The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-03-24
LETTER FROM S. L. MILLlKEN ESQ.

WM. II. SIMPSON, ESQ: DEAR SIR: The en-
closed letter being refused punishment in the
Republican organ in this city, am obliged to ask
you to give it a place in Your columns.
Yours truly, S. u. MuLIKEN.
| TO THE EDITOR OF THE PROGRESSIVE AGE
IN as much as your report of my remarks at the
CluzenS' Caucus touching the affairs of the rail
road, is an entire misconsruction of them, and
represents me as saving what neither said nor in
tended, whether Intentionally on your part not;
and since they do injustice not only to me,
but also to parties entirely unconnected with any
controversies which may have arisen between us,
deem it proper that the matter should be put
Alright through the same channel in which that
port appeared.
/ My presence at the Citizens Caucus was entirely
accidental. neither signed the call for it, even
knew it was to be held till half an hour before it
covened l had been at the Republican Ward
Caucus. where almost unanimously nomi-
mated, and stepped into the Citizens Caucus on my
return 1t was not 4 gathering Of Democratic
poll-taX payers from the wharves, but contained
! quite as many Republicans as Democrats. and was
/ presided overly thorough-going Republican. who
is one of the oldest and most respectable merchants
OF Belfast. Some one called on me to state what
had been done with consolidation. and how our
railroad was left in the matter, and did so.
Your statements and differences about $50 600
The Plscataquis r. II. Co., SlO00o, Ne, are rs I'M
Just to the Directors of the Maine Central and Il.
L. H. Railroads as to myself. and cannot con-
celve how they should be even suggested by any re-
marks of mine, except to some person DESTROYS Of
pervertng the obvious meaning of what said
| The point | attempted to make, thought
clearly enough stated to be readily understood. A
few men whom it would be impossible to designate
as they deserve, and whose presence in our streets
Is continual reminder of the mercy Of the gov
eminent, had been reporting evidently for cleo
toneerng purposes. that the city had been sold to
the Maine Central r. Il. Co. While this SANDER
was circulating. | was at Augusta. laboring i'll the
best way coudfor the interests of our railroad and
II
within it, had congratulated me upon the terms of
our lease. and said it one that Belfast could
not afford to sell for $4,000. How the city was
sold in the transaction could not understand. Ii
was. to say the least, such sale She should be
glad TO make every day, and would rapidly grow
rich out of it. That the Directors of either the
Maine Central or h. d 2. X. II. made any offer to
purchase any one. was not intimacd nor intended
to be, nor would it have been true if it had been.
My convictions were never stronger than that to
Burnham or Newport, and not to kendas Mills,
our Railroad should be built to bring business to
our wharves and stores and to be Of the greatest
possible benefit to our city.
My course upon that question was never changed
during the progress of the negotiations and lease
of our road, and it certainly would not be now.
were the question to be tried over again. To have
built our Railroad to kenda's Mills would have
been to put drain and not feeder into our city.
This the opinion of the entire board of Alder
men, all of whom acted together in the matter.
The point which made in myremarks i'll regard
to the Pscataquis Railroad was that consolidation
might have been carried could that road have been
so taken into the partnership substantially to
commit the consolidation company to prevent if
possible, the extension of our Railroad beyond DeX-
ter; and the fact that the Directors of the Maine
Central Railroad Company would not consent to
prejudice the prospects of building our Railroad to
Moosehead Lake as rapidly as possible. and if So
increasing its utility to city. proof of their
friendship to us, and evidence that they could be
relied upon to carry out their engagements with
u.s. If the Piscataquis Railroad is pauper, as
YOU report me to say, it certainly does not by any
follow nj Sn. md thn
Jealousy which the managers of that Railroad seem
to entertain of our Railroad, is not proof of the
latter'S worthlessness, but exactly the contrary.
As to Mr.. McGilvery, had he been present and
: listened tony remarks, think he would not have
considered himself attacked.
II was due to the Waldo delegation that their
friendship for us in the consolidation contest should
be made known, and to have included Mr. Nc
Gilyery would have been to state what was untrue
He made no secret of his position. and presume
he makes it none now, nor have seen any rea-
son to believe that he wishes others to do so. Ii
may not have been in good taste to alludc attacks
made upon myself and other managers of the rail
road by afcwpersons who are as powerloss TODD the
INJURY they seek to do as their malice is yenomOus.
But | had been away laborng for the interest of
Belfast and the Railroad, Of which she is the ma-
ijority owner Whether did well or i'll did the
best could as have never ceased to do since the
enterprise was started; and for ono to find his ac-
tons miSconStred and his motives aSporSel BY the
very men who We're TO receive the benefit of his
labors. though not new thing entirely. in the
to take. Into the prosecution of our Railroad en-
terpriSc, entered in good faith, with others who
supposed were also acting in the same spirit, and
would so continue 10 the end. We are now where
our only salvation lies in going ahead. The work
| must be done in the most economical manner and
with the utmost rlpi,llty. to get the road inn
mcdiately under the lease that the city and other
stockholders may receive their dividends from the
rental as soon as possible. In doing this there
should be no division among our citizens. The
| interests of all are the same. Whatever NAV be
the personal feelings of any towards the Dircc-
tors, if should he remembered that when they into
whose hands the people have fit to contile any
enterprise, are attacked, the enterprise itself re-
ccyes the weight Of the shock De ii great or little
You, as well Us |. thought that they who 'professed
TO be i'll favor of pushing on the war for the Union.
but at the same time attempted TO weaken conf
dence in the administration to whom the people
had contided its management, Were inconsistent. if
not insincere. Our railroad enterprise presents
case exactly parallel We have the credit of hav-
ing built the best road in the state so far as il is
completed We have secured lease which makes
every mans subscription to stock Il good invest
ment, and leaves our city ana the towns which
have subscribed i'll good condition. Why should
not we all push forward the work with one will
| to its conSummation, as they doing in other
cities in like manner situated and then all take an
equal pride in it, S. L. MILLIKEN.