care of, but, that It was proper that
the corporation should pay the STATE
and county taxes. which are beyepd
our control. If a valuation Of $4,000 was
recommended on a 21a per cent. basis
($125l, then. even If the State assessors
should value it as high as $4,000, call
ing the State and county tax together
4 mills tSl20). the city would receive
more than it would have to pay to the
county and State. and so be nothing
out. Further. il the State and county
tax should exceed the amount paid 10
the city, the Massachusetts, stoekhcld-
ers would he entirely willing to make
up the difference. isut, Mr.. Hichborh
thought that a valuation Of $5e00 would
be sufficient in any emergency.
Ira H. Randall, Esq, said that. last
winter, the board of trade voted to ad-
vertise i'll the Boston papers, soliciting
inquii,.es from large manufacturing
concerns in Massachusetts, and holding
out what inducements they could.
President Hichbcrn had spent much
time in correspondence. and Of all the
many people ne had written and seen,
these parties appeared the strongest
and most reliable. and they mean bust
ness. They have had SO much trouble
where they are now located, that they
voted to go out of business, and they
are very favorably impressed with Au-
gusta, its people and business facilities,
and also Maine's reputation as man
ufacturing State. In the production Of
- Of s,lsa a ny
other section of New Engand-ahead
Of Boston, Lyna and Marlboro. The
company merely wants what many
other cities and towns have oWered-a
certain form of exemption from taxa
tien The board OF trade, as kind III
second cousin to the city government,
can work up a matter like this, but II
is for the city council to assist it in An
official capacity; that is, to do what the
citizens Of Augusta would uphold it in
d0ing-,lo more and no less
Colonel A. S. Bangs said that on
principle he was opposed to exemptions
from taxation and TO the tramp shoe
factories which have short and pre-
carious existence and drop out as soon
as their lease and their exemption ex-
board cf trade. various applications
were received from that class of fac
tories. Since Mr.. Hichborn has been
president, he has made extraordinary
efforts to get at some organization nr
business Of q permanent, substantial
character. and now he had the assur-
aace of a first class organization, of
high standing, which would bring it's
enterprise to Augusta and identify it.
self with the interests of the city. The
city has heretofore taken action in this
line with satisfactory results, and while
he was on principle opposed to exemp-
lions, yet, he said, we have got to keen
up with our sister cities, and he should
be willing and glad to assist in bring
ing this enterprise here and making
them feel that the citizens of Augusta
are in sympathy with them. They will
expend from $4,000 to sl2, ,000 a month
for wages and will bring at least ice
or $50 polls hers. yieldings from $500 to
$500 in poll taxes to the city annually
As to the method of inducing them to
come. whether by exerSftion except
frcept from state and county taxes or
ny a fixed valuation. the city paying
these taxes, he had no theory. No
doubt the citizens who had it in charge
and who will put money into it will ar
range that in a manner satisfactory to
all concerned. Some movement is ab
solutely necessary to keep us moving
ahead as we have been for the last IS
years. and abreast Of our neighbors.
Waterville is making strenuous efforts
in the direction of railroad centers, and
Gardiner in the direction of bringing
trade from surrounding towns. He be-
lieved the city council would show its
hearty cooperation in the movement
by advising the assessors to the action
proposed by the president of the board
of trade ID
A. NJ. Goddard, Esq, said that when
he came TO Augusta in 1882 the cotton
mill was not running. and Augusta was
rather a homesick looking place. Since
then there has been a rapid change.