Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-13
AGAIN VALUED.
c, E. PuIinton Appraises
Water Street Property.
Five Other Witnesses Quote
Prices Recently Paid by Them.
Water Street Rent Rolls Produced
By Rem0nsirants.


n,,pd the attention of the court of
county commissioners in the hearing on
the abatement of the taxes of the Ed
wards Manufacturing Company. The
pieces of property on Water street.
concerning which there has been the
most extended examination, were dis
cussed again yesterday and valued by
Charles +. Purinton of the Purintoh
BROTHERS Co. In reaching his results,
Mr.. Purinton used actual rentals with
allowances for water rents, heating and
other extras. His total valuations were:
Pun ntOn Assessors
Water street, West
side 1892, 100 sS4o,6G0
Water street, East
Side 3S6.95o "'z'4''
Mr.. Purinton testified on direct cx-
animation that he had been a resident
of Augusta during the last l. years
and had both bought and managed
property on Water street. He said
further that he learned the trade of
mason and worked at it a number of
years and was employed on the mills
of the Edwards Co. that were built in
1889
Mr.. Purinton stated that during his
for six years a member of the commit
tee on highways and sewers and was
called upon in that capacity to fix
damages to property several times. The
Purinton, Kcnncbec Journal and y. L.
Tel &c Tel. Co. buildings and the Gov
crnor Hill house are buildings on which
Mr.. Purnton said that he had super
wishing charge.
Concerning the Purinton block, the
witness said that tn" owners had had
rather hard luck letting the building
and that until this year the whole of
the building has never been let. 1t was
built i'm 1898, has frontage on Water
street of SO feet and is the last brick
block on Water street before the rail-
road crossing is reached. When the
foundation was laid a stone retaining
wall - feet in height and seven feet
I'm thickness had to be built on the
street side in order to support the side
walk.
Concerning the Kcnncbcc Journal
block, over which there has been Il
great deal of discussion, the witness
said that ii was built in 1899. had
frontage of 63lh feet and was so feet in
depth. The city took nine feet off the
front of tho old building and so
Strengthened the street line. No re-
tanning wall was built, but instead a
foundation of steel piers WAS built. The
side walls are party wallis and were
already built with tn" exception of
about eight feet in height above the
top story of the Purinton block and
six feet on the Masonic temple side.
TIL" witness then went on to give a
detailed account of just how the build
ing WAS constructed. tn" material and
the costs. \ comparison was made
with the construction Of Mill No. Of
the Edwards Co.
a comparison was drawn between
the Edwards block on Water street
and the Purinton block. Tho lists "f
valuations We're produced at this point
and Mr.. Purinton read the items, not
ing conditions and rents as lie went
along.
On redirect the witness stated that
the mills of the Edwards Co. upon
which he worked were well built, til"
joints were well filled with mortar and
that every ninth course of brick was
tied in according to custom. Asked
concerning cracks in brick buildings.
he said that they were almost sure to
appear, but that they We're taken as
matter of course. and not considered as
a serious menace to the life of the
building. If he should find cracks three
feet long in the Edwards mills he
should not consider it an indication
that the building was going to tumble
down Immediately Heavy machinery
might have it's effect on the walls he
said. but there were heavy presses in
the Journal block.
The witness stated that he was in
the city government when the Ed
wards case had it's origin. but was not
a member of the administration that
actually began the case before the
courts. lie also stated that he was Il
member of the government which vot
ed to grant the petitioning corporation
an extension of one year. which it was
claimed was due them on thcir cxCmp-
ton contract.
Nathan Weston of Russell & Weston
was called and testified that he bought
the house and lot at SO Green street
for $4,000 three years ago. after it had
been in the hands Of a real estate
agent over Il year. It is assessed for
$4,000.
The firm Of Russell & Weston bought
Inc Old American Express block at
about tho same time. for which it paid
$4,000. This was considered at least
$4,000 too much and that amount was
posted on the firms books as bonus
paid to the American Express Co. The
property is assessed for SS395.
Warren S. Malcolm of the firm of
Malcolm & Dyer testified that he
bought home on State street for $1,000
on which there is an assessment of
$1,000. He also testified concerning an
other piece of property on State street
and one on Bridge street, both of which
he had bargained for.
W. E. Gage of the firm of Weber
q Gage was the next witness. He
stated that he bought house next to
his own on South Chestnut street last
4 year and paid $1,000 for it. 1t was as
scsscd for $1100 in 1906 Circumstances
were such that Mr.. Gage wanted til,
property and consequently gave a goof