The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-07-05

1Otal. vt, ,2295.95
The contingent bills included the pay of
the assessors, and the highway bills includ-
ed $1,000 paid on the bridge contract.
The City Solicitor reported on the Crosby
Inn matter as follows
To THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BELFAST: The question as to the advis-
ability of accepting $1,000 in full settlement
OF all claims which the city now has against
the Belfast Hotel Co., having been referred
to me, will state that upon investigation l
find that there was an understanding be-
tween the promoters of the Hotel Company
and some of the city authorities, or leading
citizens, at the time the stock was taken,
that the taxes on the property should not be
increased by reasons of any improvements
erected thereon.
Such an understanding, or agreement, if
any, and l have no doubt there was, has, of
course, no legal OF binding force; yet if
entered into in good faith, should be re-
Spected so far as it reasonably can be, other
wise no new industry or enterprise will
think of locating in our city.
The claim which the city has against the
company arises out of several sales of its
property for taxes, the city being the pur-
chaser in each case, the sales aggregating
81 ,92O. Some of the sales were collectors,
but most OF them were sheriff's sales on lien
judgments for taxes. The city may have
acquired a perfect title, and may not.
If the title is contested it will involve seri-
be avoided, if possible. Whichever party
wins in such suit wins the whole and the
party losing loses the whole
My judgment is that under all the cir
cumstances, $1,000 in the treasury will be
more beneficial to the city than $500 in a
OSitiOn, a controversy which has existed for
several years, in part / think under mis-
apprehension of facts, will be forever clos
ed, with a chance, if not fair prospect, for
a new hotel in the future, which is one of
the first needs of the city. 1 think, however,
1000, a sum equivalent to the tax on the
property for the present year, which would
be $1O5.
would recommend that the treasurer be
authorized to convey to the Belfast Hotel
Co. all the city's interest in the land and
buildings on Crosby Inn lot, between Main
and Franklin streets, lot 81, Div. l, contain
ing one and one-eighth acres, upon the pay
ment of $1.105.
Belfast, July ., 1900.
GEO. f. JOHNSON,
City Solicitor.
An order was passed authorizing the con-
veyance in accordance with the report.
r. F. Dunton, Esq, appeared before the
municipal officers and presented the case of
the Belfast Light x Power Co. in regard to
its poles and wires on the lower bridge
The company proposes to set separate piles
for its poles, a short distance away from.
but attached to the bridge on the northcrly
side. The poles are to be shorter than al
present. The prayer was granted.
Mrs. Nerietta Bailey presented a claim for
$50 on account of injuries received by fall
ing on the sidewalk. She was given leave
to withdraw.
The committee ou highways was instruct
ed to survey and build the street from tou-
gre>, to \. X. Wood, house
e. II. Sargent, collector If iaNrs. reported
that he has collected and paid "a ;hr tt.a~.
urer on tax "f lSe'. >42..ars.
L. l.. Gentnrr was granted permission M
occupy portion nf High street while IT,
paving his store.
The treasurer was instructed Z" settl" the
claims against Ralph II >hute property ou
payment Of >42.H
The following petithn was presented
The Belfast Improvement Society. having
voted an appropriation for the purpose. ask
permission of the city to care for and keep
in order the grass plots on Primrose Hill
and at the foot of the square.
Mrs. \. \. SMITH,
Miss MABEL MATHEWS,
Miss Louise II HAZELTINE,
Flower and Park Committee for the Bel
fast Improvement Society.
1t was voted that the petitioners may
make any improvements they desire on
such of the propertV named as is the city 5
property. 1t was found that the lot on
Primrose Hill, at the junction of Church
and High streets,is city property, while the
other, at the foot of the square, is private
property, belonging to Dr. F. A. Wilson.
Alderman Shales was authorized to cast
the city's vote at the meeting of the Belfast
Il Moosehead Lake K. r. Co.
An order to sell the Emery and Harts-
horn school houses for S75 passed the Board
Of Aldermen and was tabled in the council
Sanford Howard was elected Inspector of
Buildings with salary and jurisdiction the