The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-12-18
Letter from Augusta.

Au0Cbldy DcCs loy lSCSs
Will you permit former correspondent tt
say few words in your columns, chiefly with
refcrenceto the letter of Houston In your
issue Of yesterday, In which he attempted
animadyerson upon the Accommodations proba.
bly, to be furnished the members OF the Legis-
latnre by the hotels and boarding houses Of
this city during the next session?
From internal evidence contained in his
letter, will wager a big apple that Houston
is kentucky member" and a neao one at
that, and that he represents classed to.ens.
He has probably been "deown" to look
"rcound' the "tcown," and sec what he can
be kept for during the winter. Very likely
he proposes TO commute" promising to go
| home every Saturday forenoon, and :" foot 1t
inr on Monday lin season TO ieebly articulate
Here when his Rame is called by the clerk J
with pockets and handkerchief stuffed with
pancakes and hulled corn, to /" do him. till
Wednesday night.
He has personally called at every house,
from the Augusta" at the south end, to the
Farmers Hotel" at the North End, and the
Factory Boarding House," and has lamenta-
bly, failed to secure, month In advance, ac-
commodations suitable to his taste and purse.
II the remedy for his grief and disappoint-
ment should be uttered, what would it be,
think you, dear sirs? Why, move the capitol
TO Portland!' that's the panacea for all the
ills that Houston Is heir to.
Houston" stigmatizes us las be thinks) by
calling this "diminutive' city. So We are,
and as modest" as "diminutiye." We are
none Of your oyergrown, lubberly, greedy
cities; but a small, snug, intelligent, patriotic,
and hOspitable people. We pay our debts,
and sometimes let our neighbors have money
to pay theirs. We raise our qnotas as soon as
called for, and almost invariably exceed them.
OF the hundreds and thousands OF soldiers
quartered here, from time to time, there Is not
one who has been in any need while among US
who will not say: God bless the ladies of
Augusta
But all this aside. Seriously no such exor-
bitant prices rule here rs Houston announ.
ces. His statements on this point are all
"mOonshine." Board and good accommoda-
tons are to be procured as cheaply here as In
any place of its size in New England; certain
ly as chcaply as in Portland.
What a morbid desire some of the good
government located in that city. The addi-
dition to the trade of Portland accruing from
such an arrangement would be trifing. The
members expend but little besides for their
board. Indeed, nine and a half ont of ten
wear away the. veritable hat, coat and boots
which they come in. Then why wish 10 de.
prive us OF this little "tid-bit of ours?
Portland has one hand on the ocean and the
other on the lakes, and the ramifcations of
her lucrative trade extend to all portions Of the
country. Moreover, she surpasses all other
cities in catching pirates, and richly deserves
the compliment of "promptest of cities" given
her BY the n. Y. Tribune. Then why try to
rob us Of this little tid-bit, repeat?
All zee can boast is the Insane Asylum filed
with unfortunate beings with "minds DER
thrown" the L. S. Arsenal, the Dam, and the
new Jail Houston can board there for S2.10
per week, lodging thrown in.l We haven't
got any Grand Trunk" any ''new City Hail."
any "Grcat Eastern Wharf," any Woods Ho-
tel" nor any Natural Seaport" Then why,
Ireiterate, doth Portland wish to take from US
the precious tid-bit of the Legislature2
Another error of "Houston" and close for
the present. He states that troops can be
quarteref In Portland cheaper than in this
'diminutive" city. Not word OF truth in 1t,
my dear Press. happen to kno,c land when
"Houston" comes will cite the proof by ref
erence to the files Of the Governor and Coun-
ell, and convince him1 that the expense of
quartering the troops which were organized
aud encarnped at Portland was considerably
greater than that attending the organization
and encampment Of like number for the same
length of time In our "diminutive" city.
respectfully commend to Houston the
advice of the immortal d. Crockett, Esq. BE
sure your right, then go ahead.
SKIRMIsHEB.