The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-09-28
The Exncrfcnca of Lewisin,

shire and one-third native.
The Experience of Lewiston.
IF it had been proposed in the year 1850 that
the town Of Lewiston should invest $50 COO in
TO placing the same at a reduced cost, or at no
cost, in the hands Of capitalists who contem.
plated improvements, doubtless the scheme
would have met violent opposition, even if
shown that the investment of millions of dol
lars within the town depended upon it.
But the policy would have been wise one
for all that. When the company came to
Lewiston, the land about the falls, W it'll all the
buildings and improvements thereon, was not
worth ever $50 an acre. Now single lots on
the business streets, 25x9O It, bring from So 800
to $4,000. On Lisbon street, where good lots
of the specified size sell for $175 per foot. lot
SSx114 #. brought only $3.50, before the date of
the Improvements, or IL cts. per foot.
A tract of land not far from the college and
within a mile of the centre of the city, of about
70 acres, sold some years ago for $15 per acre !;
it will now bling $500 per acre A digest of
sales Of lands and farms made within short
erty as far removed from the centre IF the city
as three miles, has had its value increased b.
two hundred per cent. through the improve-
ment of the water-pewer; as for exepple,
farms worth formerly $500 are now worth
$4,000.
The rise has been constant. 1t las never
fallen off, 1t is moreapid now thas ever. A
lot of land of sixAcres two years ago was
bought for $4,000; lie acre of it has already
netted its owners5, 500 for house lots. The
valuation of thcown in 1850 was $625 600; it
is now about 100000. Including Auburn,
whose growtb' equally the result of the use
of the watepower, there is a population of
$4,000 and table property whose valuation is
is over 81 5000, clustered about and grown
up upon til great privilege,-a privilege not
yet half eloped.
But thStimulus has been felt in all the re-
gion rord about. There is not piece of
propert within fifteen miles of Lewiston
whose ilue has not been substantially raised
by themprovements at that point. There is
not angle element of human consumption,
for cd, clothing, building, or whatever, pro-
duci within half days ride of the city, but
serquicker and at a price from twenty-five to
or hundred per cent. more than it would but
fe the development of the water-power In
ded but for the use of the power very much of
could not be sold or would not be produced
1T all. A farm ten miles distant from the city
sold last spring for $4,000, which would not
have commanded $1,000, if the manufactures
had not been established at Lewiston.
re how II hat
worth of property had been given outright by
Lewiston, or by Lewiston and the surround
ng towns, each in the proportion of prospec-
i've advantage, to induce capitalists to invest
lpon the Androscoggin, a hundred dollars for
very one thus invested would have come back
20 them; for the increase of property in the re-
sion consequent upon the Improvement of the
power is already more than 91O,O0O,0OO.
MAY BE THAT OF OTHER TOWNS.
What Lewiston might have done to advan-
tage, had circumstances demanded, other
towns may now do with equal assurance of adj
vantage. The manufacturing demands of the
country are increasing with enormous rapid
ty. In the limited district of valuable water
declivities, the progress in manufactures
from 1850 to 1860 was rs per cent, the product
for those years being respectively $780, 900 900
and 81, 290,OOO,000 The product is 1875 will be
at least 81, 800 100000, of which Maine ought to
yield $2OO,0OO,0OO. Capitalist manufacturers
will come here if they can meet generous adj
vance. Precisely what they want we are able
% give, and it is all we have to give, n,anutac-
aring privileges, privileges of little value as
hey are, and that always will be of little value
ill touched by the hand of capital
Towns, then, possessed of large powers
'vailably situated should move to take posses-
ion of them with a view to their transfer to
competent improveTs, free of COST or az
hear that as possible. The transfer upon such
conditions can be brought about far more
eadily by the interposition OF munich cred
and resource than by any other means. The
difficulties. and indeed objections, to combin-
ng the action of a limited number of citizens
n SUCH an enterprise amount in the large ma
ority OF cases to its total inhibition. Individ-
lai owners cannot in general afford TO invest
% neaVlly IN any enterprise however great the
eturns might be. The town is to be benefited
IS whole, and as whole accordingly it NAV
properly lay its hand to the enterprise.
1t would, perhaps, never be advisable for
OWNS to take possession of their power with
lew to its permanent occupancy, or to work
lg it themselves, or to investing capital in its
Improvement, as an ordinary business enter
rise. 1t is proposed that they assume the
iaracter of Water Power Competitions |
'nly temporarily, as the readiest means |
bringing their power into the hands of ex-
efienced, reliable and competent operators
nose improvements, pledged at the outse,
ID stimulated by ordinary considerations of
terest, Shall make returns to the towns for
cir Investments. There being in the state, at
whole, amongst the home-bred populat;on a
ficiency of experienced skill in the more
aborate manufactures, as well as of concen-
ated capital, the attempt should be made.
tn occasional exceptions perhaps, to draw
money and skill from beyond State, and
ID IN part also, to avoid all questions of pre-
.ehce and favor amongst the people directly
Ierested.
Inc prese OF is a favorable time for the ac-
n proposed. The State having massed in a
ume, now nearly ready for issue. the more
portant information respecting its water