The Somerset reporter., 1907-03-07
Annual Meeting Next Monday.

in the year for the people of this COM
munity, is to come to order at Engine
Hall, next Monday forenoon at 10
| Postoffce, Monday morning, and is
printed in full on page three of this
issne. There are 50 articles, seven more
than last year, aud 1t is probably the
! lengthiest warrant ever submitted for
the consideration of Skow he gan voters.
The REPoRTER has attempted to give
its readers a fore cast of the more i'm
portsnt business to come before this
meeting. some weeks since the propo-
sition for new barRsE at the town farm
was discussed, later the candidates for
town officers were made the subject of a
news item and last week the four propo-
sitlons for new sew rs (see Art. 10, 10,
II and 1877 wore taken up and the needs
of each locality and the cost Of the pro-
posed construction we're given with all
aseertainable facts bearing upon the
case. 1t would be impossible to discuss
the propositions under every article IN
these columns, even If such discussion
we're desirable, but our readers will be
! Interested In some observations on the
more important subjects not already
mentioned.
MUNICIPAL PuILUING (ABT 26)
At its last annual meeting the town
voted to buy the Heselton House lot,
aud appropriated $4,000 for tho pur'
pose. subsequently an equity suit was
brought to test the right of the town to
erect a building on this lot and this
right fully established. THIS subject
has been so fully discussed that 1t is very
difficult to present any new facts regard
| ing the matter but 1t certainly should be
regarded as one of the most important
questions which is to come before the
annual meeting. The town now has no
hall large enough for the voters TO
assemble to do business Engine hall
will seat but 1872 people. The town has
now 100 voters and it is probable that
at least 100 of them will wish to take
part in next Mondays meeting. Even
this fraction-less than half of the total
number cannot possibly get into Engine
Hall, even if they are al willing to stand
for the sake of participating In our
municipal affairs. These considerations
should be- sufficient to show the absolute
necessity for action of some kind.
There are other reasons why we need
municipal building. The convenience
of those " no have business to do with
the town officers, and the safety of the
town records are both weighty con-
alterations, and above all this the
matter of civic pride should stimulate
us to build building such as one would
expect TO find In the shiretown of ono of
| Names best counties, one that would
compare favorably with our other fine
structures and bring us up to date In the
matter of town offices and an opera
house. We cannot expect to have the
building without paying for 1t and the
cost is an important sum hut is not In
any sense beyond the ability of the town
10 handle without feeling its burden.
ABOUT MovING BUILDINGS (ART. Al
The purpose of this article does not
appear from its wording but we are ad-
vised that it refers to the custom of
moving buildings through the streets,
upon which there has n3ver been any
restriction. In former years compare
lively little harm was done by the pass
age of building of any size through the
public highway, but now that the tele-
phone, telegraph and electric light
wires have become so numerous, the
moving of buildings is a different prob
lem. AS the matter now stands any one
can move a building, regardless of its
size or value. through any street which
is wide enough to permit it's passage.
The companies having wires In the way
are obliged to remove them and replace
the m after the building has gone along.
and all at their own expense. In the
meantime the public ID disconnected by
interruption to its telephone, and electric
light service, the net amount of damage
done being very great, in some instances
possibly reaching as high as $500. 1t is
understood that the town will be asked
to adopt bylaw which will place reas-
enable restrictions on the moving of
buildings through the public streete.
HIGHWAYS. CART. 5
There will be the usual amount of
business of a general character under
this article and among the special
matters that will require attention will
be the appropriation for Pennell street
This highway has already been accepted
by the town. 1t Is about 90 rods in
length and extends from West Front
street to the Kenpebec river in the vicin-
ity of the plant of the Skowhegan Lum-
Der Go. The cost is estimated at 1900
IN GENERAL
twill be noted that Articles 10, 20. 81
and 81 ask for arc lights for the various
localities mentioned and that articles 81
and SO call for fire hydrants in addition