Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-06-03
Thu Aroo,took Railroad.

for the construction 81 n railroad TO the
County Of Aroos,onk. The act gives. not
loans a large amount Of real estate to . eer'
tain company. on certain conditions. which,
should the preliminary steps be complied
with. will vest the title Of all the public
land. Of Maine-soms 100000 acrcs--in
railroad company,-a simple corporation.
This act. besides giving this amount Of real
estate to this company, makes the Governor
and Council and Land Agent the Clerks.
Surveyors and Trus,ees-noi OF the state.
20 promote the sale and settlement ut the
public land. by the poor and homeless at
tho low price Of fifty cents an acre-but OF
a corporation, whose only Object will be It's
own interest. Thi. act permits this Aroo'-
took railroad to bc constructed in such =
localty-so Tar south Of the largest. most
fertile and thickc.t settled portions Of the
Aroostook. that when completed IL canpo,
accommodate the inhabiunts Of thar terri.
tory. Ibis ac, f,slens upon the State the
necessity Of supporting the State Govern.
mcnt hy direct taxation, and the further
necessity II paying the funded deb, and in
icrcsi, Of the State, amounting to some
100000. by the same means. The real
question involved In this act, and submittci
to the people on the leth inst. i: Shall we
give All our real estate and public resources
to T. railroad company? or the question
may he stated still palmer Shall the pco-
pie Of Maine consent 10 be taxed for rail.
road company Disguise !, a' i,' friends
may, this i the real question.
The people have very wisely been called
upon tn accept or reject ihi. proposition.
They have it in their power on tho 18Th
inst. to vote all but three townships OF the
public lanls Of Maine into the hands Of an
irresponsible corporation, who will direct
the sale and settlement Of them Tor private
interest They have the opportunity like
wi.s given them Of voting away their
birthriebt aud other valuable property.
which cost the State. few years ago, some
5000. OOO-thc NEST Of which tho State now
owes Tor. They likcwi., have 10 ia their
power TO vote an increase Of direct taxation.
They also have il In their power to change
the policy OF tho State and United States,
which secures homes 90 the homeless by the
paymsn, OF actual expenses, and compelling
such to pay the highest rossiblcpric' far all
lands which they may purchase or squat
upon. Or. on the contrary, the inhabitants
Of Maine have It in their power, under the
provisions II this act, To continue the title
NJ these lands in the State, and peipetua,c
the generous policy which has been pursued.
This act deserve. more than ordinary scru.
tiny by the people Of Maine, for yarou'
reasons. One omong Others is because il
inaururatcs or rather rcvlye- a policy which
vas argued and approved by men high in
rank among the -o.cilled democracy. The
position taken was. that lct the government
do what It might. the public lands would
fall into the hands N land 'peculators-,hi'
was their destiny and /, could not BE- alter.
eI. The net comes square mp to this doc
trinc, openly and bnldly and not only vests
these public land. in the hands VI sPccnla-
tors. but compels tic hishes, officers Of gov.
eminent to approve and sanction whatever
they may do with them. The people will
do well to investigate this new phase Of
&" manifest destiny" and not permit its
adoption nv mastery inactivity.
There arr some general considerations
which should have great weight in deciding
this question. The most important among
thc,c - tie fact tha, certain English, Pro.
yincial and Yankee railroad projectors have
been anxious Tor several years past 20 COM
plrte a limo Of railway from Halifax TO
Portland. or to the Grand Trunk at Dan.
willie Junction, because It would be profitable
fret 10 the Grand Trunk. and next 10 our
Observation-Disclosures other places.
This consideration has had more weight
than ever since the st. Andrews and Quebec
railroad route has been chartered, and since
there /. more or less probability that IL may
BE- built. This project Of getting Maine to
construct and gire tins road has been favor.
ed and lobbicd into life to head oh the 81.
Andrews and Quebec line, For IL this last
road should be built the English would have
a rival route to Canada-tic Grand Trunk
would lose certain amount OF business,
and Portland. Bangor and some other rla-
&C. could not see all the freight that was
passing TO and from Canada.
Now. in relation to this matter Of rival
English roads through our territory. the
people Of Maine should have one constant.
inyariablc response and that is, 4" II the
English want railroads in Maine. 10, them
furnish the means and we will furnish char
tiers or ithNt-s VI We tHlue ~ ""' w N'
not give her. for her benefit, million OF
dollars, and tax our people to pay the M
,eres, on il, to tickle her railroad palate
however much we like her as a caE'in aud
patron.
Another consideration winch should have
much weight in settling this question Is the
fact that every railroad, to be profitable to
a territory should reach the irafeine world
the depots ofeommerce-by the shortest
route. TITO business Of Aroosiook must
reach the ocean by this roaic' by way OF
Bangor to Fnnkfort-being some one hum
dred and for,y.G,c miles. The SINE bu'''
ness could reach the OCEAN, by CALAIS TO