The Portland daily press., 1869-11-16
Division Of Wcs,hr0nk.

The following are the reasons as they will be
presented to the Legislature by the citizens OF
the town of Westbrook who desire division
of the town:
FIRST, the town has more than fourteen hmm.
dred voters, and taxable valuation of more
than twenty-seven hundred thousand dollars.
that 1t has seven villages, several of them al.
ready requiring large appropriations of money
tor their streets, sidewalks, sewers, and Other
punilc and necessary Improvements, and all OF
them rapidly growing up to require the same.
which villages are situated in divers sections
OF the town. widely separated in their loca-
ions, and still more widely in their interest
aims and pursuits, and each requiring peculiar
appropriations of money for their own special
h i ana notwithstanding, as experience
has shown, diversity OF interests, which can
not be harmonized, but is constantly more and
more divergent, as those interests increase in
magnitude, with the increase of population
and property. And tha5 diversity of interest
is seriously felt in maintaining the highways q,
the town, IN laying out new streets, in building
SIDEWALKS, IN making appropriations of money
for the support of the town schools and other
public institutions; indeed, it has, in MANY in
stances, defeated the most important measures
pnou2ht before tho town at its meetings, and
enectually prevented the ACCOMPLISHMENTS of
much needed improvements So that some of
the greatest interests of the town. such as pub-
lie schools and highways are suffering serions
~, WITHOUT nope OF future amendment in the
present confusion and diversity of interest in
the various sections of said town.
SECOND, In consequence of the great num-
Der of voters assembled at our town MEETINGS
and the great number of articles, necessarily
contained in the warrant calling the meeting
10 some cases as many as fifty different arti-
cles-it is found difficult, and in some cases
impossible to transact the business of the
town in q single day. But this is not the most
serious objection TO the present condition of
affairs. SO much business, some of il involv
ing interests OF the magnitude of thousands
OF dollars cannot be considered and tr ,nsact-
ed IN SO large an assembly, composed of voter,
SO widely separated, and adversely interested
either Understandings or impartially but as
experience has shown, is often disposed of ac
cordIng to the caprice of the moment. And
TINS evil is constantly and rapidly increasing.
THIRD, Our manufacturing villages reouire
appropriations of money for objects which are
peculiarly for their benefit, and not for orr
own. Our villages call for what other sec
lions OF the town do not need or desire. Nor
will this ever be otherwise, but constantly and
rapidly becoming of more serious Importance
FOURTH, Our section of the town has a
common interest and a common aim We
need and desire more and better streets. to ac
commodate our growing villages, and to in
we Immigration. more and better schools. and
a system OF public improvements more con-
sistent with our present population and pros
pectlve growth. For these reasons and others
winch might be urged, we respectfully prav
that our petition may be granted.