Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-08

In consequence OF the seemingly high
prices paid by the people of Skowhe-
gan for street oiling, the selectmen
have a proposition which they will
submit to the people en- town meeting
day, March u. The situation is this:
1t costs $500 each year for the oil ap-
| piled to the streets which the citi-
zens vote to have oiled, at xhe annual
meeting. This makes an average tax
Of from s. to So in addition to the
regular taxes for the man with lot
of the usual size, the tax varying &C
cording to the width of the highway
| by which it is bounded. The plan of
sprinkling the streets with water
sprinkler propelled by horses which
some seem to favor in preference to
the oil, would cost about as much as
the method now in vogue. 1t is the
| suggestion of the selectmer that by
| making a contract for term Of years
with someone to sprinkle the streets
| with water, the party with whom the
contract would be made could afford to
use motor truck sprinkler instead of
the oldfashioned horse drawn kind,
and reduce the expense nearly one
half. The selectmen already have a
responsible party who offers to do the
work in satisfactory manner with a
motor truck for $500. AS would be
readily determined the cost for the
AUDITORS with average size lots would
| be from 81 to s., should the citizens
favor the plan. Many residents in the
sections Sprnkled are decidedly oppos-
ed TO the oil rates.
AS the result of petition with A
sisners being forwarded to the select
men of Skowhegan for a continuation
of kennebec street to the bank of the
| kenrebec river and from the opposite
! bank to Mount Pleasant avenue, Civil
Engineer +. E. Greenwood will begin
| the first Of this week to stake out the
| routes proposed on both sides of the
| river and a notice has been posted for
a hearing before the town fathers Jan.
20, in order that damage complaints
| from property owners along the high
way planned may be heard. These
| proposed streets are now receiving at
| tenton with the view of having q
! bridge built across the Kennebec riv-
er to connect the two sections of the
i village into which the streets on either
side Of the river will enter. The uues-
| ton OF having a bridge built across
! the kennebec at the point now under
! consideration has been frequently talk
ed OF ana brought up in town meetings
in years gone by. 1t seems that sever
1 al wears ago the citizens voted 10 have
tine bridge, but the same could not
be built until roads leading thereto
and from had been accepted. This mat
! ter is now being attended to and the
| bridge proposition will doubtless be
| an important one at the March meet
ing. II is the purpose if the bridge
! is built to have it Of sufficient width
TO allow teams and automobiles to
| meet and pass, with a foot bridge on
1.-THE side. 1t would be. a great conven-
J ience if the river could be crossed from
! kenneDac street, which is a short
thoroughfare leading into Water street
and the petition is signed by the lead
ing business men Of the community.
The dates of Sept. 20, q and % have
been selected by the Somerset Central
Agricultural society for their annual
fair at F'airview park. Skowhegan This
decision was arrived at during a session
held Saturday afternoon. with vice
President L. T. Goodrich presiding in
the absence of President L.. +. Jacobs,
who was out Of town. There was a good
attendance, and other business details
attended 70 included the authorizing of
the treasurer TO hire the sum of $3.50
TO be used in payment of debts until the
State stipend is received and the chang
ing Of the life membership fee from $40
to $50. Other matters voted upon were
relative to changing bylaws of rather
minor nature and hall rental.