Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-12-14
Not all a Dream.

Not all a Dream.
| Sitting in our office the other evening. unit
weary and dissatisfied. we sauptcrrd out i,
! duest of local items for this issue of the imeri
can, being good naturally informed that w,
were getting sleepy. The first place visitct
was the "Town Hail. so resolutcly commenced
by an association of ladies last Winter. II is
magnificent structure, on paper. and Is in tn,
hihgcSt degree crctlitable to the earnest project
ors of the building. Ascending its wide an,
easy stars to the entrance to the public hall We
entered the brilliantly illuminated room. and
found it well filed with the substantial citizens
of the place. those who eongrcgate weekly to
devise way. aud means to promote the material
and moral welfare of the people. The meeting
was organized and under full Roadway. The
matter for discussion ut the time we entered
was that of a railway between the wharvcs and
the Fails Village. The project was earnestly
and ably advocated by several gentlemen. as
being paving enterprise. and also tending ma
terially to facilitate business. Plans and spcci-
fications were presented. and statistics read
showing the feasibility, and the almost necessity
of the railway. Some one just awakened. open
cd his eyes, and declared the thing humbug.
Our fathers hauled lumber through mud knee
deep. and we can. The town has been willing
TO cNpcnd large sums of money, to no purpose.
so far rs keeping the roads in good repair over
which lumber i. transported, in the past, and it
will continue to do and why should we want
to disturb the old arrangement. flour children
or those that come after heed improvements.
let them make them. ''Suficicnt into the day Is
the evil thereof" Another speaker remcrked
that he had always lost all the money invested
in corporations. and while he was willing the
enterprise should 90 on, he proposed to stand
neutral. Another wanted TO knew fla railway
is built, what would become Of the large num-
Der of noble horses now owned. and employed
In the transportation of the lumber to the
wtarvcS Another interpo>ed this objection: :
We are doing very well now; we must save all
the money can. and must not spend a cent
for any change whatever. Another, said his
family was very nervous. and the steam whis-
tie would disturb its usual quiet. and he should
feel Obliged TO oppose the scheme. Another
brought up the old objection, the one urged 10
the old >cotchman, Stephenson, that COW
might get in the way of the engine. To tk
strong objection. another. said that if the stray
cows could bc disposed Of in thi, way, he would
invest at once. After I'LL these reasons against
the project had been urged, a sober. thoughtful
and practical citizen arose and asked that he
might be heard. lie spoke substantially n fol-
lows Mr.. President; we must look 10 the .u-
ture interest Of the place. and the good Of those
to come AFTER us well Is TO the present: and
if we have been doing well for the past few
wears. it is Il reason why we should be ready and
willing TO spend some time. and something Of
that surplus accumulated, in providing for the
future good of our adopted place of residence
l we were crampcd for means 10 pay our daily
accIuing demands could not spend thought
or dime on subject like the one on discussion
at this time. 1t i, not following the line of pol
icy marked out for us this evening by the speak
cr> proceeding, 10y adopting the old maxim,
Let We'll enough alone. for We are not wei
enough now. We are doing our numbering
business under disady autagcs and we are taxing
the town very largely, and very foolshly. l
| can demonstrate To you by the clcare>t statis-
ties and the presentation OF undcniable facts.
that we can get our lumber transported to the
wharycs cheaper, spccdier. and with less dam
age. by Railway, than by the method now in
Use. think can satisfy you also. that rail-
way will always he wanted and that it will al
WAYS pay. for when our lumber shall have been
all cut away, and il will not in this century, the
fine water power on this river will all he used
| for some Kind Of manufacturing purposes, re-
quiring the transportation of large quantities OF
the raw material TO, and manufactured good.
from these workshops. think can also dem
onstrate to you that the population of our vii
| lasc will continue to increase rapidly, if we
| take an emil ghtencd view Of our duties. and
manifest commcn,iible public spirit Let us
| therefore, imS tead Of cncrI,ting ourselves al
over with self, and becoming satisfied with :
vision that shall take in only to-day, and Will
throwing all the burdens of an active age. and
the prospective wants Of an earnest people. on
the shoulders af others. assume the places tina,
of right belong, to Us rs living members of so
ciety, and do checrfully whatever will tend t,
build up an industrious, cheerful and contente,
community.
| The meeting then adjourned for one week. "a
take up and discuss another subject of publ,
interest. We shall be there to report progress
We learned that the Hall has been engaged eacl
week for the winter, for public discussions.