Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-08
Three REDD|NG
CITIZENS SEEK
TAXATION CUTS
Appear at Board of Relief
Meeting to Protest
Valuations.
Special to The Times.N

peared at the first session of the board
Of relief to present their grievances
In respect to tax valuations. John
Muennich, who had been raised 500
from last year, showed that part of
the increase came from his being
credited with an acre of land and a
shed which he did not own. Besides
this he thought the higher valuation
placed on his dwelling was unwar-
ranted.
| A protest was entered by D. W.
Green in behalf of the Patrick Green
estate against the raise on the barn
to 5000 from $500. John G. Reed OBJ
jected to increases by the assessors of
5000 on his house, $500 on barns and
also to the raise on his land. The
board held their second meeting to-
day and will have their final session
on the z1st.
In accordance with a general sug-
gestion from the State Defense Coun-
Gil, First Selectman Sanford cam
vassed the situation last week to see
what could be done towards the pur-
chase by the local War Bureau of
tract of standing wood with view to
providing fuel at reasonable price
to those who found it difficult to OBJ
tain supply The only owner in
clined to sell on the proposed condi-
tons was George S. Banks and the
tract he offered, being located near the
Weston line, was inconventently re-
mote 1t was learned that Albert Will
Hams had cut about 40 cords which he
is delivering in Danbury at $3.50. The
water company is cutting a large
quantity in Pleasant Valley which it
will deliver in this locality at $780,
Consequently as there seemed to be no
real necessity for the proposed emer-
gency measure it will not be pesorted
to.
A rooster and ten hens were sold
last week by H. S. Barnes for $500.
Another recent sale by him was that
of five hens and cockerel to Samuel
Untemeyer, the distinguished lawyer
for the latter's country place in
Yonkers. These fowls were White
Leghorns of a lineage notable for
laying qualities and also possessed
points which win prizes in poultry
shows. Mr.. Barnes poultry plant at
, Windsweep Farm on the Ridge is one
of the largest in, the state. 1t carries
|
and besides a constantly large pro-
duction of eggs, turns out yearly
many thousands of chicks most of
j, which are sold while in the infant
stage. A report that Mr.. Barnes re-
Gently leased the plant to F. W. Ras-
anan, who has been his superintend-
ent for several years, is without foun-
dation. Mr.. Rasanan made two or
three attempts to enlist, but was re-
jected on account of sight. However,
he is in the draft list and rather ex-
poets to get into the service by that
route.
: 1t is practically settled that the
names of those belonging to the
Redding Home Guard will be omitted
: from this years personal tax list,
which is now being made up. In
. response to an inquiry from Hartford
as to the liability of Guardsmen for
payment of this tax the attorney
general gave it as his opinion that
Guard membership did not convey
exemption. At the same time he ex-
pressed the further belief that the
authorities of any town or city have
the power to grant such exemption.
If such is the case the Redding Sc
lectmen will exercise that power in
favor of the local Guardsmen, there
by reducing the former list by about
fifty. More than that number gain
exemption by reason of being active
members of the two fire companies.
The death of Mrs. Frederick Ohm
stead occurred on Monday at her
| home in West Redding and the fun
| eral was held yesterday afternoon.
She had an operation for a nasal OBJ
struction last November and remained
t in New York until the latter part of
!, last month when she returned here
to assist in the care of her son Gerald,
who was down with pneumonia.
t Last week she was herself stricken
with the same disease, the son mean
: while having become convalescent.
Mrs. Olmstead was aged about 68 and
is survived by her husband and sew
) era1 children.
: The young men of the town on
the draft list are in a state of ex-
pectancy regarding the call to service.
Among those notified that they have
been placed in Class 1 are Homer
Smith, whose brother is already in
the ranks and Albert Baldwin of
hometown. The latter claimed eX-
emption on the ground of having
been recently married. On Monday,
. Chester Sanford and Charles Row
; land were called to Danbury for a
further physical examination, both
: having been rejected after previous
examination.
The body of Stephen Benedict, who
died in the Waterbury hospital fol-
, lowing leg amputation, was brought
, here last Saturday afternoon for
burial in the Ridge cemetery. Rev.
! Mr.. Cunningham conducted the COM
! initial services. The deceased was
about rs years of age and had lived
, most of his life in this town where his
capabiIity as a farm 1aborer and es-
, pecially as stone wall builder caus-
, ed active demand for his services and
| his likeable personal qualities made
; him many friends.
8 The news that Richard Mansfield
End had enlisted in the aviation SER
[ vice possessed considerable local in
terest from the fact that the young
= man spent two years here as a pupil
in the Sanford School and just before
leaving in the summer of 1916 made
a semi-professional debut as Shylock
in a school performance of THE Mer-
chant of Venice Therein he &C
I quilted himself in a manner justify