Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-12
STATE HOUSE.
Commissioner Sargent's
Trip TO Swans Island.
S (ething About The Island
and its People.
Governor Cobb will Visit Capitol Friday 10
Make Usual Nominations.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Friday, June q, at 10 A. M.

State Highway Commissioner Sargent
mas returned from a trip to Swans
island, Hancock county, where he went
last week for the purpose of comforting
With the road commissioners of the
town in regard to the section of State
road which will be built there this
year. Mr.. Sargent arrived at the
island Wednesday afternoon and re-
turned Thursday. and his visit there
was very pleasant. The idea ~
building a State road on any Of the
islands along the coast of Maine may
seem novel one. but Swans Island IL
one Of the several v here the. work has
been taken up. The amount appro-
priated for the work H. 800 ana the
town will receive in addition thereto
about SO from the State. and while the
amount available will not build many
miles Of road II II enough To make a
beginning. The section Of the island
where the road is 10 b.. built is between
the two postOffices Atlantic and Min
turn. distance Of about four miles.
swans island. although not as noted
az summer resort as are many Of its
sister islands along the coast, is an i'm
teresting place To visit. Ii Is located
about 20 miles south OF Ellsworth and
five miles southwest of fremont. from
which latter place il is reached by
steamer The island is about six
miles long by five miles in width. and
the census of 1900 gave il n population
of l5S souls. In 1906 the report of the
State Assessors gave the number Of
polls taxed as 2lS: not taxed. Is; rate
of taxation. .022 mills: taxes on resident
real estate. s9S,Gl5; on nonresident real
estate. $14 $50; on resident personal eS-
tate, sol $50: on nonresident personal
| estate, 1880; total value. $13'.11S: town
debt sl1O9; taxes assessed on property,
$3676; on polls, 1864.
The value of the live stock on the
| island is S6024. There We're on the
| island in 1905, according to the report
| of the assessors. "a horses and colts. 20
| COWS. and 44S shep. which would seem
| to indicate that sheep raising was one
| of the principal industries. The num-
Der Of vehicles. according to the report
| was IL carriages and seven bicycles.
the former valued at $3.50. The value
Of the stock in trade was sS115. and Of
the shipping, Of which there were 49,
| tons. s549l The value of town prop
/
| schnola in 1905 was $500, and for high
| ways and bridges. $50. Among the
| other Industries on the island We're
| -four stone ana salt plants, valued at
| S225;
| Perhaps the chief industry Of the
| island is it's fisheries, and especially the
| lobster fishery. and every other man is
| a lobster fisherman. The waters IN
| that locality abound in this toothSome
and at times high priced cruStaceah'
and the fishermen of the island make q
nroGtable business Of catching them.
| The noople are home loving and hoSpit-
able and crime is said to be almost
| unknown among them. An instance
which goes to show the nature OF the
island folk was brought to notice on
tbc trip Of the State Assessors 10 the
island last year. The party was t''
take the early morning boat back 10
fremont, and not wishing to disturb
the Ienple in the hotel one of IN" party
| asked the proprietor If he would hpt
leave. The door unlocked so that thtS
| could get out quietly. bless You
e,i1 that functionary, there's no nc'n
a. leavin' the door unlocked, LOT we
| never Jock our doors nights, ana
| doubt if YOU would find 4 door locke"
on the island" Such are the pe"ni'
of the island. The distance OF the
| island from the mainland pfeci'lh-S
~, feasibility Of trouble from Inc
nrnwling tramp. ana as there are
anonr the island folk no thieves 10
| hroak in and steal, there is n" need 81
| lacking the doors. Thus the latch
| ,,-ing il ALWAYS on The outside.
| -, =, ,lo Jata If the nDmin1 tiBnS