Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-02-08
TO DIVIDE FREMONT.
Lively Hearing Before the Committee

On Towns--For and Against.
The question of the division OF the
town OF fremont was the occasion of a
lively discussion last Wednesday before
the committee on towns.
1t seems that the residents OF South
west Harbor are tired OF living In the
same town with their neighbor In
the western section OF the town OF Ire.
mont, and SO came before the committee
on towns asking for separation. The
committee heard the testimony in the
case for couple of hours, and decided
unanimously the report ought to pass, and
unless the legislature should turn down
the report of the committee, which is
hardly probable, Southwest Harbor will
paddle Its own canoe.
The trouble was ali over schoolhouse,
according to the burden OF testimony.
The petitioners stats ed to the committee
that Southwest Harbor has long wished a
schoolhouse, and last spring put an article
in the warrant to that effect asking for all
appropriation OF $500 for that purpose.
The other residents OF the town eppar-
emily thought that Southwest Harbor did
not need the schoolhouse, at least at such
an expense to the town, aud voted against
the measure. Then came a special town
meeting at which the question . d.
vision was voted upon. and the vote was
almost unanimously in favor OF division.
The vote taken at that time was 1888 for
division, and forty-two against. How
ever, since that time there appears to have
been somew hat Of a change OF sentiment
in the western section OF the town, and
remonstrance, signed by some 1875 tax
payers against the granting OF division,
was presented to tue committee.
George r. Fuller was the first spea 6er in
behalf of the petitioners, and said that
for some years there has existed more or
less feeling between the two portions OF
the town. He spoke about the school,
house matter at some length, explaining
that having no high scaool, many pupils
OF the town attend school else where,
making considerable expense for the
town for tuition.
Al bh5NcI " QucSblDiiS W.T.. u tPE e&-
planned that should the division occur as
provided by the bill, South vest Haroor
would have 26S polls, 259 scholars aud a
population OF $50, while fremont would
have 1865 polls, ABS scholars and 1850 pop
ulation.
DR.. J. d. Phillips testified that the geo.
graphical situation of the town is such
as to naturally call for division, and that
the needs and wants of the two sections
are very different. That the people from
the other section of the town come to the
town meeting feeling that the residents of
Southwest Harbor are asking for things
that they ought not to have, and that
town to be successful financially.
DIR. Phillips stated that II division en-
sued he understood that Southwest Hsr-
Dor would have a valuation of 1929 600
and fremont OF 1888 600.
Other advocates of division were A. /.
Holmes, F. W, Locke, Sheriff B. H. Mayo,
Samuel S. Moore, who said that he
thought both sides would vote for divi-
sion Thursday, and George A. Lurvey.
William W. Heath appeared for the
remonstrants, and presented his case
we'll. Mr.. Heath is the chairman OF the
board of selctmen. He thought that al
together too much has been made over a
iittls friction over a schoolhouse, and
said that there has never been any serious
trouble.
"Now," said Mr.. Heat h, "shouIi we ask
this great legislature to run the lie :, isat we
stiletto through the bowels of our snug
little town over oeggarly s4,0O0?"
Mr.. Heath continued that one would
think from the evidence presented that
tion of the town, and that all the people
in that section was in favor Of division.
He thought that the cry OF education
made here covers something else, and said
that Mr.. Fuller had told him that Ire
mont is not able to support high school.
Mr.. Heath stated that he thought the
people OF the western portion OF the
town are we'll disposed towards the rest
of the town, and that Southwest Harbor
would have got s5 900 toward its school
house had the matter been argued in a
cool, quiet manner.
He thought that few people at South
west Harbor desire to run a paternsl
government. Mr.. Heath In closing asked
the committee to allow all to go home to
one town and settle their differences in q
rational manner at the next town meet
ing.
Mr.. Heath was followed by Enen B.
Clark who opposed the division. AS a
member of the board of education OF the
town he thought the petitioners were at
tempting to place altogether too much
stress on the question OF education. He
said that II the division should be made
fremont would have more roads and
more bridges as well as more schoolhouses
to take care of than Southwest Harbor
That the tax rate would necessarily be
higher than now and would be almost
prohibitive, while the rate OF Southwest