The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1922-03-23
is NOT alone by anv means in lts taxation

is not alone by any means in its taxation
problems.
The two paramount projects for the
present year are the schoolhouse and a
county home for the County's warts
When we started in 1919 to bring the
schoolhouse into being, 1t was said II
could not be done. Nevertheless, it is far
on the way and is to be built The re-
action to the suggestion thrown out at the
Chamber of Commerce meeting recently
seems to ne to 90 ahead and Duild this
! year, Notwithstanding construction costs
and the Likelihood of lower prices one or
two years hence. People have been look
ing forward to the schoohouse and want
1t now To build this year will entail an
extra tax of 1 to l-2 per cent spread
over two or three years, of onehaf per
cent yearly. notwithstanding this, let us
be optimistic and rejoice In the fact that
we shall have toward the project approx
imately Si20, 600 without taxation, and re-
jolce too In what the value OF its earlv
completion will mean to our children and
to the CIty's growth in population. One
! gentlemen, and a conservative man, too,
said the other day that the new school,
house would increase the City's valuation
one quarter of million dollars within
five years, and he was not far wrong. Let
us congratulate ourselves then that the
| thing we have needed and coveted so
long is about to be.
Recognizing that the extra taxation in
cident to the financing OF the schoolhouse
may work an Inconvenience to limited
! few, | suggest that at the proper time
Committee from the City Council be ap-
/ pointed to hear any representation OF ex-
ira difficulty thereby and recommend to
tIal A
abatements of taxes as may in their iudg-
ment seem wise, and that an extra amount
of appropriation be included IN the Con-
| tlngent Account to cover such emet2en-
I cies.
Again | solicit and urge your whole
| hearted consideration and support OF
| County Home for the County's unfortu-
| nate poor. The gentlemen who first sug-
| Qested this and who was most enthusiastic
in IT'D support unfortunately has been
| taken from us, DR.. West. | should rather
see the establishment of this Home con-
nected with the record of this admlnistra
ton than almost anything else. There is
no question in my mind as to the economy
and practicability of such an undertaking.
: was talking last year on my vacation
with a gentleman who is a trustee OF one
of these homes in N. 7. State. should
not advise it for the City alone, but for the
| County as whole 1t would De success
from every point of view. believe, too,
| that most of the towns are ready for the
move and that all OF them will eventually
come in. Instances come up each year
where such an institution would be OF the
| greatest use A farm where those able to
work would be influenced to do so would
| provide to a considerable extent the sup
| port of the inmates. 1t Is the most
| humane as we'll as the most practical and
| economical way to care for them
Some of the poor reach their destination
from their own laziness and slothfulness;
others from lack of ability to keep them
selves elsewhere. AS community
moral responsibility restssupon US to COM
fortably care and provide for these unfor-
tunates. In a County Home inmates can
be segregated as their physical conditions
may require and receive the treatment
and oversight necessary to individual
cases.
A convention should be called of repre-
sentativcs from all the towns and con-
crete plan worked out to be put in motion
mex year. | urge upon the people OF the
County, those whose consciences dictate,
to them quality of moral responsibility,
to think of this question, to discuss 1t,
and lend their influence toward bringing
about the fulfilment of the establishment
of this home.
The Highway Commission has PROMISED
State Road to Browns Corner not later
than 1923 and | suggest that especially IN
consequence thereof sewer be started as
soon as tue frost is out of the ground,
from west of the Pierce School on Church
street and extended to the shore via Mayo
street. This can be completed before the
heavy summer traffic begins.
further suggest that earnest considerd-
| ton be given at once to the purchase OF
| fire combination motor truck. with the
| possession of one, the personnel OF our
| Fire Companies can be reduced at ma
terial saving in expense; the city team
| eliminated at a saving of $500 or more per
year, and am advised the residential lire
rating of the City would thereby be ad-
vanced into Glass c position, making a
still further saving to our citizens OF
81 500 or more annually. Unde: these
| condition such truck would appear
| to forecast the liquidation of its cost In
short while, and purchase seems advis-
Z able.
Our temporary loans including February
coupons unpaid are S2l. l.5l0.77, approxi-
mately the same amount as last year. We
have charged down this year $500 on
otor trucks leaving the valuation bal
ance 81, 900. We have set aside 81. 500 for
Depreciation Reserve. We are carrying
forward in the Contingent Account an
| unexpended balance of $4, 446 " which
will to that extent ease us in the present
years appropriations.
Owing to the small amount OF snow the
past winter, we have left In Side walk
Snow Removal Account xo27O2 which, l
believe, will make no assessment neces-
saIy for that work the present year, un-
less additional sidewalks are included. 1t
will be noted that taking over the break
ing of the sidewalks has thus effected
considerable saving to the people.
Finally we must aim to mold expenses