The Portland daily press., 1869-12-29
p.r,v.ud and its Interests.

| have often wondered why The eDterpri sin @
men Of Portland, who have been active and
| prou,l nens in their endeavors to promote its
| interests and increase its business, have not
| turned their attention more to the establish
meht OF manufactures, small and large, either
III the city or its immediate neighborhood.
Ihere are many branches of manufacture
requiring no great capital to begin with, that
employ many hands, and in that way add very
largely to the population and wealth of any
CITY IN which they are established. Proyi-
uehee Is said to be the richest city in the coun-
Try IN proportion to its population, and its
wealth and Importance are due entirely TO
manufactures, most Of them, if not all, having
peen very small at first. Some time ago was
In a factory there, operated by three engines;
one of one hundred and fifty horse power, the
others OF sixty horse power each, which began
with one horse walking round and turning
shaft!
Providence has no back country behind 1t,
no interior trade to help. as Portland has, but
has been built up entirely by the enterprise OF
its citizens in establishing manufactures.
There is no city in New England more fa-
vo-ably situated than Portland for any kind of
manufacture by steam power, and there is no
other seaport town so favorably situated for its
unequalled water power. From distance of
five miles from the city to twelve miles, on the
Presumpscot river, we have many "setts'' of
falls with large "head" where an unlimited
amount OF power may be had at very cheap
rates, with easy communication by rail with
the wharves in town. These falls are kept
SuDOllp1 TO the fu1lpst in fI,a
season, by exhaustless reservoirs in which
the river rises; and anywhere on the stream
factories will be exempt from taxation for ten
years from their establishment. n D.
BRIEF JoTTINGs.-What next-opera glasses
are now used at fashionable weddings.
vet sacks are very much worn," as the young
lady remarked on discovering hole in the
sleeve of her SUNDAY est."-The year 1870
will have fifty-three Saturdays. Il comes in
and goes out on Saturday.-All women are
kleptomaniacs to a certain extent They
will hook dresses.-The following tale of po-
liceman founded on fact, "Baize'' ventures to
put into halting verse:
He was gay policeman bold,
Bright and shiny were his buttons,
And well he kept the crossing clear
Near the mart of beet and muttOns.
She was woman underbred, -.
And as Ger the street he showed her.
"A soft thing you have got" she said,
just as II the feller knOwed her.
But 10, she slipped and took seat
In the dark and muddy gutter;
"a softer thing, marm, you have got,
With grim smile he did mutter.
The holidays are not over yet. New Years is
still to come and those who were late in max
ing Christmas presents can remember their
friends on New Years Day.-A gentleman of
this city bought nice fat Christmas turkey in
Montreal which cost him, with the duties and
exchange, thirteen cents a pound. On arriv-
ing home he found his wife had purchased am
equally as good here for thirty cents a
pound. Difference in favor of the Montreal
turkey, seventeen cents pound Why is this
thus?-It is pity Noah lost his ark. He
might find use for it on Commercial street
this weather.-Three days of rain and fog SO
far
SAccARAPPA ITEMs.-The recent festival at
Warren's Hall netted about 500 to the ladies
of the Congregational society, who have been
introducing some improvements into their
house of worship.-The Moot Court Monday
night drew together a great crowd, and the
Breach of Promise case was conducted with
marked ability by the counsel on each side,
Judge Bradbury presiding.-Saccarappi
are rejoicing in two miles of excellent side
walks which bridge the mud that now every
where abounds.-Six more street lamps have
arrived the past week from Boston.-The
fourth lecture of the course of Union lectures
will be delivered this evening by the Rev. E.
P. Thwing, on "Reminiscences of Travel in
Scotland" These lectures are free to the pub
lie and have thus far been well attended.-The
agitation of the question of dividing West
brook is the leading topic of thought among
the citizens, and there is prospect of an inter-
esting debate at the Town meeting this fore