Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-02
Tax Abatement May Not
Prevail This Year.
Opinion Expressed That city's Agree
ment Has Been Fulfilled.
Full Text Of City Council Votes in
1888 and 1887. AZ;

taxing the property VI thC ~
Manufacturing Co. the same as other
property is taxed; or rather that the
annual abatement of taxes leVleo
against this company, amounting 10
some $4,000, which has been voted py
the city government shall be discontin-
,led, 1t has been the custom OF the
CITY assessors to place valuation upon
the company's property the same as
upon other property and then the city
government would vote to abate a sum
sufficient to make the tax equal to
an exemption upon 100000.
In 1893. the city authorities increased
the valuation upon the property 10
figure beyond the sum of S50O,OOO. when
the CITY council of 1887 voted should
stand for 10 years after 1898; and since
that time the valuation placed upon the
nroperty has been 81 100, 900 and $780,
OCC the latter amount having been es-
tablished in 1898. Attachments have
been made by the city council which
would be equal to tax on $500,0oo OF
property.
Tho history of this whole matter of
fixing the valuation of the EDWARDS
Co for terms of 10 years each is oil IN
terest at this time. 1t will be remem-
bered that in August, 1882. the EdWardS
Manufacturing Co. purchased at pup
lie auction the Sprague property in TINS
city, the price paid being Sl5o'Qoo.
Twenty well-known and leading gen
t1enen of Augusta each purchased $4,000
of the companys stock, amounting IN
the aggregate to 100000.
At that time it was claimed that the
price paid was much below the real
value of the property, but on the other
hand good Judges estimated that this
figure was not far from its real worth,
considering the condition of the prop
erty and the uncertainties surrounding
it's title.
In 1888 the valuation of the property,
made by the board of assessors, the
company held was too high, and in
MAY. 1888, the board, consisting of Will
liam H. Libby, Asa d. Townsend ana
JOSEPH Fl. Wall, gave "a hearing TO the
companys officers in relation to re-
duction of the valuation and taxation
of it's property in this city. AT TINS
hearing President Edwards stated that
the company would make extensive
improvements on the property, provld-
cd the company was taxed at a talr
rate. Following the hearing, the as
SCISSORS fixed the valuation at $490,o6o.
This valuation was not satisfactory To
the company and accordingly measures
were taken to call meeting OF the cit
liens under the provisions OF the city
charter. A request for this meeting
was signed by 225 leading men of the
city, directed to the mayor and board
of aldermen, praying that the meeting
be called. ...-
The meeting took place in Granite
hall, Thursday evening, August, 8, 1888,
and was largely attended. Hon. j. Man
chester Haynes was elected chairman
receiving 2O6 of the 217 votes cast. Mr.
Haynes made few remarks on taxing
the chair during which he said that the
assessors of Augusta had placed a val
uation upon the property of the Ed
wards Manufacturing Co. which was
not on an equality with the valuation
put on other property in this and other
places.
Letters were read from leading cot
ton mill men of this and other states
to the effect that the company's prop
erty was not worth more than $215, 900
Chairman Libby of the board of as
SCISSORS said that the assessors had act
ed in good faith and he believed they
were right. They had taxed the Ed
wards property at s12 spindle, al
though the state valuation commission
had placed the tax at $14 a spindle.
President Edwards repeated what he
had previously told the assessors that
the company would enlarge and develop
its business here if not driven away by
excessive taxation.
VIM. Il. Smith was the next speaker
and urged a liberal policy by the city
so that the unsurpassed water power
here might be developed. He intro
duced the following resolutions:
Whereas, we are satisfied that the
growth and business prosperity of Au-
gusta mainly depends on the develop
ment of our water power by the Ed
wards Manufacturing Co., and
Whereas, The evidence has con-
WINGED us that valuation of $500, 600 on
all of the property owned by said COM
pany taxable in Augusta, would be fair
and reasonable. therefore
Voted, BY the citizens of Augusta
here in general meeting legally assem-
bled, that the total valuation OF said
Edwards Manufacturing COS. property
be fixed at 100000, and be kept at
100000 for 10 years. inclusive of the
present municipal. year"
Hon. j. W. Bradbury and II. H.. Harvey
opposed the passage of the above. Capt.
X. w. Black, Hon. Arson p. Merrill. T..
Il. Pierce. Hon f. O. Nickery and Hon.
James 8. Blaine spoke in favor, while
Capt S. w. Lane read a letter from II. c.
Allen. in which that gentleman advised
the city to use a liberal policy towards
the Edwards Co.
The vote was $50 in favor and 1871 against
and the resolution was declared carried.
1t was then voted that the mayor and
aldermen and the assessors of tine city
Of Augusta be requested to take all neces-
sary steps to carry into immediate effect
the vote passed by the meeting.
Two days afterwards the city council
held meeting and passed the following
order:
Ordered that the valuation of the prop
erty of the Edwards Manufacturing Co.
in Augusta for taxation be fixed in .ht
total sum of s3CO. 600, and that said valua-
ton be kept at said sum of $500 0oc for Il
years, including the current municipal