Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-10
BENTON.
BENTON TOWN MEETING.
Many Changes and Surprises-The
Money Appropriated.

Money Appropriated.
Benton held lively and interesting
town meeting Monday, the largest crowd
for 20 years being present. Town Clerk
III. A. Plummer called the meeting to Or
der and read the warrant o. Z. Brown
was chosen moderator. John Eastman
was elected town clerk by IA votes over
the present incumbent.
For first selectman l.. A. Davis defeated
O. g. Brown by A votes. For second, L.
f. Prentice won by i'll from J. G. Brown
For third, W. f. Alexander beat III. w.
Roundy by 106 votes.
1t was voted to pass over the article
calling for the electinG of town agent.
The selectmen were made assessors and
Overseers of the poor. II. A. Plummer,
Bryant Roundy and J. o. Peaslee were
elected auditors of accounts. George w.
Goodwin was reelected Il member of the
experimenting school committee. The
following constables were elected:
Charles Seavey and John Hosford. Sex
ton, John Drake. The selectmen to be
fence viewers and field drivers. +. S.
Hodgkins, S. M. Reed, f. Monk. J. G.
Brown, Perry Brown and F. w. Wyman
bark and lumber; John Drake and A. M.
| Kent as pound keepers.
r. Roundy. ]. .. Peaslee, Fl. A. Plum
mer, G. Withee. J. c. Brown were APP
pointed by the Chair committee to pre-
pare the list of appropriations for the
ensuing year.
Meeting was adjourned to attend the
| dinner served by tie ladies of the I'm
| proremcnt Society in the room over the
Town hall, and reconvened at -
The report of the committee on apprO-
priations was accepted as made:
| Common schools. $500; High school. 5000;
school books 1925; wood, s125; repairs,
$780, transportation OF scholars. $500;
town debt. $4,000; roads, bridges and snow,
$250G: incidental expenses, $1,000; support
of poor, $500; insane, 5000; State road, 500
Memorial services, 500.
A motion to pass over the article to
buy a hearse was lost. The following
motion prevailed. Matter to be left
with the selectmen, to hire or buy a suit
able hearse."
The article calling for the acceptance
of road at Benton Station as laid out
| by the town was passed over.
| Under the articles which read: ITO
transact any other business that may
come before the meeting" a spirited ar
gument was INDUCED in by several. w
N. Johnson, Il corporation lawyer from
| New York. was present representing the
interests of the United Box Board and
Paper Co This company owns and OPP
crates mill for the manufacture of pulp
at Benton Falls. The company was not
satisfied with the valuation placed upon
the mill and machinery, and through the
lawyer stated the position of the head
quarters at New York. The company
employs from - to 50 men tie veal
around and pays for the labor from Si5 :.
OGO to $4,000 n year. The company was
willing to make the required repairs an(
improvements upon the mill if the tOwr
seemed to be inclined to use them fair
MI. johnson touched upon the large
amount Of wood that was purchased from
the farmers in town. The company con
temniated building several new houses as
soon as the manufacturing manager
could come down to attend to the mat
ter. The amount paid for taxes in Ben,
ton was compared with the taxes in 9th
er towns in which the company operated
mills. One mill placed valuation OF
$4,000 upon the property ard the compa
ny was able to clear up the magnificen,
sum of $4,000 while paying only $500 tax
Mr.. johnson stated that the compan,
asked that a valuation of $4,000 be
placed upon the mill and machinery fol
the period of five years.
/ A large number of arguments wer,
made for and against the measure Pre-
vious to motion, the moderator an
noEnced that the company had paid in six
years the sum of $1,000 in taxes. The fol
lowing motion was made by George
Withee and passed: ''To place a nomina
valuation of $4,000 on mill and machinery
for term of five years"
A matter which stirred the spirit OF
the voters was the introduction of the
| following motion: ITO let the School.
house hall in district No for socia bles
shows and dances, under proper restric-
tions, as laid down by the superintend-
ing school committee" Several desired
to talk upon the subject at the same
time. The moderator was kept busy en-
| deavoring to keep the proceedings IL
regular order 1t was finally passed
| Two made bids for the position of tow,
treasurer and collector. Oscar Fiper al
5 per cent. and Charles Kent at 2 per
| cent The vote resulted in the election
of Piper. 100 to 3d. The collector is to
settle with the town as he has done in
the past. once in the year at the request
of the selectmen.
The meeting was the largest for years,
| adiournng at 2.40.
Several women were present an I'M
usual thing for the town of Benton