Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-13
Auuusta's Prosperity.

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the returns of the State Assessors to
show that the city of Augusta does
not share in the general prosperity
which the State of Maine, and the
country generally. has enjoyed under
the Dingley tariff law, and which
has built up the good city of Water
willie to such an extent that the Sen
tinel, day or two ago expressed the
opinion that it would shortly have a
population of 1000. which we sincerely
hope will be the fact. The Sentinel
bases its opinion that the city Of
| Augusta has Jagged behind the pro-
cessIon, upon the grounds, 1st-That
the assessors returns show only an in
crease of 23n in the number of polls in
this city since 1897. 2nd,-That the
valuation of the CITY since 1897 has
only increased $1.117.76l or an average
gain ger year Of sl24,196.
1t may seem strange to our citizens
that the Sentinel is able to show US up
as such slow city in view of the fact
that we have lost no industries during
the period. but on the other hand have
gained large shoe factory. which is
now being enlarged to employ several
hundred more hands; that we have
built in this city a new car barn and
repair snop, and two new lines of
electric railroad; and that all our in
dustrics are working full time to-day
with a larger force of employees than
made their rounds that year they
found between 50 and 60 vacant rents
including a number of stores on Water
Street To-day there is not a vacant
store on Water Street. and a large
number of our people are waiting for
the building operations now in pro-
grcss which are the most extensive
in many years to provide them with
homes. In residence of y years in
this city we have never seen rents so
scarce here as they have been dur
ing the past four or five years. The
foregoing facts are known to every
resident of this city, and to every
citizen of Maine familiar with its
affairs. 1t is the general judgement
of our citizens that the next census
will show tn largest increase in popu-
lation in Augusta which our city has
had in any decade since the close of
the civil war. And yet the Water
vile Sentinel would have it appear
that we are dccadant community
with little share in the general pros
country are enjoying to-day under the
DinElcy tariff law!
The Sentinel declares that our valu-
alton has not increased as it should
during the past ten years. AS il well
known to those familiar with the
affairs of our city, number of the
oldest and largest estates in Augusta
have. during this period. been settled
up and distributed to heirs residing in
other places. involving some excep-
tinnally heavy losses in our local vaIu-
alton. That our city has by its growth
and development been able to not only
make good these heavy losses, but also
to show a gain of Sill, 76i besides, an
average gain Of S12i.196 a year. would
seem to an unprcjudiced observer, to
he a pretty good showing. even though
the Watorvillc Sentinel does not view
it in this way. AS a matter of fact
there has never been a time in it's
history. that the city of Augusta was
more prosperous. or making a more
rapid growth in all lines Of material
advancement than it is at the present
time.