The Somerset reporter., 1906-04-05
Last Mondays Meeting.

Both the meetings of Nkowhegan
voters last Monday were OF considerable
Importance but no contests were antici-
pated in the Corporation meeting and a
comparatively small number assembled
at the morning session. The corpora
ton WAS organized in 1852 and has play
ed an important part in the history OF
Skowhegan during slightly more than
half century.
AT the town meeting in the afternoon
there were several incidents quite out OF
the ordinary The committee on by
laws had, after careful consideration,
and conference with many of our citi.
zens, submitted a section providing that
No more wooden buildings should be
The adoption of the provision providing
for fire proof roofing is a step in the
right direction but is not regarded by
everyone az wise substitute for the
measure first proposed. Every wooden
building is u distinct disadvantage to
neighboring property in point of insur.
ance rates and the general prevalence OF
wooden structures throughout the busi.
ness district keeps the rates on all prop
erty higher than 1t would otherwise be
There has been steadily growing ten.
deney to build of brick instead of wood
and it is not likely that many wooden
buildings will hereafter be built foi
business purposes, even If no regulation
is adopted regarding the matter, but
there certainly seems to be something
wrong 10 the present condition which
would allow any one, if 30 disposed. IL
put up wooden buildings on our bust
ness streets regardless of e fleet upon ad
joining property. 1t is Encouraging Il
man who wishes to build brick BLOCK
to know that his neighbor may build {
wooden building beside him at any time
1t is probable that a bylaw, more care
fully drawn, covering this subject will
be presented to the next town meeting
and in the meantime the question should
be carefully considered by everyone
The result of the votes on the ques
ton at issue between Russell Post and
the Trustees of the Skowhegan Public
Library withholds the appropriation Of
$500 which the town made at its last
meeting to assist in maintaining that in
stitution, unless the trustees are able tC
meet such terms as Russell Post hat
seen fit to propose with regard to the
use of the Library Parlors The towr
passed vote at its annual meeting au
thorizing Russell Post to take possession
of these rooms. We understand the
position of the trustees to be that the
town has no jurisdiction over the Public
Library building and that therefore itt
vote was without effect, and that more
over, the board of trustees has no power
to grant Russell Post any rights about
the library building that are not granted
to all citizens of the town. OF cours,
the town can refuse it's annual appro
priation of $500 for the public library and
at the instance of Russell Post, it hal
now done 50, or rather it has coupled
with the appropriation condition will
which the trustees claim they cannot
comply without violation of trust
The outcome of the matter will be
awaited with considerable interest.
The total amount raised at the meet
ing of March IL and the meeting of last
Monday, including also such items at
the state and county and other items
which must be provided for by assess
ment although not necessarily acted
upon by the town, is S74, 681 81. Thi,
SIS 800 in excess of last year total which
was SOS, 791 81