The Somerset reporter., 1903-03-12
The County commissioners.

session When we went 10 press, Thurs
day noon of last week, having at that
time given their attention largely to ac-
counts and general business.
During the session they received the
following petition:
To the Honorable Commissioners Of
the counties of Somerset and Piscataouis
the undersigned, citizens of the county
of Somerset respectfully ask that you
lay out and establish a county road from
the county road near The Forks hotel in
the Plantation of The Forks In Somerset
county, through the said plantation of
The Forks and through the township
No. l Range K. X. X. known as Moxie
Gore, and township No. r. 4. e. X. r.
known as East Moxie, both Of said town
ship being in Somerset county, and
through the town of Shirley in Piscata-
quis county. to the public highway at or
near the dwelling house occupied BY
Smith Mcclure in the said Shirley, as
we believe that the public interest re.
quire the building of such Il road.
This petition is signed by NJ. l..
French of The Forks and 81 others. and
another for the same purpose was presen-
ed signed by C. L. Huntington Of Blaneh.
ard aud "a others.
This proposed road is by no means a
new project. Petitions were numerous
ly signed for a road on the same route
and presented to the county commissions
ers of the two boards IN 1S4l, the road
was surveyed plans and specifications
were made and these plans and minutes
of the survey are on file in the clerk of
courts office. Again in 1881 petitions
were presented for road between the
same points, The Forks and Shirley, and
survey was made over substantially
| the same route, and there are maps and
plans of this survey. There was also a
petition in 1897 for this road, and when
the two boards of county commissioners
| lined up the petition was denied. The
vote was tie, Somerset commissioners
being opposed to the road and Piscata.
quis commissioners being in favor of it.
In explanation of this action it is stated
that there were but about miles of the
proposed road in Piscataquis county and
| l3 in Somerset. Thus the expense
would be very largely for Somerset land
owners to pay.
A joint hearing by the two boards will
be given at Shirley, June %, the route
will be viewed the 24th and hearing
will be given at The Forks, June 25.h.
The latest survey gives the distance
from The Forks to Shirley II miles, -
in Somerset, in Piscataquis and about
two miles of the Shirley end of the road
is already built
The commissioners also fixed the time
| for hearing on petition for a road
from Askwith Station on the c. z. rail-
road to lockwood near the mouth of
Moose River. This is the territory rend-
cred familiar to Somerset people by trial
of Alexander Terrio for the murder of
Matthias Pare. The route of the psDpos.
ed road is near the Misery stream tote
road Brassua lake and thence to some
point on Moose River in lockwood set
Element. and petitioners ask for bridge
across the river. A hearing will be CIV
en- on this petition at John Holden's in
lockwood on September 81.
Daniel Levi, Esq, who was employ
ed by the commissioners to audit the
accounts of Il. L. Patten, who retired
from the county treasury after term
of 10 years, Dee. 3lst, has made his re-
port to the board. Mr.. Lewis stated
that he made thorough examination of
the receipts and disbursements of the
treasurer for the 10 years, involving the
large aggregate of nearly 5000, 900 and
that he found them very free from even
slight inaccuracies The system of checks
and tests by the system Of double entry
bookkeeping used, facilitated the trac-
ing OF items that at first did not seem
quite clear. He found that the accounts
agreed with the annual printed reports in
every particular. Mr.. Lewis remarked
that, incidentally, his examination gave
him insight into the business methods OF
the county commissioners and the clerks
Of the board, during the period covered
by his examination, and was impressed
with the evidence of care and accuracy
manifested throughout. The county is
fortunate, he said, in having had such
competent, conservative, square men as
officials.