Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-29
WILL REDUCE THE TAXES.
WINSTON Votes to Tax the Helllegswerth Z
whitney New Mill Nominal Sum.

AT Specldl IIlcSIlu8 uciO, odtuIudy
afternoon, the town of Winslow voted
to reduce the taxes on the proposed
new sulphite mill that Is to be erected
by the Hollingsworth & Whitney peO-
pie. The anticipated opposition did
not develop only five. of the 200 people
present in the Town hall. voting
against the measure.
Long before the meeting was called
to order one corner of the Town hall
was filled with men talking over the
probable outcome of the meeting.
to the measure were button-holed by
their townsmen and the facts Of the
case laid down to them, that the pro-
posed measure would be one of the
best things that could happen to the
town.
A few fingered outside talking over
the same question. Everywhere 1t was
the universal opinion that the best
thing that could be done would be to
grant the request of the people who
have done SO much for the town.
Among the most prominent people in
the assemblage was Benjamin Hodges.
the most interested men in the whole
meeting. To the younger men he re-
counted the former days of the town
when there was far less prosperity
than at the present time The exper-
fence he has gained in the las. S. years.
and its expression had it's weight with
the people. During his majority there
have been few town meetings that he
has missed. He was given a cordial
welcome everywhere.
The meeting was called to order at
3 O'Clock by Silas Bassett, chairman OF
the board of selectmen. After reading
the call for the meeting he called for
vote for a moderator to preside and
George s. Payne was elected to that
important Office. When he had taken
the chair he called on expressions from
different members in regard to ex-
empting the company from taxation
that the matter might be fully under
stood.
He had hardly finished speaking
when Norman Bassett gained the floor.
He acknowledged that he paid only
poll tax but said he had put all his
money into his head. He was panied
that the town valued his head no more
than to place 81 poll tax on it. To
him it was worth more, money He
then spoke of the condition of the town
several years ago. before the paper
mill was located there. At that time
the valuation was 500, 900. The tax
rate was Is mills and $1O,5O0 was raised
by taxation for town purposes. AT the
present time $1.200.0OO is the valuation
of the towns property and the tax rate
l6 mills. while the town raises $4,000
each year for it's expenses. He then
went on to speak further of what the
company had done for the town. say
ing that an unusually good school,
house had been built, the lot for which
had been given by the company.
Through the company 800 men were
given employment. 100 of whom live in
Winslow. Should the new mill be built
200 men more would be given employ
ment and the town of Winslow would
have their proportionate part for citi-
Zens.
Reference was then made to what
Winslow was 10 years ago. At that
time the principal attraction was Fort
Halifax. built 200 years ago. Now there
is fort, that Is giving life to the town,
in the shape of the Hollingsworth &
Whitney mills.
The above is only the substance of
his bright characteristic speech that
called forth much applause.
In conclusion he read that which he
wished the town to accept as vote.
Moderator Payne then briefly referred
to the Improvements that had been
made and to the opposition the move
had created. Some had complained be-
cause the tax rate had been increased.
To show for this the town now has IS
weeks for a school term where it once
had but %. In addition an unusually
good highway has been built and all
through the mill. He referred to the
point made by Mr.. Bassett, that the
town would have a chance to be freed
from debt through increased valuation
and then would either have a chance
to reduce the tax rate or make more
Improvements for the same tax rate.
Charles Warren referred to the ad-
the town gained by the mills
so promptly paying it's tax. In conse-
Quence of the company's paying the
tax by the first Of June an order on the |
town. was as good as gold. "If," he said.
'they did not pay their tax by the first |
OF June we should be called on to pay |
at the time when We could least afford |
It," This remark was greeted with |
cries of That's right" from all over
the house.
Representative-elect Dunning made !
4 brief telling speech on what the COM
pany had done for the town in the way
Of paving taxes.
Charles Warren referred to the good |
class Of people which the company
brought as employees into the town.
In conclusion he said: II can't see that
there is more than one side to the
question" He also referred. later, to
the fact that a market would be fur
nished for the farm produce from
even though the greater part
of the people employed in the mill
should live In Waterville. Again he let
Dose his droll side and remarked joco-
sely that 1t was not q great many
years ago when few pounds of butter
and a few gallons Of milk would glut
he markets in Wateryille.
the Following resolution was then
: Whereas The TJoYl;nrawnrth e. whit. |.