Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-02-08

JsHALL THE TOWN OF PARIS Bl
| DIvIDED2
As tie question Of division Of the town
of Paris is before us, and the matter ma.
come before the voters In the town t.
decide, it is only right that the question
should be carefully considered, from al
sides. It is very momentous question
that will mean much to the voters ant
the tax payers, and we should not 60 intt
the town meeting, unprepared to vote In
telligently and wisely.
It is proposed to divide the northern
and western part of tie town, 80 tha'
about $3.50 of the total valuation shal
come into the part that wishes to be Sci
off, and that 1870 shall remain in the
southern part, which for convenience, We
will call, West Paris against South Paris
The arguments used by West Paris are
that they do not get tkeir share Of what
they ask for, and that in questions Of dis
pute, the southern part has not been will
ing to be fair with them, and being the
larger, they have appropriated to them
| selves more of the towns money than
they should have done, against the vel
fare of West Paris.
I believe that a careful investigation
into the appropriations of the town 3 mon
ey, and searching Of the records Of the
town meetings held for the last twenty
years, will show that very rarely have the
people of West Paris asked for anything
that was not granted them.
After a number of years Of contest be-
tween tie two sections Of the town the
South Paris high. school building was
built, and there can be no argument what
ever, that it was not necessity, or that
the money was not wisely spent.
After the South Paris high school was
built, the West Paris people wanted a
new school building also, and I very
plainly remember that the money was vot-
ed Immediately, without discussion, and
if my memory is right, Mr.. N. D. Bolster
made motion that we give them $500.00
more than they asked for, and the motion
was passed without dissenting vote.
Inc WcoI dflS pCOpiC udfO hdu ehOAi
share Of road nancy which was well and
carefully spent on the road from Snow g
Falls to Trap Corner, under the direction
Of Mr.. Elroy Dean, and that part Of our
roads is a monument to the good judg-
ment and wisdom Of those who had it in
charge. When the question Of the sewer
for South Paris was being contested,
there was prolonged contest, and be-
ieve that the West Paris people had more
reason to find fault with South Paris over
That matter than on any other. But
for the benefit of South Paris let me say,
that the question of public health in the
central part Of South Paris village, and
the draining of the water from Western
Avenue, demanded that the town spend
lot of money for that purpose, as they
would have to do if it had been in West
Paris or Paris Hill, if the conditions had
been the same.
That the town did spend more money
for the benefit Of the people in South
Paris than was for the interest Of the
town as a whole, I am willing to admit,
and I believe that to be the only real in
justice that was ever put on to West
Paris, by the people Of South Paris.
The question of cement road that came
up last year was voted for and passed
because the people in West Paris, North
Paris and Paris Hill, as well as many
many in tie outlying districts, wanted it,
and West Paris cannot blame South Par
is for the cement road for they got what
they voted for. Whether the cement road
was a wise investment or not, cannot be
considered at this time, for it is too late,
but should have been fully considered
before the vote was taken.
Who Will Control the Town If We Are
Divided7
In order to allow the people Of West
Paris to have more nearly what they
think they ought to have, a few Of the
West Paris citizens have thought best
to divide, 80 as to be free from the do
mination Of the southern part.
1t will be well to 60 rather carefully
into this matter, and make sure that this
division will surely result in what the
people wish to have.
If we should divide the town some.
where near Shows Falls as is proposed,
that would bring the villages Of North
Paris and West Paris, and all the farm
ers into a small town Of their own, in
which by far the greater number Of vot-
ers and the greater amount Of taxable
property would be in the village Of West
Paris. In case Of dispute on any mat
ter that may come up in the future, the
dominating vote would be in the village
of West Paris, and possibly to the disad-
vantage of North Paris, and the outlying
district northward, and south to the new
line.
In other words, the people Of North
Pairs and the farmers in the rest Of the
new town might find themselves in the
same position to the West Paris people,
as the whole Of the town does now to
South Paris. There would be this diff
ference however, that as it is now, the
combined vote of the whole town outside
of South Paris village, may be so large
as to overcome any act that may be pre-
sented by the village Of South Paris
While under the proposed division, the
village of West Paris would be much
more liable to have its way, against any
act proposed by North Paris and the far
mers outside.
What Effect Would It Have On South
Paris?
To find any good argument why South
Paris would suffer by the proposed d.
vision, is not quite 80 easy.
South Paris village in itself has very
large proportion of the voters and tax
payers, in the southern part Of the town,
and any act that the voters Of South
Paris village should agree on, would be
more ttan likely to be voted on and be
carried, against all the opposition that
Paris Hill and all other voters could bring
against it. While do not think that any
such act is contemplated, or that it may
ever be done, ! am Of the opinion that
any position that is too arbitrary and
dominating is not good for any town, or
any body Of voters. I am very sure that,
If the town does separate as proposed,
there will come time when tie people Of
South Paris may want something that will
call for more money than the rest Of the
southern part Of the town may wish to
have spent in South Paris village, and