Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-10
ABANDONED FARMS
Becoming Serious Problem to
Some Maine Towns.
Otis Peoples Personal Property
Seized to Satisfy Town Debts.
AND EACH ONE MAY PLAY SAME
TRICK ON Ills NEIGHEOR.

Bangor. Mc., Dec. 3.-The abandoned
farms Of Maine have long been q scri-
Gus problem, and one which the state
authorities have thus far tried in vain
to solve. While prosperous conditions
seem to prevail throughout most of
eastern and northern Maine. there are
many small towns which have no in
dustries and depend altogether for rev.
enue upon the soil. When the farms in
these towns are poor and allowed to
run out and property generally dcgen-
crates. a condition of financial depires-
sion exists which In some cases leads
to disastrous results.
A striking instance of this kind has
just come to light in Hancock county.
where the little town of Otis is having
serious troubles. The citizens have had
hard luck of late years their farms
have not been productive and Valua-
ton has dropped off so that there has
not been sufficient revenue accru!ng
from taxes to pay the towns bills.
Some of the creditors who are deter
mined that their bills shall be paid
have now resorted to legal methods
and personal property Of some of the
townspeople have been attached and
seized to settle the claims.
A Bangor attorney has bills amount
ing to nearly $500 on which he obtained
judgment and an execution agains.
the town. Deputy Sheriff Crosby OF
Amherst. empowered with the right to
inhabitants to satisfy the claims of
creditors whom he represented made
descent upon the town and carried
off some Of the finest cows TO be found
there. First Selectman J. r. Grant had
pair of oxen seized. Arden Young
had three COWS taken. George Jordan
lost two cows.
The property thus seized was sold at
auction in Amherst. The proceeds Of
the sale We're not enough to satisfy the
execution and another raid upon the
town property is expected.
Under the provisions of the law. the
men whose property has been seized
20 pay the towns bills can collect from
the town the full value Of such prop
crty with II per cent. additional.
Acting upon this legal authority. one
man has already levied upon a farm
which is advertised to be sold at auc-
ton.
While the matter is a serious one tic
the tow nspeCple. it has its humorous
side. inasmuch as the whole thing
seems to be forming itself into an end
less chain. Every man who has lost
property in the way above mentioned,
ia. -
ner and attach the property of his
neighbor who viii, in turn. pursue a
similar method. Many such actions are
now in progress. ANA there Stems 10
he a mad rush TO be first in attaching
the more desirable property.
1t is argued with reason. that in
short time what little property there is
in the town will have been consumed
by the fees of attorneys and sheriffs.
so that the people of the town are
bound 70 be in wois Sc financial condi-
ton than they are now. Ii Is under
stood however. that an attempt will
be made TO effect a general settlement
in some way.
Several other towns in this section Of
the State have had troubles Of a sim
liar nature but in most cases have
not proceeded to the methods recently
adopted in Otis.
Foxcroft was in a bad position at the
time Of the Hale defalcation and there
was serious talk Of regulating the
debt and asking that the town revert
to a plantation. In this case the trouble
was not due 10 the running out Of
farms. but the result was the same
Foxcroft is now slowly recovering.
having been made with the
creditors on q percentage basis.
The town Of Orneville presents q |
parallel to Otis. jnasmrch as her farms
have deteriorated in value and the"e
is 10 other industry 10 furnish revenue |
or valuation. Orneville not long ago |
was in serious trouble. but some kind
q a settlement was made BIZ hef Sc
l@ctmen whereby the property or Tie
escaped seizure.
Two or three towns in Lincoln coun
IL. il is said. narrowly escaped disco
luton On account Of abandoned or run
out farms.
HAIR AND FAST