Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-11

plainly visible, good roads, a high
school with three teachers for 36 pu-
pills, common schools maintained for
30 weeks of each year, school teachers
receiving the highest pay of any in the
county and $1.05 Per week more than
the average wages paid to female
teachers in the state, liberal expendi-
lures for school Superintendent, free
public library and low tax rate, it be
ing but $500 on each 81 900 of valua-
ton. In addition to all this, land val
ues have increased so that there is no
farm in town valued at less than
$1,000.
The town Of Isle au Haut is situated
at the eastern entrance of PenObscct
bay. 1t is made up of several islands.
with total population in 1906 of 1872
During the last 20 years the taxable
property has Increased about $50,000
This property is all owned by people
who. reside outside of the State, who
,ome here to spend the summer sea
son. One of those visitors has had
ted an elegant and substantial
stone building which has been present
town purp >ses and accommodations for
Z public library. With the aid of these
summer residents the people OF this
small community are enabled to give
their children 2S weeks of school. and.
Notwithstanding. there are only SO
scholars registered two teachers are
employed. and 500 is expended annu-
ally in providing suitable superintend-
ence.
The town of Vinalhaven is another
island town. 1t is situated at the en-
trance of Penobscot bay. Dividing this
tow, from the town of North Haven is
a thorOughfare through which steam
ers and vessels pass. Along the shores
of TINS waterway are several large and
beautiful cottages built and owned eX-
clusively by people residing in Boston,
Baltimore, st. Louis. Washington. d.
c., and other places outside of the
State This nonresident property in
VinaIhaven is assessed for nearly S9D.-
0Oo, returning in taxes about $4,000.
The most interesting feature of this
condition is the fact that the cottages
are located about - miles from the
village, and completely separated from
IllIlc-ltf titS vi tiN l'cPuirS'''i'
occupants DO not even get their mail
through the Vinalhaven post office it
being more convenient at North Ha-
ven. In fact the taxes paid by these
summer visitors are a direct asset for
the town without any expenditure
what except occasionally the eX-
pense of building short piece of road.
North Haven has about the same
amount of nonresident taxable prop
erty and derives Il more direct beneflt
from the cottagers as the residences
are located directly in the village and
TIE merchants furnish most of the sup
plies, not only for the summer homes
but also for the numerous yachts that
visit here.
This description could be extended
to towns east and west along the coast
and include Eden Gar Harbor), with
81 400, 600 of taxable nonresident prop
erty; Sorrento, with S230,00O. Mount
Desert, with more than 81 100000 Ken
ncbunkport with 100000; Wells. with
s275,00O Bristol with S20O,0O0; South
port with 100000; Harpswell, with
$500, 600; Scarhoro, with s450O0O. etc
These few places, selected from the
mary along the coast, have no facto-
ries, mills or other manufacturing es-
tab1shments. so that it is reasonable
to suppose that the nonresident prop
ertv reported is chiefly summer homes
owned by people residing outside of the
STATE.
The direct benefits received by the
towns in taxes is but one of the many
derived from this source. Farmers
living in the vicinity of these summer
residents find a ready and remunera-
tive market for all farm products.
great many of our fishermen find en-
ployment as captains of yachts and
power boats and in many cases their
! own boats are chartered. Including
! their personal services. and always at
a compensation that makes the en-
| pioyment more preferable than Their
| regular business. Many of the old resi-
| dents find work about the estates dur
| ing the summer and as care takers
| when the cottages are not occupied by
| their owners. so that all of the popu-
lation of these towns are benefited IN
q more or less degree by the annual
increase il our population occasioned
! by the coming of the summer residents.
tourists and visitors.
Tie prosperity that is enjoyed by our
coast towns j. III rcd i'll, though to a
lesser de@:C., DV our inland towns.
We iiave mountain and lake resorts
that are as popular as any at the sea-