The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-24

Little more than half year has passed since
the fire laid waste the busiest part of Portland.
Wise heads and grave faces wagged solemnly.
Melancholy prophecies were heard. "Thirty
years won't make Portland what it was.'
"You and won't live to see the city as we
saw it yesterday" True enough /; but the
croakers already see and hear proof of a new
vigor, OF dauntless enterprise, and prospect of
larger business and a greater prosperity. The
burnt district is already thing of the past,
vague in boundary, traditional in horror. The
9Th of July, 1866, is far off, Mr. Gradgrind. a
well known practical man and believer in facts.
was overheard saying the other day, tina. it
was like magic. Where the black cinders of
property smoked, traffic smiles again through
plate glass; comfortable homes have grown nm.
as it were in night, from the ashes; and the
ruins, CHASTITY and desolate, are extant only in
the hands of the photographer
The energy shown in rebuilding the citv
can scarcely be paralleled. No doubt the
builders will get their reward in dollars
and cents, and no doubt they build and
expend, having that reward in view; but vet
the handsome blocks in many cases occupvinp
the sites of tumble down wooden sheds thai
fed the fire, cannot be ascribed wholly to bust
ness enterprise, but are in part due to the
strong local attraction which obtains in the
natives and dwellers of Portland. 1t was truly
the beautiful city. 1t will still be the beauti-
full city. From Eastport to New Orleans no
finer location can be found. What wanderer
hence can ever forget these two noble hills
with their broad Promenades--the White Hills
on the one hand, the Atlantic on the other
If town of equal size in the West were con-
ally devastated by fire, half the sufferers miobt
depart and establish themselves elsewhere and
the rebuilding would be of the cheapest kind ::
here nobody goes away, and each builder vies
with his neighbor in the endeavor to improve
the street and the city. We are disposed 10
blow our trumpet little louder on account o.,
the silence which has been unbroken hitherto
The good work has gone on quietly, swiftly.
and with one or two exceptions, thoroughly.
Perhaps so little has been said because so
much has been done. Nobody thought it worth
while to praise or condemn.
Those whose interests were not Immediate
y affected have given only silent approval to
the improvements which have been made in
the important matter officiating and widening
the streets. 1t is quite possible, as we have
heard it suggested, that much more might
have been done in this respect, but il is ques-
tionable whether the critics considered all the
circumstances; and the wisdom of the author
ties in Withholding at such times is as worthy
as that of granting So far as we are able to
Judge, the changes that have been made. will
prove OF great advantage. The widening of
Cross, Temple and Plum streets, was greatly
needed, and the pressure of travel will be di-
minished thereby to the convenience of eyery-
body. Among other unexpected blessings re-
sulting from the fire, we have now Public
Square-not quite so large as Hyde Park and
Kensington Gardens, to be sure, but space
which cannot be covered with shanties. and
which will become pleasant little breathing
spot, bright with verdure, in due time. THE
ancient and ugly name which has been fixed
upon it won't do much harm, because it will
be merely the The Square or The Park proba-
bly, for long time.) The 9ork on the CITY
Building goes on vigorously, and we are assur-
ed that the rebuilt Hall shall be fully equal to
the old one. Push it along-that is what we
want now. But we are most gratified by the
evidence of energy on the part of our City ard
school authoritiesJ jim the building at such time
of the school house on Munjoy, which seems
to be nearly done, and which is as substantial
and handsome building as we need or could
hope for even in period OF financial prosper
ity No better proof could be desired of the
wholesome condition of the people or the gov
ernment of the city than the prompt building
of this noble school house. 1t shows that we
know where money is well spent. ..,
All this points to cheerful future. The
city is not dead, but more alive than ever.
Very little croaking Or whining is heard now.
1t is probable that the poor people of the city
are not more distressed than they were before
the fire. We believe that the worst of the gale
is weathered, and are disposed to give due
credit to the public servants who have striven
earnestly through this trying period for the
good OF all commemorative Mayor the City
Government, and the various Committees of
Relief. tl 5il l. sfsi INA 5rI- -.s.