The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-10-15
Money Voted to Complete Hall.

The special meeting Of the voters Of
Skowhegan, called as per announce
ment in our last issue, principally to
consider questions pertaining to the
new municipal building, convened at
Weston hall at two O'Clock on Satur-
day afternoon last. The warrant was
read by town clerk, Geo. Simpson, and
Fred F. Lawrence, esq, was chosen
and qualified as moderator.
Under the various articles of the
warrant it was voted to frescoe the in
terror of the municipal building, 10
grade the lot, to furnish it with seats.
stage scenery, furniture, etc, and TO
make up such deficit as had already
been created by reason of the exec IS
of the cost of the excavation and
main structure over the sos, 900 origin
. ally appropriated for them. The SUN
of $50, 600 to carry out the foregoing
is to be raised by selling the bonds Of
the town and the selectmen are au-
thorized TO negotiate for them upon
the same terms as applied TO the pre-
vious municipal hall loan.
There was very little discussion
upon the foregoing articles and the
voters seemed to make the appropria-
tions with entire willingness. The de-
sire seemed to be manifest that the
building should be put through to
completion in creditable manner and
no one appeared to think the S2o, 600
recommended by the committee was
IN excess of the required amount. In
the passage of Article 8, referring to
the grading of that lot, it was request
ed that the committee should obtain
plans for the same and should submit
them for examination to as many peo-
pie as they conveniently could, before
the actual work was entered upon.
This is, of course, with the hope of
ascertaining the wishes of as many
citizens as possible and of profitiug by
consensus of opinions.
1t was voted to empower the select
men and road commissioner to pur-
chase lot of land, designed as a clay
pit, on the south side of Prospect
street, near North avenue. if they
deemed it advisable. 1t was voted to
accept Chandler street and Court
avenue, as described in articles eight
and nine of the warrant.
When il came to the consideration
Of Article ten, Augustine II. Wyman,
one of Skowhegan's board of select
men, took the floor and explained
that, subsequent TO the placing of
article ten in the warrant. the road
commissioner and the municipal Off
GERS had given the matter careful con-
sideration and it seemed to them that
the lot owned by the town on
Pine street might be of special value
TO the town, as the site of store
house or to yield road material, and
that it might be best not to dispose of
it. There was no question, Mr.. Wy
man said, but that the town should
acquire more land and enlarge the
area of the South cemetery, if it could
better plan might be to make the pur-
chase outright instead of effecting an
exchange for the Pine street lot. The
municipal officers are to give the
matter more consideration and report
at subsequent meeting.
There were no articles in the
warrant under which any action re-
garding the renewal of the contract
hnf "a hn
hogan Water Company for hydrant
rental could be taken. The Special
committee, however, appointed at
the last annual meeting, had
made sufficient progress in their
work of investigation to warrant
/ them in acquainting the public with
the terms proposed for renewal by
the Water Company, and this was
placed before the meeting, Geo. w.
Cover, Esq, speaking for the com
been paying about S21O0 per year for
hydrant rental. We have also been
having the privilege of using water
for street sprinkling, for six drinking
fountains and for two watering tubs
without charge. The water COM
pany now propose to charge $500
y
down the number Of drinking
fountains from six to three and cut
out the water for the streets alto
gether In this connection it may be
said that we have never used the
water for but three fountains, the
number they on propose to furnish
free. AS 10 the water for sprinkhng
streets, the own has never made use
of this privilege. The sprinkling is
done at the expense of private
individuals and is likely to continue
to be for some time. The water has
been paid for by W. S. Gilman, who
has had the contract for the work.
1t will be noted that the hydrant
rental is raised about 9400. The
value of the exemption from taxation
may be considered at the present
time as $500 per year as that is the
sum now assessed against the Water
Company. The matter of the three
drinking fountains might be con
sidered as 900, but is not of itself an
important consideration. AS thus
roughly outlined the net increase in
the charge upon which the Water
Company propose to renew their
contract for the twenty years ending
August 1929, is about $3.50.
1t was not expected that the
meeting would do more than discuss
the proposition of the water com
pany. The committee has been
unable to get any proposition from
them until very recently and the one
submitted to the meeting was only
received on Saturday forenoon last.
EUpp then IL waa NOT in form IN he