Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-03-11
EniroRs OF TIE AMERICAN =

your paper would like to harp my shar
upon the Town Hall string. 1t is hardl
necessary to enuneratc the irksome an
| provoking Inconvenience we are suhiecte
to by the want of such Hall, nor to poin
out the great advantages that would resul
from its erection. No one will pretend,
suppose that town affairs can be so we!
discussed, or correctly decided in the mis-
erable old shell We now use as in large
handsome, comfortable Hail. The pasSin
humors influence us all nightly and
raw, chilling wiud,or drcary storm bcatin;
i'll through the broken windows, and howl
ing about cur ears las more effect than W,
imagine upou the deliberations. Then
too, we have no public offices for tow
business, bat we have TO inquire yearl,
and poke round the village to find wher'
our officials do business. The Selcctmei
are compelled to hire an Office where the,
can,-thc Clerk may have his Office at an!
distance, and the Treasurer still farther
off. 1t is difficult to feel that we have {
town government when its Offices are sc
scattered Why should not the enterprls-
ing town of Ellsworth have at least, large
and convenient offices where its books and
| records can be kept, so that its citizens and
others may know where TO transact bust
ness with the town
The past winter we have realized most
wildly, that we have 10 place at all suit
able for the many social and charitable en-
tertainmcnts we enjoyed. The want of a
ann public assembly or amusement is pro-
posed. In summer it is none the less pro-
voking when VIC wish for conventions, rclig-
ious and political, to assemble here. During
the coming summer, are to be argued and
contested, principles that underlie the very
foundations of our theory of national gov
crnmcnt. The principles finally approved
and the policy finally settled next Fall will
fix the course of the government for the
next half century. 1t is of the utmost i'm
portancc that the whole political question
should be thoroughly discussed by the poo
pie before the November election. Union
lists and Democrats have alike the deepest
interest in the subject and are anxious to
procure the widest dissemination of their
doetrines. In all towns of Importance the
parties have regular meetings for political
discussions, but in Ellsworth we have no
place fit. but must haze our meetings in
the open air.
The present heavy debt of the town is
the only objection that is urged against
building handsome Town House the next
summer. Individuals always provide them
selves with comfortable and convenient
offices and shops for their business, even
where their debts equal their assets. They
consider it 10 extravaganza So to do. Els
worth is far from bankruptcy and can
casil, afford to provide a decent place fer
the transaction of municipal business. \
shapely, cemmodious Hall i'll this village
would secure the asscmblagr of many coli
ventions, which now are reluctant to come
and thus Il greater influx of people will re-
suit, Ellsworth by having large central
Hall would add still more to its character
and influence in the county. Noropbrga
Hall is n public benefit to Bangor socially
and financially. and most of our citizens
could not fail to profit by the erection of
one here. ANYTHING that draws people
here. will benefit our merchants, lawyers,
farmers, mechanics and innholdcrs.
To obyiate i'll some degree increased
~. =.
;hat a sort of joint stock company be form
cd for the building Of 4 Town House. with
the shares at fifty or one hundred dollars
Let the town take certain number Of
shares and have the preference and free
use of the Hall and offices and to keep them
III repair. The remaining shares can be
taken up by the citizens Of the village who
shall have Z voice in the hgilding aHd man
agement Of the Hall During Tie greater
part of the year, tie Hall will be in great
demand for Lectures. Balls, Entertain
ments. Conventions. &C., and will I'M
doubtcdly command a handsome renting
price. The rents would give the share
holders yearly per cent on their invest
mcnt and perhaps pay the interest on the
cost.
The above is only a suggestion. There
are probably better plans and wonld he
glad 10 hear them. Let Us agitatc the
matter before the March meeting and make
an effort to build Public Hall. whose size
and architecture shall be credit to our
busy town, and which shall correspond
with the handsome residences, the fine
blocks Of stores, the wharvcs and mill. that
make Ellsworth so thriving.
CITIZEN.