Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-12
Assessors Begin TabuIa-
ton of Statistics.
Revenues from Corporations
Will Show No Decrease.
Much Interest in the War Manoeuvers
Licenses for Nonresident Sports.
men Ready-The New Corporations
and Other Notes.

The State assessors began, Monday,
the work Of tabulatins the returns from
yhe cities and towns of the State in
preparation of their report to the next
Legislature. The principal item Of
interest. anG the one that will entail
the greatest amount of labor on the
department. is the preparation Of sep
;,rate statistics on the bridges of the
state. This is n matter that has in
volved 4 large amount of discussion,
and the returns as they will appear
in the assessors report will be receiv-
"a with interest.
1t was two years ego that wide
spread opinion that the State should
have n share in the maintenance Of
bridges over n certain length, as it
now docs in the matter of highways,
came to focus in the attempt of the
State assessors to secure data on the
bridges Of Maine. The returns receiv-
ed from the assessors of the various
cities and towns We're for the most
part incomplete and unsatisfactory,
and the bill which had been drawn for
the purpose Of extending State support
to bridges failed of passage.
In til. last hours of the LegiSlat ure 4
resolve was passed instructing the
State assessors to make z more COM
pletc investigation. This they hav"
done. and the returns have now been
received from $50 of the 500 towns Of
| Maine. In order to secure the desired
information, it was necessary to ap-
| pend to the usual blank 4 form for the
required statistics. This year, the re-
turns are for the Most part satisfac-
tory, and the board viii lay n lot OF
valuable information before the I.egis-
lature. next winter.
| Many and diverse are the points on
| which returns are being received.
| Town assessors are required to state
the name of the water crossed by each
| bridge over so feet in length; the length
Of tie span and. separately. the length
of its approa ches; the number of piers;
| whether it is covered or open; its con-
| d,tion as to repairs, the date of it's
| construction; the amount of State aid,
| if any: its MATERIAL; whether situated
on Il State, county or town road. They
arc also required to report on the num-
her of bridges less than 80 feet in
length; the number Of toll bridges; the
amount raised by the town for the re-
| pair Of bridges for the fiscal year Of
| 1905; the amount raised for the same
| purpose for the five years prior ~
| March, 1904; the amount raised for
| now bridges for 1902, and the amount
| for the same purpose for the five years
| prior to March, 1901, the amount cX-
| pended by the town for the repair of
| iron bridges for the same period of five
| years; and the estimated cost of new
bridges to be built in the next two
| years.
Many Of the town assessors supple
| .n"nted their reports with additional
| explanations that sled considerable
| light on existing conditions, but at the
| same time increase the amount of Ia
Dor required in handling the returns.
| MI returns must be in from the city
| ana town assessors before September
| |. IS on that day the tabulation must
hc completed, and the information sent
to the county commissioners of the
! several counties for vcrifcation. Such
| Particulars as are lacking will be OBJ
| tanned by the county commissioners at
| the expense of the town in which the
| deficiencies occur. Tie county COM
| miSsioners are required to make their
| returns to the Stat assessors by Oc-
| tuber l. in order that there may be time
Tor The making Of corrections and the
| final revision of the report.