Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-07-06
For the Eastern Times.
Bowdoinham Capital.

Mr.. EDITOR I'm an article which APP
peared in your paper Of the 29th ult, on the
present fourishing state of Bowdoinham, we
find some statements of rather novel charac-
ter. Although we are glad to see our neigh
Dor awakening into life, and exhibiting some
of the symptoms of progress, yet we are sor-
ry to see her trying to conceal her former abb
sence of spirit and enterprise under the pre-
text of having cleaned out her capital to
Richmond operators"
We are not disposed to discuss the causes
particularly, which for long time kept Bow
doinham back in the rear rank of enterprise,
but we presume they lay quite in another
quarter from that indicated in the article re-
ferred to. Nor are we disposed to make fig
ures as TO the amount of capital in the two
places, but simply to suggest to the cores
pendent Of the Gardiner Journal, whether,
when his vision takes in an extended view of
Bowdoinham business, he is not like the boy
who saw "a thousand cats
Buthe does see something we will admit
some two or three vessels built during the
year-some manufactured lumber from the
steam mill owned by General Berry, pur-
chased about nine years ago for $600O 7,
was the investment of so much Georgetown
capital, in sort Of defunct establishment in
Bowdonham, that breathed into her the breath
of life but what most astonishes us, is, that
she has been nine long years coming into the
condition Of a ''living SOUL An entcrprising
spirit like that Of General Berry is not easily
defeated, and the best proof of this is, that he
has succeeded to some extent in overcoming
the natural Discrimination Of his immediate
neighbors towards the Manifested and sweat
ing enterprises Of life.
With respect to the employment Of Bow
doinham capital in the business of Richmond,
we have hard work to keep cool enough 10
bring the accusation Of sincerity. But lest
the correspondent of the Gardiner Journal may
be guilty Of canior, we will say for his es-
peclal benefit, that we have never borrowed
money enough from Bowdoinham to build
half ship. Our connexions with Bowdoin-
ham. it is true, for sometime past has been Of
the money kind consisting in frequent and
large drafts Of money from Richmond, by her
mechanics We have probably paid her me-
chanics one hundred dollars where we have
drawn from her that number Of cents. But
touching the late rapid growth of Richmond,
we do not hesitate to say it is mainly owing
TO the skill and labor Of her enterprising citi-
zcns.
One master spirit, 10 make Roadway against
obstacles, to give direction 10 skill and enter
prise, supplies in fact the deficiency Of capital,
and gives the impulse of life TO 4 thousand
dormant energies There is kind Of COM
mercial capital which consists in brains and
nerves, and which will reproduce itself with
much more rapidity than bank stock, and il is
to this kind of capital that Richmond owes
her importance as commercial town.
But 90 ahead, I}owdoinham. We like to
see it. No jealous fear arises in our hearts to
see a stirring among your dry bones. Only
be little careful how you tell the outsiders,
that the reason you have not grown any faster,
was that YOU have had to build up Richmond.
RICHMOND.