Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-09
THE CAPITOL ISLAND FRICTION.
"A cottager States the Grievances mat Have
Arisen Against the Association.


edition of your paper issued Sept. 25th
noticed an article on the alleged
friction between the cottagers and the
Association Of Capitol Island. There
are always two sides to every story,
and as but one has been represented in
this case, it seems only just that some
thing should be heard from the other
1t is true that there is a certain
amount of feeling existing between the
i cottage owners and the directors Of the
island. 1t is also true that this feel
ing has been growing for more than
! one season, though not so openly ex-
pressed as during the season just
closed. Your article stated that the
property owners objected" to paying
1or improvements and this, l think, is
unjust to them. for as far as / can
ascertain, no one has ever been con-
suited upon the subject, nor asked to
contribute toward such an end.
| The cottagers have no voice what
ever in the management Of the island,
the association owning all except the
cottage lots that have been purchased
| by private parties. OF course what.
ever improvements are made must be
| on the ground belonging to the asso
ciation-therefore if they do not con-
suit with the cottagers about these i'm
provements. they cannot rightfully nor
| reasonably expect them to share the
expense If the cottage owners were
allowed some voice in the matter, i
think the association would find the
majority OF them willing to pay their
proportionate share Of the expense
entailed by all improvements necessary
to the welfare of the island
In regard to the well. every one
knows the improvements We're exceed
ingly necessary and desired by all thu
cottagers. But as yet, they have not
been consulted nor notified in regard
to any of the steps the association
propose to take. In fact. ii was only
by "hearsay" that the cottagers. when
the work on the well was to begin, dis
covered that the water supply was to
be shut off for few days. If the cot
tage owners are called upon to pay
their share Of the cost Of remodelling
the well. | think the association will
find them very reasonable and willing
- L., a
tax he imposed. the association cannot
complain If they meet with opposition.
As to the baggage express route
which they are establishing. there are
various opinions. Those cottagers liv-
ing beyond the cove will be no better
off than they have been in the past,
if the report be true that il Will end at
the head of the cove. The island Is
small being scarcely one mile in length
and not measuring one-quarter of
mile in its widest part. Ii would seem
that a horse was rather unnecessary.
Hitherto, the baggage has been taken
across the island on wheelbarroW.
or by small boat. This method has
always been satisfactory, the delivery
prompt and the amount paid for the
service has gone into the pocket OF
someone in need Of it. This last sea-
son. there were two baggage men-one
employed by the association, the other
working in his own interest. The hrSt
time | visited the island | employed the
last named individual. who took over
three yrips and basket for % cents.
The second time. I employed the asso-
citation. and paid 40 cents for the same
amount of baggage.
Your article states that the associa-
ton has put in roads at its own eX-
pense | will not dispute that fact, put
if they did it was unnecessary. Inc
amount which the town OF Southport
receives in annual taxes from Capltoi
is in the vicinity of $40 Inc town
should provide roads, and if 1t does
not it should be forced to DO SO
Therefore. expenditure from private
pockets is unnecessary. Regarding
wharfage paid by sailboats-the article
conveyed the idea that 1t was a sort OF
understanding that these boats should
be taxed on account of the expense OF
the new float. l have heard it wills
pered. on good authority, that one Oh
the boatmen (who, by the way. derives
a great part of his living from what
trade he can secure in summer re-
ceived. the last part of this past season.
n bill for wharfage. which included not
ONLY this years taxes but taxes Tor
the two preceding years-the f1oat Is
only one season old. l understand.
also. that the amount of taxation re-
ouired from the steamers is no larger
than that required from private par
ties.
The steamer Anna Bell, making sew
eraI daily trims between the islands
and Boothbay Harbor, ceased stopping
at CAPITOL on account of this taxation
This deprived the islanders of a great
CONFERENCE.-The Islander not being
able to supply her place as her stop In
RoOthbay is for a very short time. and
also at the noon hour, when many OF
the stores are closed. OF course the
association owns the wharf and has
every right to demand what they
please, but it is not customary to DO
this at the other islands, and 1t GER
tainly does not add to the popularity
of Capitol If the association has the
welfare of the island at heart. there Is
one spot where they can put in some
much needed improvements. leaving
the roadways and by-paths till later.
viz. at the hotel. Everyone knows that
to hn G