Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-08-04


Editor Democrat:
Shall part Of the money, voted b,
the town to drain the surface water from
Western Avenue, be spent by the select
men for sewer on Gothic Street? Tha
Ia the point on which the selectmen wan
definite Instructions at the special meet
ing called for next Saturday.
i To the impartial observer 1t woulC
seem as il there could be but one answer
to that.
The need of draining the surface watel
from Western Avenue is self-evident FOL
at least three months of every year, anC
the town and the travelling public havt
suffered the nuisance of mud and water
longer than any self-respecting towr
should.
That the town, at large, should builG
sewers for the convenience of village
householders is always a question, anG
the town has been more than generous
in voting money for this purpose.
The principal argument that has al
ways been used in>our town meeting IL
raising money for sewers is, that West
ern Avenue has been in dangerous and
unhealthy condition and that The water
must be drained from it. That has been
the object from the start, although some
OF the sewer money has been diverted
into other streets and the sewer has beer
branched in various directions.
The town first raised $500 to build a
sewer as far as the square. Then in 1910
$500 was voted to extend the sewer
with view 10 draining Western Avenue,
thinking to go by way of Gothic Street,
but after surveying the streets it was an.
nounced that, as the sewer would have
to be laid at least 20 feet deep on Gothic
Street, it would be more economical 10
go out Pleasant Street and eventually to
reach Western Avenue BY way OF Skill.
lipgs Avenue. So the $500, raised in
installments of 500 year, was spent in
laying sewer up High street nearly 10
Gothic and part way out Pleasant Street,
stretching it to the butter factory, and
by another special appropriation, out
Maple street.
Now at our last town meeting $500
was voted to put the sewer through West
srn Avenue, obviously as far as the
money would 60, but not so specified in
the motion, and the route and the point
of entrance TO the main sewer was left to
the best judgment of the selectmen. 1t
is now proposed to extend the sewer by
Skillings Avenue to the lower part of
Western Avenue, and only as far a. Al.
lens store Tor Is feet beyond) and, in
order to please some of the people on
Gothic Street, to expend the balance of
the present appropriation on Gothic
Street.
While it would be convenient for
Gothic Street to have the sewer privi-
leges, the street itself Is dry and sandy,
never having standing water, and the
town at large would derive no benefit
from it. That would seem to be mat
ter for private or corporation enterprise.
The selectmen say they want to please
the most people. Now the question is,
what will please the majority of the
voters of the town, who pay the bills,
and the general public who will derive
no benefit from the sewer on Gothic
Street?
We appeal to the intelligent and fair
minded voters of Paris, in face of all the
evidence of the past expenditures, to de-
eide as to the most feasible way of spend
ing this $500 raised at the last town
meeting for the purpose of draining
Western Avenue.