The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-10-02
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Of IMPORTANCE
Town Votes to Make New Contract
for Lease OF Opera House


Al Special Town Meeting held at
the Opera House last Saturday al
ternoon, action was taken regarding
several important matters. The meet
ing was called to order by Town
Clerk Adam Simpson and under Arti-
Gle /, Charles A Ross was elected
as Moderator, performed his du-
ties with skill and satisfaction.
Next in order was to see whether
the town would vote to transfer its
obligations in the form of promis-
sorry notes into bonds payable at
100000 per year. 1t was voted to
authorize the Selectmen to make the
proposed arrangements inasmuch as
the transfer will make saving in the
rate OF interest and also eliminate the
inconvenience of continually trans
ferring the various loans Similar
action was taken several years ago
which proved to be very satisfactory
Under Article it was decided to
instruct the Selectmen TO purchase
the parcel of land containing gravel
owned by Archie Giles. 1t was stat
ed by the Selectmen that the price of
ten cents per yard would be paid also
the expense of building a short piece
of road over land owned by Carroll
Watson for the purpose OF more easily
obtaining the gravel. For many
years those in charge of the highways
have observed the distressing need OF
gravel with which to build and repair
the towns roads and this chance of
procuring good gravel at a reasonable
price seems to be welcome opport
unity, and as was stated by Nh
Smith it is to be hoped that it
may be the beginning of a campaign
for better roads for Skowhegan
Under the next Article il was voted
to authorize the Selectmen to execute
deed for tloWage rights at the
Town Farm, which had been paid by
the Shawmut Manufacturing Com
pany III accordance with previous
vote of the town.
Article :. which peitained to pro
posed changes of the present lease Of
the Opera House for Moving Pictures
was tagen up. and new contract
,,,b; ;oh thnrnnub1Nr
planned by Mr.. Smith was unanimous
ly accepted. This contract provided
that the Town. Veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic and Soldiers of
the late War are to have free use of
the leased property whenever want
ed the churches to have the free use
of the building together with heat,
light and operator each Sunday dur
ing the forenoon whenever desired i
the schools including Parochial to
enjoy the same privileges two fore
moons of each week for educational
the old contract. The schools and
churches may use the building for en-
tertainments or for other purposes
not exceeding thirty-five nights per
year without paying therefor The
old contract provided that rental
of fifteen dollars per night should be
paid for the above purposes but the
number of nights was unlimited. The
price of rental is 10 be increased from
$240000 to $270000. Mr.. Smith re-
marked that while two years ago
there was more or less opposition to
using the City Building for pictures
in his opinion 80 per cent OF those
opposed at that time are now in favor
of using the building for this pur-
pose Attention was also called to
the fact that the Opera House had not
been defaced or destroyed as per
the contention OF those in opposition
to the project Mr.. Smith made a
personal statement wherein he eX-
planned that al the time OF lease of
Continued on Page Four