Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-09
SPECIAL MEETING.
The City Fathers Considet the Rail-
road Subscription.
1t Is Referred to City Solicitor-Minor
Matters.

A special meeting of the city govern
inert was held, Tuesday evening, many
small things being cared for and the
railroad subscription stopped. No de-
finite action was taken on the latter,
but many points were cleaned up.
Summer street from the north end,
south TO Reddington street, was Or
dered graded. The sum of $25 was vot-
ed to E. C. Emerson, the fireman, for
injuries received in a recent fire. Mayor
Blaisdell announced that Councilmen
Goodrich, Allen and Union had been
appointed as members of the Carnegie
library building committee.
A bill from c.. III. Vigue of $40 for
1000 feet of 6-inch sewer pipe and labor
in laying it, was referred to the COM
mittee on streets. The mayor was au-
thorized to contract with w. ii. Moore
for 81 screens for the new City build
ing at cost of $3.50. The order ap-
proprating $3.50 for band concerts was
taken from the table, amended TO 500
ana passed.
The rooms of the new City building
were numbered and defined according
to the plan. In the order authorizing
this. No 10, which fell to a room in the
basement, was omitted by request
The City hall building committee was
authorized to purchase Il fire proof
drop curtain for the hall, provided the
insurance mon demanded this and 1t
would reduce the insurance rate. Ac-
cordng to a proposition read by the
mayor a curtain of this kind, painted
| with an appropriate scene and hung,
will cost S215, or 5000 painted to repre-
sent drapery.
| The subscription made by the city sew
| eral years ago for stock in the narrow
gauge road was then taken up. The
| present company mas quoted an asses
ment of 40 per cent, on the stock sub
Scribed and this is now being paid by the
private subscribers, and the company has
asked for the city's share, $4,000.
| President Atwood of the road, address
cd the council, while w. c. Philbrook
! representing the business men who Wete
| interested spoke to the aldermen. Mr..
| Philbrook stated that the citizens in a
mass meeting had voted to subscribe SO.
| 600 to the road without any conditions.
The then existing city council attached
a condition or rider to the vote provid-
| ing that the subscription should be mace
when $4,000 in bona fide subscriptions had
This, said Mr.. Philbrook, was not war
| ranted by the vote of the people, but
| when questioned about it later said that
| the action WAS perfectly leSltlIudle. H.
mayor had signed the subscription papci
| without any condition.
| AS the subscription of $4,000 which had
| been made to complete the 100000 was
| questioned as being bona tide. Mr. Phil
| brook stated that this was the first to
| be paid and was backed by responsible
parties without any doubt as to the value
| The subscription had been raised by tax
alton and had since appeared on the bal
| ance sheet OF the city. The three old
roads, Waterville & Quebec, Franklin
| Kennebec e Somerset, Waterville <
| Weeks Mills, mad been consolidated by
| the authority of the Legislature, the bill
| being drafted by Hon. III. NJ. Heath Of
| Augusta. Every legal step had been
| taken and the new company had taken
| all the property rights and credits of the
| old company. The original subscription OF
! the city thus became legally due to tins
new company.
Mr. PhilDrook stated that he under
stood that Mr.. Heath had gone over the
| matter thoroughly and that that is his
| opinion and there is absolutely no ques-
| ton as to the legal liability of the city
| to pay the subscription. Mr.. Philbrook
| made a strong argument in favor of pay
| ing. The matter was referred to the city
solicitor with instructions to report al
| the next regular meeting.
| Hall Murray was appointed special po-
| liceman. ID. =. Foster was granted spec
| ial permission to repair the roof of tho
| old Williams house. The meeting closed
| with an animated discussion on the sew
| er question, no definite action being tax