Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-07-14
WEDNESDAY JULY IA. 1909.
The Power Company Tax.

The Power Company Tax
At a meeting of the city govern
ment Monday evening the mayor and
aldermen took the initiative in
petition to the assessors to abate the
tax of the Bar Harbor & Union River
Power Co. for the years 1908 and 1909
on the valuation added by the assessor
last year in excess of 100000.
The mayor and aldermen take the
ground that it is poor policy to an
tagonize the power company on the
good Offices of which the industrial
future of Ellsworth so largely depends.
Also, that while the city is not legally
bound by the action taken by the city
government in 1905 as the result of
mass meeting, fixing the assessed
valuation of the power COM
pany at $4,000 for ten years,
it is morally bound BY that action,
and the addition of $4,000 to
the valuation last year reflects against
the city, and gives bad impression
to manufacturers who may contem-
plate locating here.
In this connectio: we print below
extracts from a letter written by
Frank Silliman, jr., vice. president of
the power company to one of the edi-
tors of THE AMERICAN. The letter
was written several months ago in re-
Spouse to an inquiry as to what the
company was doing to bring indus
tries to Ellsworth. 1t was not writ
ten for publication; in fact Mr.. Sill
man advised against the publication
of it because oe controversy it might
cause, and it was in no spirit OF criti-
cism or fault finding that he referred
to the action of the assessors in in
creasing the company's tax. In this
connection he wrote:
do not believe that any good will result
from the publication of anything / might
say about the raising of the tax assess
ment, and its effect on our efforts to
induce new industries to locate in Els
worth. It might result in antagonism
Dttuk CIchtCu VI duSibeAlco, nhu Nhat I-4As-
worth and the Bar Harbor & Union River
PowenCo both want is united effort to pro-
mote the city's industrial growth.
There is much greater opportunity to get
new industries to locate in Ellsworth now
that there is power plant there, actually in
operation. than If there was only projected
power plant which might or might not be
built, and which would be entirely dependent
on the location of not only one but Of several
industries in Ellsworth.
We have had negotiations with four differ
ent users Of power. and have fair chance
OF closing with one. One other has distinctly
said that the treatment of the Bar Harbor &
Union River Power Co. by the city of Els
worth in the matter of taxes win prevent the
censummation of his plans unless be can be
secured in some manner against similar
action in his case.
The people Of Ellsworth should not become
impatient because they cannot Immediately
realize to the full the benefits of the work.
1t will take time and continued effort, and the
Bar Harbor Union River Power Co. cannot
do it all. The people of the city must help,
and above all must keep the faith of their
agreements, whether they are legally bound
by them or not.
With such assistance as we can obtain
locally, and in the hope and belief that we
will not be handicapped, we shall continue
our efforts to create local market for our
power. We have large investment in ELS
worth property, and it can be made more
profitable # the power be utilized in the local
market than if it is transmitted to other
points.
These extracts from Mr.. Silliman's
letter ought to dispose OF the wholly
unwarranted criticism that the power
company has no special interest in
Ellsworth's welfare, civic or indus
trial.