Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-08

tue what ought 10 10 uon0 " '''''
ION is inevitable. Said he was ready to
vote TO divide
Mr. HAMMOND of Westbrook was not pre-
,,red TO make a speech but he felt called upon
TO reply TO some of the remarks of the gentle-
man from Wintcrport who it seemed had been
petitioner for the division of some town, and
has got his feelings pretty well wrought up
and il is one sided view of the case. lie
saws the people come out from Portland into
the eastern section. So they do in the west
crn section. We are not entirely devoid of
immigration which he speaks of and the num-
Der is increasing We have the interest Of the
town at heart and invite that immigration, and
he thought il the gentleman knew all about i,
he would say that the western section has done
as much to encourage immigration as the east
ern section.
Compare the two parts OF the town with r'f-
erence 20 manufactures. The western Soc
ton has its manufactures at SaccaranpS,
Cumberland Mill and Duck Fond. And arc
there no manufactures in the eastern section
At Stroudwater we find grist mill, salt mill
and two tanucrics. Al Merrill's Corner three
o four tanneries, at behring's Bridge are
la-ge Drain Tile Works. very extensive. A,
Turkeys Bridge large ship yards where some
times we see three or four ships on the stocks
a, the same tiaae. Further on we hna the
Prcsumpscot lron Co, 10 which YOU have
granted this season = charter with capital stock
of Sio1. 900. does this show that they are not 4
manufacturing people:
He speaks about sidewalks and Says in that
section Of THE town they have contributed from
their pockets $500. What have they done in
the western section: Nearly two thousand
dollars have been expended for sidewalks. and
he had put his hand into his pocket contribu-
ting towards it for he did net think ii fair TO
ask the town 10 contribute for sidewalks be-
cause there were 50 many farmers whom it
it would not benefit.
Mr.. HAMMOND pointed out on the map of
Westbrook the different sections OF the town,
estimating their extent and value. He said
they propose to take two-ftths nearly and
nearly three -ffths of the valuation.
The gentleman from Winterpor: had spoken
of towns that have been divided. He would
ask him what has been the experience OF towns
divided any length of time? Many gentlemen
had told him (Mr. H. of towns which have
been divided and would now he glad to get
hack again where they were. Where do di-
visions originate? From few inhabitants,
enemies to the town. importuning and work
ing TO widen. He knew something about this
for he had talked great deal with gentlemen
from the eastern section. 1T we do not sign
that petition now they said and Westbrook is
divided we shall be in bad Tor in that Sec
ton. We will sign it for policy. Still fur
Their there had been plenty of gentlemen who
had told him that they had signed that petition
and they were sorry for it and wished to with
draw their names.
What does the vote of the town show at the
town meeting? The whole number Of votes
thrown was s79 and 557 were for Moderator
against division-322 were in favor ofdivision.
That shows that there many gentlemen who
signed that petition who really did not want
division.
The gentleman says that there we're only
600 remonstrants. Is that the fact: If he will
look at the record he will find more than that.
He (Mr. H. had presented at one time GG9
names and several more petitions after that
There were over seven hundred rcmonstrances
on these papers and some of them were gentle
men who had signed the petition and were sorry
for it. When he spoke Of those who signed
the petition and are sorry for it he spoke of
them as not few in number. They loved the
old town of Westbrook he loved it. And
here comes up question of State policy.
The Legislature passes acts and resolves en-
couraging towns in manufactures and we have
voted that towns may appropriate five per cent
ofther valuation to aid railroads, and What for !!
To build up towns and villages and make them
grow. Yet gentlemen come here and tell us
that this town is too large and therefore il must
be divided. Are men going to be public spirit
ed when just as they get a town built up and
get ii 80 large when down comes the legisla
tive ccaver and cuts it in two: What incen
tive is there for any one to be public spirited:
He had lived in Westbrook sixteen years
and had her interest and welfare at heart. He
had worked for her but the idea Of Westbrook
being divided was rather crushing thing to
him. He loved the town and wanted to see
her grow and increase and if anything was
ever to come between him and Westbrook he
wanted to see Portland come direct to him
rather than a town thrust between him and
Portland.
Roads had been spoken of His section has
been foremost in voting appropriation for roads.
What is the condition of the school houses in
the two sections of the town! Which part
shows who has done the most! The valuation
of the school houses is much largerin his part of
the town and in better repair. We want
good wholesome town. We want good
streets and school houses and we are willing
to put our hands in our pockets for The m. We
are willing to unite with them heart and hand.
He said they are all his friends and should be
his friends. He was not going to lose his per-
sonal friendship for them on any ground what
ever.
The petitions have come here without any
proof of necessity for division. If such
a division be SO necessary to the peace OF the
town they should show 1t by the introduction
of strong arguments instead of mere asscr
tons.
Mr. DEARBORN failed to see any points
made by the gentleman from Winterport,
why we should divide Westbrook. lie
lived upon the borders of this town and
had occasion 10 pass through often and
claimed to be somewhat acquainted with
her people and interests. We find that this
element for division is entirely in the east
ern part. Portland in her growth has ex-
banded toward this section. She has
horse railroad running out and her people
have built splendid residences there, and
that section has consequently increased
And why is this division asked9 Not be-
cause the western part has failed to give
them what they ask for. We see by the
statistics of the town that in the money
expended upon the highways they have
had fiity-eight per cent of the whole ex
penditure with only two-fifths Of the terri
tory. l. that reason why they should
want to be divided? He thought it an act
of injustice to the western part of West