Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-22
Rines Hill Crossing.

apply to the Legislature of 1909 for leg
islaton which would cause the grade
crossings at Rines hill, Court. Win
throp and Bridge streets to be abolish
ell without expense to the city.
a bill III pursuance Of this recon-
mendation was drawn by the city
solicitor Endorsed by the city council
AMI presented to the Legislature in
February, 1909.
This bill provided that the expense
of the Improvement should be shared
by the tWO railroads in such proper
ton as should be found just. At a
hearing in the following March it was
advocated 10y many citizens.
The Lewiston, Augusta & Water
vile Street Railway was vitality in
terested in that portion of the bill
which abolished the Rines hill cross
ing. Such an improvement by de-.
crcasing the cost of operation and re-
moving the menace of costly acct
dent greatly enhanced the value of the
franchise under which it occupies our
streets. The electric railro I'd man
agcment advocated only those provis-
ions Of The bill in which its interests
and those of the city were identical.
Both the electric and steam roads OPP
posed action relative to Bridge or Win
throp streets. Following this opposi-
zion the Legislature passed the pres
ent act.
In the following respects it is less
favorable to the city's interests than
could have been reasonably expected:
1T does not abolish the Winthrop
and Rri1pa street CROSSINGS.
TT closes Court street.
1T allows an open cut, spanned by
il bridge, instead of tunnel.
1T does not specifically include the
expense and land damage incident to
reducing Rines hill to true grade as
part of the cost of construction.
1T obligcs the city to pay Is
per cent. of the cost, not exceeding fif-
teen thousand dollars.
THE act contained a referendum to
the voters of Augusta. Believing that
relief from the Inconvenience and dan
ger of the Rincs hill crossing was
cheap at any price they adopted it by
a decisive vote.
THE Improvement must by law be
completed before December ], 1910.
The city must see that it is done in a
proper manner, that reasonable facil-
tiles for travel are afforded during the
progress of the work and that there
be kept careful account of the cost,
for Il portion of which the city is liz
bic.
AS it is not likely that the total cX-
pcnse of the improvement will be less
than one hundred thousand dollars the
adoption Of the act will occasion an
expenditure of fifteen thousand dol
lars as the city's proportion. In addi-
ton to this a considerable expendi-
ture must be made for e-grading
Rines hill and possibly for the land
damage incident thereto. OF these
latter changes, the Electric railway,
which is equally benefited by the
change of grade, should bear its just
proportion. All these sums should be
provided for by the present city gov
eminent by appropriation or other
wise. AS the improvement is a per-
manent one do not recommend that
the entire amount be raised by taxa
tion during the present year.
Taxation.
Taxation is the one subject Of uni
'''h' anu Vial interest ~ tlle people
Ut this city and State. I wish it were
permitted me to say that none of our
people were oppressed by debt and
taxation but that all were prosperous.
contcntcd and happy. 1t would be far
more agreeable to me. But the truth
IS the people of this city are Cypress
ed by the burden they bear.
Taxation falls heavily upon some
because it does not fall equally on all.
TOO large proportion falls upon real
astate-upon farm property. The prop
erty of the farmer, both real and per-
5onal of the business man and of the
mechanic who is striving to pay for
ms little home--iS all in sight and eX-
posed to assessment. None of this
class of property escapes taxation. But
these good citizens would not COM
p'ajn were it not for the fact that other
classes OF property in vast amounts are
permitted to escape taxation, in whole
OF in part. Of this they have a right
TO complain, for they are not only
made to bear their own burdens but
the burdens OF others. When all the
property OF the State is-reached and
taxed according to the just value
thereof, the rate of taxation will be
reduced one-half. Then will taxation
fall lightly and be borne cheerfully, be-
cause it will fall equally upon all.
New Valuation Of Property.
"The valuation of property in Au-
gusta has for so years been based
largely on that of the previous years,
and as result comparison of the
valuation Of properties on the same
street will often show the most alb
surd inequalities.
I'm the appraisal of personal prop
erty careful estimates rather than
mere guess work should govern.
Taxation should be equal. 4 citi-
zen whose property is undervalued is
receiving favors from the city. Such
a man. so far as good government is
concerned. is muzzled. He contributes
less than his share and he can make
no complaint if another receives more
than his share.
While it is impossible to exactly
adjust values, 1 recommend that each
piece of real property he carefully list
ed by an adequate description sufti-
Gent to protect the purchasers in case