Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-10-29
Public Economy.

Public Economy.
Corporations AS well as individuals mus.
practice economy. and conduct their bus :
ness upon correct principles. This does not
mean nj. tarlly policy, nor penny
wise and pound foolish principle of ac-
ton, but an enlightened comprehensive
system Of action in all departments Of bus
mess. Some of the towns in this state,
and quite a number in this county have
such 4 wholesom dread of debt that they
at once commenced to pay Of their war
Indebtedness, and therefore to-day stand
free of debt. These towns possess an I'M
doubted credit. and their notes are good
anywhere, while there are another class
of towns that have not been 50 fortunate
in their past action, and these have not SO
good credit, and do not stand so we'll with
men who loan money. There are various
causes for this difference. and the first and
most important one is the character Of the
men whom the towns trust to do their bus
mess. A good snug business man, one
that takes care of his own business we'll,
and is thriving man. can safely be trust
ed to look after the business of the town.
The reverse Of this proposition is also true
The wasteful, slip-sltod, Careless, in1ifrr
eut citizen should never be entrusted with
the business interests of a town.
Have we all examined thi. subject sufll-
cicntly so as to fully comprehend its i'm
portance? Here is the matter OF public
highways, an important one truly, and is
not the fact n patent one that half the AT
tcntion is not given it, that its Importance
demands. How many towns in this coun-
| ty have been mulctel in finas because Of
the incompeten ~. or carelessness of town
agents? How many more ought to be
fined to day? Again with what careless
ness is the business of many OF the towns
conducted, and in what confusion are the
records of such towns? We speak of these
matters incidentally, and as only german
to the main point we desire to urge HON,
on all towns, and that is, the matter of q
wise economy, Of sclectin: the best me-,
in the towns to conduct tho business of the
towns.
What are the advantages? II a person
has any thought OF moving iuto town
the first question asked, .'are the take,
hishg The next, ''are there good
sciioolsy The next, "are the road,
good?' and the next will embrace whole
series. such as are the people thrifty, pub
lie spirited, energetic and Intelligent.
does not do for public bodies no more thar
it does for individuals to let things "drif
a@eng." In our fifteen years of citizenship
in Ellsworth, we have had all Of the abov,
questions propounded to us many times
and by those who thought of moving into
our town, men of property and of activ,
business habits. And to hold out induce
ments to others to follow our yample, W,
must adopt comprehensive school sys
TEN, thorough and intelligent Road Sys
tenn, and searching. system of public
economy.
Our new Hall is just what we want, none
too large. nor none too costly, il We car
pay the bills, if we can afford it, if 1t viii
not oe 100 expensive. Inc chlef point o
criticism is its location. and here with mel
OF sound minds, there can be no question
or doubt. The second sober thoughl
would have demanded that such build
ing should be located upon business princi
ples-where it would pay the interest Of
, the money invested by rents. There ha.
not been exercised ''sound discretion, >
nor business aud comprehensive under
standing of the ease, that would commend
the men on whom rests the onus of thu
location, to public gratitude. The Hal
itself is noble building, and so was JEFF
ferson's saw-mll that he erected on tn,
hill where grew his lumber, but mile
, from any stream of water to tnrn it, ant
before steam was used as a motive power.
COOP MEDICIST-Tbe hest thinS IA n re-