Republican farmer., 1918-07-19
BEDDING


 the Peck and Luttgen tax suits against the town of Bedding are to be heard by Judge Kellogg of the superior court next Monday. Judge Banks finding is againspthe plaintiffs contention that their property was over-valued by the assessors rela- lively to the general run of the valu- ations made by them. The valuations placed by Judge Banks on the Peck and Luttgen properties are above those fixed by the assessors. Review ing the assessed valuations of some of the other properties which figured in. the hearing Judge Banks finds over valuations amounting to $117,000, a conclusion adverse to the plaintiffs claims that they were discriminated against Most if not all of the prop erty classed by the committee as over- valued is located on the Ridge. Another of the committees findings is that the assessors in their work were not guided by the rule of fixing valuations below the real value of the property. It had been main tained by plaintiffs counsel that the assessors did follow such a rule based on a percentage of 85 per cent On this point they offered no evidence beyond the testimony of these ex- perts, the 85 per cent claim being a deduction from the experts figures As matter of fact the assessors, in their report to the state tax commits sioner for 1915, stated that their val | nations were on 90 per cent. basis. Last year they reported a 100 per i cent. basis, although they had made, no general raise of figures over those of the previous year and as regards | the Umpawaug section made a gen. eral reduction. Should Judge Kellogg accept the report of Judge Banks the town will have won in the litigation provided the plaintiffs do not seek a reversal of the decision by an appeal to the supreme court. There is also a possibility that the cases may be l recommitted to Judge Banks for a further hearing as was the course taken with his first report
 1 On the way from Danbury to the Ridge last Monday a ten ton truck l of the Standard oil Co.,, carrying 1 eight tons of oil, came to grief at one of the small bridges of the Put nam Park road. The bridge sagged under it's weight so that one wheel of the truck went partly down the | four feet embankment. The stall ing of the machine caused 8 block ade of about two hours duration and held a long string of vehicles on each side in waiting. In conse- quence of the accident the selectmen have replaced all the bridges on the road with stronger structures and posted signs at each warning against the passage of loads in excess of three and one-half tons.
 Buckwheat has become fashionable hereabouts this season, many farm CTS returning to the old custom of i suspending hay getting long enough to put in patch of the grain which furnishes the nations favorite pan- cake material. To these and also to the increased number of wheat and rye raisers the fact that the water company is getting out the tim bers for a large grain mill will be good news. The oldtime grist mill, SC common when the farmer made his own flour from home grown grain has mostly disappeared, one at San. day Hook being the newest available | to this locality. The water com pany's mill which will probably be erected in Easton is to be equipped for all kinds of grinding besides flour production and will prove 8 great convenience.
 The summer home of Henry Gras- muk at Gallows Hill, was struck by lightning during one of the heavy showers of last Saturday afternoon The bolt landed on the side of the house and shattered a window 1T its passage to a room in which Mrs Grasmuk was sitting. She wa: stunned nearly to inconsistencies bJ the shock, but received no perman' ent injury. The only other evidence left of the currents entry to the room was a broken mirror.
 R. R. Wallbridge, who has beer doing Y. M. c. A. work in France fol several months, returned last week and came to his summer home d Pleasant Valley on Thursday. Fol the convenience of the Valley la
 dies Mrs. Walbridge had placed the house at their disposal for week.. Red Cross meetings, adding one more to the several local branches already established. She Is a skilled oper ator in the making of surgical dress
 ings and other hospital supplies anc served as an instructor in this worl in New York during the past win
 ter.
 Louis c. Rumsey has finally capitu- . Hated on the auto question after un- E1ergoing an intermittent besiegement by car salesmen for a period of about five years. His acquisition to the ranks makes that part of the towr nearly unanimous. To a Newtowr agent belongs the distinction of his belated enrolment. The car is Dodge touring.
 The towns investment and pledges for War Savings Stamps amounts tc , about 75 per cent. of its $20,00O alIot. ! ment, not a brilliant record in com 5 parison with what 1t has done 1T other war lines but notably good a: 7 compared with the record of many other towns of the State. The com l mittee in charge of the canvass havt l strong hopes that the close of tht s year will find Redding in the 100 pel cent. class on the W. S, s. issue.
 Rev. MT. Cunningham left last weel :. for Aver, Mass, where he will spend | his months vacation, in serving a! , temporary pastor of the Aver Epis copal church and in doing Y. M. c. A work among the soldiers at Cam IDevens. He is making his quarters :, at one of the Association huts on tn, , grounds. At the Ridge Episcopa a church last Sunday service was reac