The Portland daily press., 1865-07-22
lupIIIrY or PARKa.

Every citizen must feel an interest in any
movement or enterprise which is calculated to
increase tie business or population of the
city, This was the great moving element in
the building of the A. & st. Lawrence Rail-
road, the Portland Company's Works, and the
Kerosene Oil, Glass and Shovel MANUFACTURES.
The effect of these various undertakings upon
the taxable property, material wealth, increase
OF population and amount of labor and Of
trade has been very great. ~
But it has been and always will be in a CITY
OF the size of ours, that whenever any new
project is started which tends to interrupt the
old and established order of things and sub
stitute enterprise for stagnation, modern i'm
provements for ancient discomforts, and to
keep up with the progress Of events in this
stirring, progressive and inventive world, it
meets with opposition from class of persons
who dislike change, love ease, resist everything
that looks like innovation and believe @the
old7 is always better than sthe newt
Our Gas and Horse Railroad Companies.
which are now in successful operation and
prove of SO great convenience to the public as
TO render their continuance indispensable.
were opposed in various ways and by various
impediments which had their origin in the
brains, or sneers, or ominous head shaking Of
some of these young or old fossils. And it Is
almost within the recollection of some of our
oldest inhabitants that the making of light
ming rods and putting them on buildings for
preservation of human life were Numbered
against from pulpits as sacriegous inventions
of wicked men, designed to defeat the purpos-
es of the Almighty.
And it is recorded in Smith G. Deane's
Journal published by VIM. Willis ESQ.,, that
the physician who tried to introduce the vac
cine matter in this section and proved his faith
in its preventative virtues by inoculating him
self and family, was denounced as would-be
murderer, and his house was surrounded by an
Infatuated mob and almost torn down over his
head. sl anlhn9
And yet lightning rods were intended to pro
tect and vaccine to sace life, and both were de-
nouneed as internal or villainous inventions,
unworthy Of the favor of moral or religious
men and deserving only universal execration.
The spirit that would not believe in the val
ue and usefulness of these great discoveries
and resisted our railroad and manufactory irr-
provements is the same which stands in the
way of the contemplated Park And while
they see only evil and intemperance in it, the
great majority of our people see in it a Judi
cious and extensive public benefit
Mr.. Shaw proposes las understand it, to
take lease from the city of tract of land
west Of DramhalPs Hill and extending from a
point beyond the Kennebec Railroad to Fore
River for the purpose of making at private ex-
pense good, commodious and attractive park
for equestrian purposes, public parades coun-
ty and State Agricultural Shows. 1t is OBJ
vious that by so doing he will be giving the
city an income from land which is now compa-
lively unproductive, and retired and capa-
cioB arena to all those who love the healthfil
exercise of horseback riding where thew will
be undisturbed by barking dogs or ill-manner-
ed boys, and broad level plain to those who
love to witness exhibitions of the power and
speed of horses, and also afford such accom-
modations to the managers pof our Agricultu-
raj Societies as they have long needed and
as will induce them to hold their annual.
meetings in Portland.
One OF the most attractive features of the
agricultural Fairs or Shows during the mast
ten years has been the equestrian exhibition
by ladies and gentlemen These have been
considered perfectly legitimate to the occasion
and have drawn crowds of persons of both
sexes IF IN all quarters. And by affording the
necessary facilities here for such entertain
ments will surely tend to increase the business
OF the city in many departments, give employ
ment to our hotels, boarding houses, livery
stables and mechanics, increase the trade Of
provision dealers, grocers, and others, and ad-
vance in various ways our material prosperity.
But some may allege that it win also tend to
increase rowdyism, drunkenness and gambling.
But this objection with equal propriety can be
brought against all of our public celebrations
OF political or national character. 1t is suffi-
Gent to say in reply to this that our municipal
regulations are or can be made stringent
enough to meet every emergency.
lnasmrch therefore, as Mr.. Shaw is willing
to undertake the preparation of the grounds
at ms own expense and pay a reasonable rent
ior the use thereof, and as the Park appears to
DE public improvement of great benefit to
the city, and as large and influential portion
OF our citizens have petitioned that lease be
granted him, it would seem as if only one
course were left open to the City Council. viz
to authorize the making of lease upon such
terms and conditions as the interest ofthe city
requires Pro BoNo PTTpTIco y
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY for Auo,,s+ il