The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-03-13

point near II. T. Jewetts. SIPS; to
construct sewer on Jewett st. from
the present main branch of the sew
er on Madison Ave. across Jewett ST,
| connecting with the sewer on North
ST, $500; to rebuild Water st. from
the railroad crossing to North St,
$1200; to build a sidewalk on East
Maple ST., from North ST to School
$3.50; to build sidewalk below the
creamery on Hathaway ST. to Fair
view Ave, s125; for band concerts,
/ 5000; to pay Skowhegan Military Band
for new Russell ST. Band Stand, $500;
for employment of night watch, $40,
same as last year; for five hundred
feet of fire hose, $500.
Further amounts raised included
$4,000 for the support of common
schools, $2670S5 of the sum to be ap-
piled to refund the balance due the
common school account. The sum
raised last year was $4,000 and the
necessary increase was explained by
Supt. l. w. Gerrish who said that
the sum was necessarily made larger
owing to the increased cost in convey
/ ing pupils, higher prices in fuel, etc.
The sum of $500 was raised to build
| or provide a school house in the To-
cality formerly known as the Gould
district. 1t is expected that the
former school house which has been
sold can again be purchased and put
in shape and r. F. Parker, l.. w. Ger
rish and b. A Sawyer were appointed
! to have the matter in charge.
1t was voted that $l100 should be
raised in addition to the amounts reg
ularly raised and appropriated for the
| care of ways, highways and bridges
which is the maximum the town is
allowed to raise according to law.
| Some discussion was occasioned re-
garding the article relative to the
| building of a side walk from Jewett
| St, starting from Madison Ave. the
same to extend past the Jewett St.
| school house to North ST. E. E.
| Greenwood called upon Mrs. Isaac
/ Wheeler and she explained from The
| balcony the needs of sidewalk es-
pecialIy for the first grade pupils who
were obliged, some of them to stay al
home in wet seasons providing they
J had no rubber boots. 1t is needless
! to say that Mrs. Wheeler's remarks
were aptly put and she succeeded in
convincing the men of Skowhegan Of
! the needs of the sidewalk and it WAS
voted that the sum of $500 be raised
for this purpose
Two of the most warmly discussed
| articles on the warrant were those
pertaining to the reduction of the poll
tax from $500 to $100, and that of
establishing a municipal fuel yard in
| Skowhegan. Following the election
of officers Charles Burnor brought up
the first mentioned article. This
was convincingly argued by Messrs.
Paine j. w Blunt, Blair, Wilson,
Cover, E. F. Merrill and f. N. Merrill
| The majority of the speakers We're
considerably opposed although excel
lent arguments We're put by the insti-
gators of the article Vote was taken
by printed and written ballots, with
a result of 24S for the passage OF
the article and 300 against it, conse-
quently the poll tax rate was not re-
duced.
Regarding the establishment of a
Municipal coal yard in Skowhegan
there was considerable debate. e. f.
/ Merrill brought up the unconstitution-
ality of establishing fuel yard and
/ Hollis Stitham made some excellent
j and we'll timed remarks fayoring its
establishment, thinking that the coal
+ could be considerably reduced in cost
! to the consumer should such a mode
/ of purchasing be made possible here.
/ He questioned the unconstitutionality
/ of such a procedure and was congra-
| tulated upon the excellence of his ar
guments. The citizens were informed
/ by George W. Cover, Esq.,, however,
that according to law no town or city
was supposed to go into the business.
| The matter of whether such a thing
is possible or not is at present before
| the Maine Law Courts. Others dis
cussed the subject but it was finally
decided to pass over the article.
The article regarding the purchas-
ing of horses for the fire department
and providing a suitable place for
them was brought up. This was OBJ
jected to by E. f. Merrill partly on
account of a portion of the fire de-
! partment building being used for a
school room and the change would
| necessitate the housing of the horses
and pupils under the same roof
| Chief Webb spoke of the necessity Of
horses in the day time when the reg
ular teams engaged by the depart
ment were considerable distance from
the scene of perhaps needed action
He spoke of other towns where the
department owned horses and consid-
cred them paying proposition. After