Ellsworth American., 1867-04-26
Augusta Correspondents.

AUGUSTA, April 2Sd. 1851.
FgIESr rSAwYEE:-The weekly sl9,sAT-
ancc of tie .iaersorH reminds me ;ha:
should make good my promise 70 present.
from TINE TO time. sseh itecis as may be
deemed Of interest to its readers.
TIE fact thasis is now settlei that MeSS-s.
Sp.agne win make the State capital one Of
the largest manufacturing cities iii Maine,
has rendered it of greater interest to the
rest of the State A stranger would not
know now that the principal business street
OF the city was nearly destroyed by fire
less than two years since. so rapidly and
thoroughly have the blocks been replaced.
In consequence of the postponed i'm
proyements. real estate has ads anced very
much. In this. as in nearly every town in
the State. ii is next to impossible to. pro-
cure tenements. except by purchase, and
BY this means it is not easy; as desirable
locations are very scarce, aud held at no
modest figure.
The Spragues are running the cotton
mill here having. as learn. put in new
machinery. 1t is farther understood that
they will erect one large mill this season.
The Liquor Law went into operation here
the 18th inst. 1t is doubtful if the services
of the Constable of the State will be re-
quired at its capitol. Strange to say the
enemies Of prohibition are bound that the
law shall be rigidly enforced.
They are opposed to city agency. Free
rum or none. The first yiolator of the
law. am sorry to learn, was a man usu-
ally reported as a prohibitionist. and report
says deacon of the Free Baptist church
who thought it was no violation to sell
cider, His knowledge { f this subject cost
| him ten dollars and the usual costs.
| Augusta seems to be in advance Of the
rest of the state in school reform. At a
school meeting of voters OF the village
corporation. it was voted by large Ina-
jority to abolish corporal punishment
in their schools. The question of max
ing the Protestant versiouof the Bible. a
text book has been agitated from time TO
tilne.
Last year the trustees of the schools
voted that it should be read in the schools
except By such as had scruples Of con-
science against it. This year it was voted
that the Bible be read in the schools by a Ii
except when parents requested that their
children should be excused. 1t is snrpris-
ing that Intelligent men, who have much
to say about "freedom of conscience "vio-
lently oppose such consistent action as has
been taken here. Freedom of conscience
too often means a liberty to believe what
zee hold as right, and nothing else.
Gov. Chamberlain has now completed
the board of trustees for the State College
of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The
whole board as it now stands is as follows; :;
Rev. Samuel F. Dixie, of Bath; Hon. Ab-
mer Coburn. of Skowhegan; Hon. Lynden
Oak. of Garland; Hon. Isaiah Stetson. of
Bangor; Vim. P. Wingate, of Bangor; Ma
thaniel Wilson, of Orono; aud Geo. z. Sc
wall, of Old Town.
A subcommittee of the Assumption
Committee, - consisting of Messrs. God
dard, Dame and Ruggles met here several
days since, and inaugurated the prelimi-
nary measures for ascertaining the expen-
ses incurred for war purposes by the towns
&c. in the state, and the number of men
actually put into the army. This important
matter is in the hands Of very able CON-
mttec.
1t may be asked why this Committee
should be appointed, when the Supreme
Court has decided that the State cannot
constitutionally assume the municipal OBJ
legation. In reply, it may be stated that
the action Of the legislature left the Gov
ernor no other alternatives; and further,
that there is no doubt, we are told by Con-
gressmen from this State, but what the
general government will ssume the Sc
liabilities. or a portion ofthem. OF courre
the state will then adjust the municipal
debts.and the sooner these are collected
and thoroughly Investigated, the nearer
they will approximate to correctness.
Frequent inquiries are made to know if
ne,s applications are required from those
who received a State pension last year. If
Notice has been given in the papers that
are required.
As your readers may like to know who
are really "Squires" will give appoint
ments as have been made since last wrote.
Justices Of the Peace and Quo, um -
| Thomas Warren. Deer Isle John II.
Brimmer Ellsworth; l.. G. Phiibrook.
Sedgwick; Francis B. Foster, Amherst
VIM. II. CHM, Jos. L. Buck, Buckspori
Willard c. Cousins, Orland; Sullivan