The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-04
TOWN is BANKRUPT
A MAINE VILLAGE WITH LIABILI-
TIES OF $4,000 AND AS
SETS OF $4,000
THE PEOPLE PAY NO TAXES
Want the State to Help Them Out,
and In the Meantime Are Watt
Ing for Something to Turn Up
Citizens Cheerful I'm Spite of Adj
verse Financial Conditions No
Money for Schools.


Somerville, Lincoln County-Population
1880. 659: 1890, 453.
Such is the status of the town Of Som
erville, Me-, as set forth in the Maine year
book.
But all Is not told there. Somerville
has story distinguishing it from other
towns. 1t is bankrupt.
From time to time items have appeared
in the Maine newspapers telling of the
appearance Of the selectmen of the town
of Somerville before the state board of
assessors, and the relation by them Of the
story of their towns poverty, coupled
with cry for help
These items have travelled, as evil news
will, and the hard tale of the town 8
bankruptcy has been proclaimed to the
world. Voters In other towns, like Brook
line, Mass, for example, with its valua-
.tion of $70,000,00O, and It's annual budget
for expenses outshining kings ransom,
have wondered what's the matter with
Somerville, Me. go Ce -
Suggestions of hard, grinding poverty,
Of .ceaseless, hopeless, melancholy toll,
have been conveyed in those recurring
times that the selectmen Of the town of
Somerville again appeared before the
state board Of assessors yesterday, and
sought the boards advice as to the best
means Of meeting the obligations of the
town.
To find out why Somerville is bank
rupt, and how Its people feel about it, the
ho 10 bo
Kennebec valley In Maine, with orders to
repair to somerville.
Near a bridge across the Sheepscot lies
the village at the Corners" in Somer-
vile, and a picturesque little place 1t is,
even In winter.
At the first store reached the matter
of taxes was referred to.
Eyes, they're a-sockin' 1t to u.s." said
the storekeeper.
Beyond the bridge is another store, kept
by the postmaster and town clerk, and on
the hill beyond Is a large house, half
farmhouse. half hotel, where the wants
of man and beast are supplied.
While dinner was being prepared the
conversation In the hotel Office turned to
taxation There was a certain cynical
cheerfulness in the tone Of what was
said.
There's people In this town that amt
paid any taxes for ten years." said the
man who had put up the horse. mo,
don't give no excuse. They don't pay,
that's all, and say they won't. The col
lector got tired calling on 'em, guess"
The speaker picked up bottle full Of
brown beans.
"Going to guess on the number of
beans in the bottle tonight for that bas-
ket,'' he explained, indicating small
basket made Of new manila rope, the
kind that in the lower Sheepscot region
Is known as pot warp" being used on
lobster pots.
The basket was gay affair, lined with
blue satin. There was to be dance in
the hall in the house that night, and the
guessing on the beans In the bottle was
an added attraction. The bankruptcy OF
the town did not worry the dancing class,
evidently.
Had a bottle full at the last dance.'
said the promoter of the guessing enter
prise Some of 'em come pretty close
to IT.
Reverting to taxation the information
was volunteered that certain part of
the town of Somerville, together with
part of two others towns, formed what
is locally known as washington terri
tory" where no taxes are ever paid.
This strip of country lies at the angle
of three counties, Lincoln, Knox and
Waldo The Inhabitants find 1t more con-
venient to administer their own affairs,
SO have dispensed with the good offices
of their respective town officials.
'"They go down to Washington and hire
the road machine every year" be it
known, land make their own roads. And
they don't pay taxes to nobody"
SomervilIe is farming town, but its
chief reliance for ready money Is in the
business of making lime casks for the
lime burners at Rockland.
Amt much money in it. according to
local account. by the time man gets
his stock, takes it to the sawmlll, makes
the barrels and hauls EN- twenty to
thirty miles, he can't get rich on IL
cents apiece for EN-, or u cents; they've
gone down lately. takes day to haul
a load to town, and they can only take
100 at a load.
..IIundred and twenty-five, some loads.
corrected a serious-faced lad Of ten, who
had been !: following the conversation.
The boys at Someryille are all little men.
Mr.. Ia W. Soulc, postmaster and town
clerk. was In HIS store. when the Globe
man called. He discussed the condition OF