Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-03-19
Aroos,ook Railroad.

The following Is rcmousiranec from
Portland agains, the proposed loan OF the
credit Of the State 70 build a road into
Aroos,ook County:
THE undersigned, citizens Of Portland,
would respectfully remonstratc against the
proposed loan of the STATE credit IN aid OF
a railroad from Bangor 70 the county Of
Aroostook-rcgarding such loan unwise
and intxprdicnt IN itself. and unjust tn every
portion oi the State save that which j. locally
Interested. Signed by Andrew |. Dole,
and thiriy-six others.
We have not the pleasure ofau aequalu,-
aucc OF thc-e tiirfy.srrc. gentlemen, but We
wall venture to rrcdic, that they will end
themselves, in the end, in the preiicameui
Of the immortal ncii,,g who demonstrated
against the crcji, of Portland bsins PER
mitied 10 be- loaned 10 the Atlantic & 81.
Lawrence Railroad. II seems to US that
the sane comprehensive and iar-sceins wis
dom distinguishes both actions.
We notice this rcmonstrancc not 50 much,
however. for the Purpose oi talking about
the fate of the rcmoustrants, as % call at
tsution ~ the statement with which i. closes,
that the proposition 1. '' unjust to every
portion Of the State. save that which Is
locally Interested" Thi. is very strange
statement to coue from the citizens Of Port
land. and show. an ignorance o.! the tend
encis- and law. OF business which W. surely
did no, expect in the commercial emporium
Of Maine. and We must say that, Ia our
Judgment, II there are any merchants on
that PAPER. they have studied their Trofos-
sion 70 little purposc, or have pat their
names there with little consideration.
IL seems to rs that every intelligent mes-
chant must Sc. It be carefully considers the
position Of things. that Portland, in the
long run, As a place Of trade aud commerce.
must be a larger gamer from the opening Of
that region Of country to settlement and
trade. than Bangor even. To a certain ex-
tent, Bangor will derive the largest imme-
diate benefit from the execution ol this
scheme. IL will increase IT, local trade,
and give a spur TO industry, but d, Is i'm
possible, from the position and circumstances
Of Portland, but that she shall command
the bulk Of that trade. The merchants Of
Bangor. from their very circumstance, will
End /, impossible TO compete with thosc Of
Portland in certain departments of trade,
and tbo.e the most profitable. To-day
Portland is taking trade .rom the very gates
Of Bangor, aud the same gryat law that
does this now. will take trade i-om beyond
We say distinctly aud smphaticAlly, tha, in
our Judgment, II there is one spo, IN all the
State that has a deeper local interest in thi.
enterprise than another. Portland Is that
very place.
But that j. a miserably, narrow-minded
view Of things which looks a. this matter
a. local in any sense whatever. In the frst
place, there are over two m,ilion Of acres Of
a. good farming land as the sun shines upon,
b,lJasn: 70 the State, practically more
remote from u, centre than Minnesota, and
from all the great ccuir,s ol trade aad CONE
ucrc, In consequence OF this, il remains
unsettled AMI unimp-ovcd, oasrcl al the
merely nominal price of Jiiiy arri' Ter acre.
Thus 10 is that this land Is almost worthless
20 the state, as at present situated. Let
that region De- penetrated with a railroad.
and that land will more readily command
from & o. $40 per acre, than IL now does
fifty csup. There is no; a man who has
made himself acquainted with the facts, who
Ia. any doubts on this point. II il be 80,
is this measure a mere local one?
But there s another view Of this sub j'ct.
Wealth aud population j, not a matter OF
mere local importance in a STATE. Beside,
population makes part. and the most I'M
por,ant part % the wealth OF a STATE. When
.iewgJ ia lts relations 70 the State. the To-
crgas, Of wealth and population in any
locality within its territorial borders, il the
State maintains its o5mmrr1al sovereignty
over that locality, is STATE interest, and
the State a. whole Is the gamer, not that
locality only. So on the other hand, II any
section Of State Is being depleted Of is
population and wealth, the whole State is a
saE.r5r by il.
Now what Is our condition as STATE, in
respect 70 this mattsr2 Not only are vast
mineral and agricultural wealth lying un-
developed within our eastern borders, but
there bas been perfect stampede Of our
population FOR the year past, carrying with
them no; only millions Of money. but what
j.. worse tor Us, untold millions in pro.
dactive energy and industry. And thi. ha.
been gong on. not FROM the least favored
portions u the State. 80 Car as natura, ad-
vantascs are concerned. bot from those
portions where is the richest and most pro-
duetive soii in al New England. Why!
Because they were shut out from tho re-,
Of the State and the world. COZ the want o!
tia, ready aud rapid communication else
where enpyed. Whore railroad communi-
cation is eajoyed, there Population has in.
erased where il is nos enjoyed it has
diminished, no matter how great the natural
adWntages. While the western and central
sections OF the State have increased in pop
nlAiioa during the past year. the State As q