The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-03-11
TOWN MEETING
Continued from First Page)

HalDert wilson made a motion that
$4,000 be raised to be used If the Sc
lectmen needed the same, but this was
opposed. AS usual the committee of
twenty had previously considered the
articles of the warrant and Leslie E.
Jacobs secretary. of the committee,
voiced many of these recommendations
which in the majority of the cases
were needed by the voters. The sum
of $500 was voted as sufficient to pay
for the breaking of snow roads during
the present winter because of the
lack of heavy snow falls although
$1,000 had been recommended by the
committee.
special feature of the afternoons
session for recess was taken between
Il and l o'clock was the decision of
the voters with regard to school ac-
commodations. Very frequently refer
ence has been made as to what should
be done, especially at the High school
and of late the Board of Trade and
other organizations have taken the
matter up much for discussion. The
following article was inserted in the
warrant:
To see what action the town
and charging the old High school
building and raise sum of mon
ey for the same, and pass all votes
respecting the same.
The committee recommended that
the matter be left with the former
committee and that they report at a
special town meeting later. This
did not meet with the approval of the
citizens, T. B. Barrett, Esq, suggest
ed the raising of 100000 and made a
motion to that effect which was not
seconded S. w. Gould spoke on the
proposition and dwelt on the value of
the present High school building and
was against the town squandering any
money in that Encouragement of school
quarters. Daniel Lewis said it was
the time to act now and then Mr..
Gould made the following motion:
THAT the selectmen be authorized
and instructed to appoint committee
of three citizens of Skowhegan, whose
duty it should be to make such i'm
provements and enlargements to the
High school building as they shall
find necessary at cost not to ex-
coed the appropriation of 100000 made
by the town at previous town meet
ing and that these selectmen be au-
tbo>sigod te>,1hSyyow the money to pay
for the same and to issue the notes
or bonds of the town therefor pay
able $4,000 per year with interest
The motion was seconded and was car
ried by the town. 1t would seem that
this settled the question of school
buildings for the present.
Many arguments both for and
against the sprinkling of the streets
with oil were heard. At times the dis
cussion got red hot and finally an
East Skowhegan citizen advocated that
they grease the whole town" A mo-
ton was made and supported that
several of the streets be oiled at the
expense of the AUDITORS. but this was
voted down and eventually the article
was passed over.
A noticeable feature of the meeting
was that but few articles in the war
rant were passed over without some
consideration. Among these few was
the article referring to the exempting
from taxation of any company that
might locate here and one relative to
a change in the present street lighting
system. This later was due to a de-
cision reached in reference to pre-
ceding article which asked what ac-
ton the town would take in regard
to making a contract with the Central
Me. Power Co. for lighting the streets
of the town for term of years. A
committee was appointed at the town
meeting last year consisting of f. F.
Merrill, B. A. Sawyer, c. H. Gardner,
John r. Mcclellan and Judge f. F.
Danforth to investigate the matter and
report at the meeting of 1915. In
making his report chairman Merrill
said that while the committee had at
tended to their duties the company'S
decision could not then be publicly an
nounced, but the committee felt sure
that an all night service and increased
light could be procured for practically
the same sum as is now being eX-
pended for that purpose. The matter
was recommitted to the same commit
tee which is to be heard from at the
next town meeting. The sum of $4,000
was voted upon to be raised to light
the streets for the ensuing year and
1t was voted to place an incandescent
light on Kennebec St near the resi-
uencp Oh MIS-. Eugene "A. MOolt, W illSii
is close to steep embankment. With
regard to the installing of an electric
light at the juncture of Factory st.
and Hathaway ST, it was suggested
that the town install a light there but
not until after the new arrangement
for street lighting had been perfected.
The article inserted in the warrant
to see If the town would vote to extend
the time that the unpaid taxes should
draw interest to January met with
warm discussion. The committee of
twenty had recommended no change
from the system employed last year.
which was that taxes unpaid on the
first day of December should draw In
terest at per cent. Sixtyfive of
the voters were In favor OF this and
seventy-one were not and as a CON
sequence the article was passed over. A
motion put before adjournment was
made for Its reconsideration. but this
was voted down by 55 nays TO 40 yeas
The town voted yes" on the question
OF appropriating and raising money
necessary to entitle II TO State aid
while the sum of 81 .466 was voted for
the maintenance of state Highways
and $3.50 for repairs of the same dur
ing the ensuing year. The article ask
ing that the town instruct the select
men to lay out street which should
be a continuation OF Dyer street east