The Republican journal., 1921-03-24
the end, for it is the early grading that

With no heavy highway Jobs in s;obt
excepting the Perkins bridge. il is boned
that we may be able to devote sufficient
care and attention to graveling and sur
facing the roads to keep them better pre-
served Tor the summer traffic. Sufficient
appropriation to insure this should he
made. The people are demanding better
ROADS ana are willing to pay for them if
they get results.
, called your attention last spring to
the possibility OF the County Home for
the Poor of our whole county. Thai
proposition is gradually but SURELY taking
shape and this summer a convention of
the representatives of the towns of the
county will be held in Belfast to consider
the matter and make definite recon-
mendatlons to their respective towns in
favor OF or In opposition to the plan. It
is DeheVed our poor can be cared for bet
ter, more comfortably, more hr manelv.
and greater still, at less expense in this
way than in any other. No binding
action, however, is anticipated this wear
1t is hoped that prices may so adjust
themselves that preparations NAV be be-
gun this fall for the construction of our
new school building in 1922 Building
material prices have as yet receded but 0
per cent, while other commodities have
fallen from 40 to 75 per cent. But before
the year is thru substantial readiust-
ment OF building costs will likely obtain
The new school building means a great
deal to Belfast. considerable increase of
population, and should be accomplished
at the earliest date feasible, not only for
its material benefit, but for the advance
ment of our educational opportunities as
well.
Belfast should and can become the edu-
cational center not only for Waldo county
but for many miles around. Results to
be accomplished IN this direction will be
limited only by our plans and efforts The
Crosby or Chenery lot has been suggested
as site for the new building. This loca-
ton would be very much in harmony with
the name of the school, This suggestion
| is worthy of consideration and | pass it
on to the city council and the public.
Playground would be sacrificed but no.
| particularly more so than on the Cont
| mon.
am Furthermore convinced that the
| idea we have had of com mbining all grades
on the Common under one roof is neither
feasible nor right; that we should and
must have a separate building for our
high school. Within three years at the
most from the opening of this new build
ing the high school alone will number not
less than 500, and we must build on the
start to accommodate at least 700. 1t is
not beyond the realm of possibility that
within ten yea the Belfast High school
will have an attendance of 1000 students,
with tuition income largely defraying
| the expenses of the school,
For some years the city has been carry
ing forward each spring unpaid coupons,
the coupons of each Feb. Is. This is
! nothing more nor less than a loan and
should be corrected by an appropriation
| to meet the amount in part if not whole
the present year.
! We have on hand an action at law
which should be fully understood by all
of the city government and the people.
! The Hayford Block Co. refuses to pay
part of its 1920 taxes, namely $248 II,
claiming exemption on account of the
| Armory under Section ga, Chapter Is,
Page 327, of the Revised Statutes of
Maine. We have competent advice that
this law was never intended to cover
such case and that the taxes can be
collected. This company is receiving full
! rental, mind you, of $3.50 per year for the
use of the Armory. We regret to be
/ obliged to take this action and sincerely
!! hope that they will relieve us of SO doing,
I but it certainly would not be right to
| shift these taxes on the shoulders of
4 those less able to bear them, and there is
| no question whatever about the moral
4 obligation to pay 1t is probable that the
| case will be submitted to the law court
; on statement OF facts, for the facts are
clearly defined. 1t is indeed our sworn
4 duty to establish the payment or nom
! payment of these taxes.
' We had another instance where citi-
zen clearly exempt from taxation under
! the Soldier Law requested our assessors
4 to tax one-half of his residence because
4 he was receiving rental therefor.
y An appropriation of $1,000 is being
i asked of the State for further extension
of the Swanville road this year.
4 Arrangements. have been made with
the Maine Central R. R. Co. to provide
j; us with an estimate of the gross earnings
] of the Belfast Branch for the year 1920,
based on certain average months, for our
! information IN further consideration of a
\ permanent lease or sale at some future
date. A temporary extension of our
i present lease at the same rental has been
| arranged and will soon be signed and
legally in effect 1t provides that either
i party may cancel on six months notice
Our contract for support of poor was
= extended last May tor one year at So, 600
and | recommend a further extension for
another year, with the idea continually
in mind of having County Home in the
near future, in which to care for them.
In any event with the present prices OBJ
tanning, it would not seem wise to make
longer term contract
The State has been asked to continue
THE tarvia road now contemplated for
lSearsport Shore Road down Northport
AVE. to Little River, and if it does not
come about this year, it is to be expected
in the near future.
/ The clearing of the streets of snow, ad-
i vocated last year, was introduced the
past winter to a limited degree; and,
while the SHOWS have been light and the
, experience limited, the results have been
satisfactory. again urge that the COM
ing winter all the main residential streets