Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-17

| building plant Ihat DuildS boats ami
auxiliary launches for the sardine
business. together with many new
| weirs which have been built within five
years. The town has no debt and no
| paupers. and is altogether fourishing.
Jonesport has a debt of $I653.33.
| Now this island Gardner's Island, is
| from one half to tWO-thirds of mile
| from the main land of JOnespOrt, and
| it is two miles from Mr.. GARDENERS
| cottage. thence by team to JonespOrt
village is four and three fourths miles.
| From the above cottage to Machies via
| Rogue Bluffs, where anyone would
| have to go to trade Gas there are no
stores at Rogue Bluffs the distance
is about 10 miles. The distance to
Jonesport village by water, where Mr..
| Gardner goes most OF the time in his
steam yacht to get his supplies which
are sent from Boston, is "a miles.
The distance to Machias by water is IL
miles.
There are several other small is
lands included in this bill which they
ask to be annexed to Rogue Bluffs,
which are inhabited by % or 80 fisher
men part of The year engaged i'm catch
ing Holsters, digging clans and tending
fish wers. These fishermen all belong
to JonespOrt. JOnesport fishermen
own all of four weirs at these islands
except one-fOurth of one weir The
fact that Jonesport fishermen own
weirs now built (and there are chances
for other weirs to be builU il would
be a very great disadvantage 10 Jones'
| If ha,
Rogue Bluffs having voted at town
meeting not to grant weir licenses to
non sideiits.
The total value Of the islands Owned
by the Gardeners, including cottage and
stock, is $16.oSO; tax value of the other
islands asked for in this bin $4,000
| Now, Onehalf of the small islands
owned by MI Thompson of Rouue
Bluffs, member of the committee on
towns, was sold for $4,000. The tax
value assessed on this island was $40
by the town of Jonesport. There has
been no chang" in the valuation OF
';ardners Island from 1898 TO 1903:
1903 TO 1894. decrease in valuation of
the cottage and the old homestead of
Geo. \. Gardner. IA - per cent.
Mr.. Gardner has not petitioned TO the
Legislature nor in any way made
known that he wished his property to
be set off from Jonesport and Joined
to tire town Of Rogue Bluffs. have
| q letter written by Mr.. Gardner to Mt
f. e. Sawyer of Jonesport, since the
Legislature was in session. which
will read 10 You. (Read Mr.. Gardeners
letter.
The only reason l see why this island
should be taken away from the town
Of Jonesport and given to the town OF
Rogue Bluffs is because the Inhabitants
Of Rogue Bluffs and nonresident tax
payers want it. 1t would reduce their
lax rate one-half. and 10 doubt would
be desirable for them to have. | cam
not make it appear in any other way
except they wish to obtain a valua ol :
property from another town without
having any claim to it whatever or
giving anything in return. Now,
wish to say a word in justice to N.Y.
self about the hearing before the COM
| mlttee. TWO of the members of the
committee on towns the day this hear
ing was had. the senator from Eenne-
bee and the senator from Cumberland
two gentlemen whom l hold in the
highest este en-, were called away and
were not present when the evidence
was given in behalf of the remon-
strances. and / do not think anyone
can judge Il case impartially when they
hear only one side of the evidence |
think they would have signed the mi
nority report if they had heard the
other SIDE. providing the appropriations
are the same as last year will be three
Fer cent. while that of Rogue Bluffs
would be only OLA if the island is TAX
en- from JonespOrt and given to Rouyc
Bluffs.
If this island goes to Rogue Bluffs
20 per cent. of the tax of Rogue Bluffs
would be paid by non-residents. who
| would almost be released of taxation
by reason of the low rate
The town of Jonesport paid to the
school on Gardeners Island $500 last
wear. Total amount expended by
Rogue Bluffs was $4,000
| Now. gentlemen. YOU will hear con-
siderable said about the channel to the
sea to the west of the island being the
main ship channel and being buoyed
out. Now the ch2nnel that is naviga-
|
the island and the town of Rogue
| Bluffs is deeper and wider than the
channel that leads to the city of Phil
adelphia in Delaware bay from the
ocean. and some of our largest battle
ships have been built by the Cramp
Shipbuilding Co. of Philadelphia
The least water by chart at low
water in the east channel is q feet;
| rise of tides. l. feet. 3 l. inches. mean
tide, making 80 feet depth at high wa
ter which is water enough to float
any ship in our navy and think any
ship afioat.
And EoW, gentlemen. | leave the
matter in your hands. l thank YOU
for your courtesy and attention given
TO ME in this matter. and | hope you
may decide TO accept the report ought
not to pass. / will say. gentlemen, l
have no personal interests in this mat
| Ter Whatever 1t is only because I