The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-09
BIG MILL FOR
NO. SMITHFIELD
Blackstone Company Gets a
Tax Exemption.
WORK TO BEGIN SOON.
Many Interesting Matters Considered by
Taxpayers at Financial Nesting.
Some Appropriations.

The taxpayers turned out in good num-
bers at North Smithields town meeting
yesterday and when the matter OF eA-
empting the Blackstone company for 10
years from taxes was brought UP the mo-
ton was carried with only one dissent
ing vote The 100000 mill Will now be
assured and according TO the PROPOSE
ton OF the company the mill will be
erected very soon. IL is 10 be 800 feet
long and 125 feet wide and to have about
$1,000 spindles. High grade cotton goods
are 10 be manufactured and business
similar TO that carried on at Blackstone,
Mass. will be conducted in North Smith
field. and the Massachusetts plant will be
abandoned.
The matter was discussed at length be-
fore the vote was taken and among those
who spoke favorably OF II we're hon' y,
White. Mr.. Mowry, Edward Maroney ana
Councilman Fred J. Pitts. Mr.. White
pointed out that the company would Sun
continue to pay tax on $4,000, when Is
property already owned in the town.
Byron Ballou said that he was sur
prised that the Blackstone Manufacturing
company would ask for exemption, when
the North Smthfield taxes are but y on
| a thousand, and they are escaping from
Blackstone taxes of S19.40 thousand
He said he was not opposed TO the
| Blackstone Manufacturing company. but
that he understood that they had a wa
terfal OF 80 feet and had one of the most
valuable water privileges on the Black
stone.
He said that he had no doubt that the
company's representatives feel that they
have been prosecuted in Blackstone In
being taxed sis or 81 per spindle, when
they had offered 10 sell for 81 spindle.
He believed that the corpora ton mem
toned should come to North Smlthileld
Gaping from bondage. He favored tax
ing the company for half the value OF its
property for 70 years and then taxing
them for the full valuation.
The vote was then taken by showing of
hands. and only one negative hand was
seen.
The matter OF having the same school
superintendent for North Smithheld and
Burrllvile was next considered. The
proposal would grant the superintendent
ST. 500 a year half of which would come
from the state.
Henry NJ Greene, chairman OF the
North Smithield committee was In favor
OF consolidating the schools under one
superintendent for three years
Mr.. Arlan Mowry stated that IT was IL
legal to act on this matter at the tax
payers town meeting. because the
statutes provide that the vote shall be
by all the electors Of the town. He
said the question was voted on by the
Burrilville electors at last weeks cleo
tion. He moved that the question be
indefinitely postponed.
After some discussion in which Capt
George A. Smith spoke against 1t the
motion 10 consolidate was turned down
by a vote Of 30 to &C.
Eve thousand dollars was appropriated
for schools. $4,000 for highways, 1900
for the poor and 81 300 for town officers
giving clerk and treasurer a raise of $50
each a year.
The town treasurer was authorized to
borrow $4,000 10 apply on the town de-
partment and not more than three and
n half per cent interest
Nothing has been done regarding the
Waterford horse pool room matter al
though IL was discussed before and after
the building and the general sentiment
seemed that IL should be closed up.
Votes were passed allowing 10 cents
per hour per man and Is cents per hour
per horse for highway work. The sum
OF $500 was appropriated to pay for tut
ton for North Smithield pupils I'm the
Woonsocket high school and $1,000 was
appropriated for macademizing the road
from Arnold Inn to Woonsocket hill as
far as Joseph Wright's place. The sum
OF $l,5o0 was appropriated for continuing
the matchmaking OF the main road be-
tween Slatersvflle and Woonsocket. and
then it was voted TO fix the tax rate at
s. per $1,000. although Moderator Baker
advised a so rate and said that at the
present rate OF taxation and with the
appropriations made the town would be
5000 moro behind a the end of the year.
The meeting adjourned at o'clock.