Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-19

witnesses We're called on both sides
and the feature of the cross examina
ton was the lively Tits between At
torney Haselton and Manager Ballard
of the American lee Ce
Valuation of Property.
The ease for the American Ice Co
was opened by Hon VIII {. Atkins OF
Gardiner. He explained in opening
that the American Ice Co property in
Pittston had been subjected to an in
crease iii valuation Of Is per cent the
next year after its purchase for no
seeming cause. That increase in valu-
alton caused the American lee Co. to
put in its first appeal and each year
from 19o2 to the present time petit
ton had been filed IN the supreme
court or before the county commits
sioners and each year a reduction had
been made by the court or county COM
missiOners. The only year now in
dispute was 1909. which was now I'M
der consideration. The following
statement was filed by Attorney At
kins giving the valuation and tax
placed upon the American Ice Co.
John Hancock property-Real estate,
~ acres; valuation. $3.50 tax Sl1.38
Kniekerbocker (Smithtown) prop
erty-Real estate, % acres. land; valu-
alton $2d00; buildings. valuation, S13,-
GOO; tools, $500; ice. 5000 tons. 5000:
real tax, $262.50, personal tax. $l71. 80.
Great Falls Gedges1 property-Real
estate, acres land $500: buildings.
$4,000, tools s5oe; real tax. $227.5g
personal tax. 1915.
Independent property-Real estate,
Ii acres land. valuation. $1,000; build
ings, $4,000; TOOLS $1500. ice, LOCO
tons, valuation, $l0,250 real tax.
$465.50; personal tax. s20563
Consumers CWeeks) property-Reai
estate, acres, $500; tax, $S75
Haynes & Dewitt (Nahumkeag1
estate. lie acres, $500:
buildings. $500, lumber and engine.
$500 real tax. $14; personal tax, 81
Commercial tGoodwin,s poinD prop
erty-Real estate s acres. valuation
$500; tax, 81.
Total valuation for 1909. $79400;
total tax for 1909. $i,3S9.5l.
Present Condition of Buildings.
The first witness called was Charles
f. Clark of Randolph, superintendent,
of the American lee Co. and MEM
Der of the Randolph board of asses
sors. He described in detail the con-
dition of the various properties along
the river. Sewage from the Ma
ton Home, which came out of the
Togus stream made the John Hancock
privilege a poor one. The general
of the Smithtown buildings
was poor. In his opinion the valua-
ton placed upon the buildings by the
Pittston assessors was pretty we'll
up"
The quantity of the ice put up in
the winter 190S-09 was poor. 1t was
rotten" and good for nothing" when
it Went in. A man wouldn't take It
for IA gift"
why was the ice of such poor
quality when harvested" asked Oba-
diah Gardner chairman of the State
Board of Assessors.
we didn't get word to harvest the
ice until late; it hadn't been cult
waited properly and there was nothing
to put up but frozen snow" explained
Mr.. Clark.
Mr. Clark said that the privilege at
the Ledges was little used on account
of the hard running tide in the winter
and the rocky shore which was bad for
vessels loading. The wharfage was
all cayed out. The independent
houses We're poor and rotten and the
stacks We're rotted down. The Al 600
tons of ice put up here were just as
bad as that put up at Smithtown.
Mr.. Clark on cross examination by
Attorney Heselton admitted that about
1909 the United State government had
taken care of the Togus sewage. At
torney Heselton asked Mr.. Clark If
the ice that was harvested that year
was not sold To Baltimore and Wash
ington parties. we put it up" was
Mr. Clarks only reply He stated
that ice men reckoned the depreciation
upon the houses at about 10 per cent.
each year after the first five years,
Snow Ice" Put Up.
Assessor Johnston inquired of Mr..
Clark what the general thickness of
the ice harvested in 1909 was and Mr..
Clark replied that the ice was thicl,
enough but some had no clear. black
ice upon 1t. 1t was pretty nearly all
snow ice.
Fred A. Berry of Chelsea testified
that he had been in the ice business
between 80 and 40 years during which
time he had charge of different ice
plants on the Kennebec. He was some.
what familiar with the Smithtow,
property and the condition of TIN
houses was very poor.
Alvin Cuts of Pittston testified tbal
he had charge OF the Smfthtown