Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-08
Many Witnesses Give The
Cost Of their Houses.
The Edwards Hearing Again De.
voted to Valuations.
Chester A. Messer the Principal
Witness on City Properly.

S'tNAN.sN StSSiOil vi liz LIZ" tti uS
tax abatement hearing was devoted TO
evldu,,ce Of actual real estate translC-
tionS in the cIly during recent years
and list Cf Valuations prep3red by
Chester y. Mcsser OF property in the
| residential section of the city.
Joseph ClOutier, a carpenter, was the
first witness to take the stand. He teS-
titled that he recently bought a place
at the corner of Laurel and State
streets for $500 that was assessed for
$500. On crOss-eXaminatiOn it was
shown that the former owner of the
house charged $1i50 per month for
rents.
George A. LeClair. a clerk in the
postofIlce, bought the place at y Cum
bcrland street May 5, 1905, for $500,
which is assessed for $3.50.
Joseph \. Gagne testified that he
bought the house at A Franklin street
May &c. 1906. for $3.50 that was as
sesscd for $500 and which Anne Casa
vnt valued at $1,000.
George II. Fisher. engineer at the
postoffice, sold the property at the cor
ner of Washington and Monroe streets
for $500 II is assessed for S110G and Mr.
Casavant put value of 1880 upon it.
The former owner charged $1i for the
rents.
+. W. Luce of North Augusta testi-
fed that he bought the Otis Cummings
farm Of "A acres for $1,000. This price in
cIuded some farming tools. 1t is as
sessed for $1275.
Thomas A. Brennan, a letter carrier.
sold the place at IA North street, early
last spring for $3.50. 1t is assessed for
$500.
Mrs. Nellie f. Nichols testified that
she bought the house at the corner of
Bangor and Linden streets for $1,000 and
it is assessed for the same amount.
w. A. Kittredge stated that he re-
Gently bought a place on Murray street
| for which he paid $1oO0 ana when Il
assessed for s14OO.
Frank l.. Webber sold a house for
his sister for s21oO that is assessed for
5000. He also gave testimony concern
mo a Sewall street house which he
handled.
Ella n. Welman recently bought a
house on Melville street for $500 that
is assessed for $4,000. 1t is double ten
! ement house and one side is rented 1or
s11. The other side formerly rented tor
| $40.
Andrew d. Ward sold house one
and a half years ago for $500 that was
| assessed for $500. The rent was sup
nosed to be 81, but it was very difficult
| to collect any of it. The witness also
bought a place on Winter street Tor
| $1,000 that was assessed for $1,000 in 1919
| Npccnr president anu
| MANAGER of the iiesser-Perley Co. OF
| this city. was the principal witness Oh
the day. In his preliminary eXamina-
ton he stated that he thought the
! property on Bridge street was largely
tenenents in poor repair.
| He said that in his opinion the prop
erty bounded by Winthrop, state ana
SewaIl streets and Western avenue
was the very best location for a nome
i'm the city Most of the streets are ma
| ada miZed and there are excellent sew
er facilities. The witness was asked 10
give the length of time that the larger
properties that are now on SAFE hdu
| been in that condition. the Ntich
place. he said had been on the market
two or three years, the Stevens place.
fully as long. the DR.. North place about
one wear and the Elias Milliken prop
ertv was Oh the market several years.
but was finally cut up and sold in lots.
| In the opinion of the witness, the
owners of the Arcade block ought to
| get Il gross rent of $3.50. if 1t was worth
$1,000. That would leave but or 3 per
cent. net in his opinion. Repairs asked
for nowadays are more extensive than