Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-19

| front OF their store on upper Water
street. the location of seid tank to be
| determined by the street commission
| 1t was decided that each alderman
| should select three voters from his
| ward to act as consulting board as
we'll as board Of review with the as
| SCISSORS in their work. 1t was also voted
to direct the present tax collector.
| Clyde Gray. to collect the back taxes
on u commission basis.
Alderman n. II. Trafton spoke in
| defence of the appropriation bill, as
| follows:
| Mr.. Mayor. fellow members of the
Board of Aldermen. and Citizens:
| didn't expect to make any rema rk 6
| in defence of the appropriation bill of
! tn" city for the year 1924 or on any
Item of the appropriations. But oppo-
| sition to that part of the bill touching
| the paving or Restricting of Water
| street showing up at the last meeting.
| which gave the bill it's second reading.
/ it seems advisable to defend our posi-
| ton.
| In the first place let me say that I
believe that the paving or resurfacing
J Of n part of Water street which we
| have contemplated will meet with the
| approval of n majority of our citizens.
! To he sure. il will mean If we do this
! that the tax rate for 1924 will be n
| little more than it was last year and
| it will mean that the valuation of
! property in Gardiner in some cases
will he increased. But people do not
generally expect something for nothing.
| The ma iority of people living in Gar
| diner are progressive and public spirit
! ed and they will not, believe. COM
plain to any great extent at reason
! able advance in their taxes If they get
these muCh~needed improvements.
will admit, however that when the
! talk or action of a city government in
dicatcS an advance in taxes. to some
! people Il is like waving a red flag in
the face of bull. \ well-to-do neigh
/ Dor Of mine said TO mo few weeks
ago. What are YOU fellows trying to
| do To the city of Gardiner" ] was
! taken somewhat by surprise and I
said to him. What do you mean"
! "Why. this fire alarm system" I said
1--WE are trying to give the city an
| $4,000 system for $4,000. Can you beat
Il ." But from his reply and general
attitude | could sec that he did not APP
prcciate our efforts.
took the trouble to figure out just
what the fire alarm system would cost
this man. If IL goes through. and go
through it will: and II YOU will believe
II, IL will cost him actually so cents.
and he owns A nice residence on one of
our best streets and not one of those
$500 houses that the opposition re-
ferred to the other night. The only
| way this man can square himself with
mo Is to contribute literally to a fire
alarm box IN his locality.
Now there seemed to be quite de-
/ ha
evening for something concrete to base
! this finding of the necessary additional
| tax for the year 1924 on. This matter
of finding additional valuation to that
| of last year sufficient to meet the needs
/ Of these special appropriations will be
! left to the board of assessors. and we
believe they will not have a very dina
cult task TO find il. l will so into no
! further detail on that as the matter is
| self evident.
/ But | am glad that this word con-
! crete came up. as we Will use is Tor a
I watchword until concrete becomes a
reality on the surface OF Water street
q But 10 show that the call on the
people tor this Water street inn
3 pcovement is not unreasonable.
will say that for every $1,000 of val
uation il will cost the taxpayer only
$3.50 for this project.
1t might interest you to know what
the cost to you in taxes for the year
1924 will be on the several items OF
expense covered by the appropriation
bill, on $1,000 of valuation.
! Roads. Bridges and Sidewalks. EX-
elusive of Water street improve
! ment ................. SoS0
| Public Library ......,...... so
| Schools 900
Sewers 40
| Fire Alarm 40
| Poor Dept 100
| Mothers Aid Observation-Disclosures. IA
! Dependent Children ........... 20
| City Building ................. 30
arkS ~
Elections 80
Fire Dent 200
Water street imp. ......... $50
Police Dent. Ito
Salaries ......'.. 80. 40
Memorial Day commitment. .0s