The Portland daily press., 1871-02-11
Letter f. ON Augusta.
AUGUSTA, Jan. %, 1871

WEEK OF EXCITEMENT.
To the Editor Of the Press:
The present is the busiest week not only OF
the present but any recent session. Its ex.
element reminds one Of the famous sensa-
tional contest.
THE BOSTON AND MAINE ExTENTIoN.
The leading topic of interest is the Boston
and Maine extension. l know nothing OF the
contestants; but the history of this case as it
appears to an outsider shows to what an ex-
tent our people have become accustomed to
railroad legislation. Ten or even five years
ago corporation that would have applied for
similar charter without having given the
lawful notice of the intention of such an ap-
plication, would have 'been referred to the
next legislature with order of notice." Until
the third OF fourth week of the session, but a
few of the members of the legislature were
aware that such a measure would be present.
ed, yet within two weeks it has become the
leading topic ofdiscussion and speculation at
the hotels and ante-rooms. To Cay the mem
Der from the remotest rural town who had
hardly known that there was such nice cor
poration in existence eight weeks ago, is per-
fectly conversant with all these great railroad
lines and regards the focile Lobbyist who has
posted lin who may be his own county law
yer. as a pleasant fellow, with lots OF - -
passes. Another point, there has always been
hostility in granting charters to corporations
outside ofthe State before, yet in this case 1T
is hardly mentioned.
So we have a spectacle of what a powerful
corporation can do in four or five weeks, by
skilltuIly trained and numerous agents in a
cause begun in defence of established rules of
notice and of the interest of men that have no
residence or wealth in Maine
THE E. & N. A. RAILROAD.
III there are not some sharp and able de-
bates on other railroad matters in the House.
then prophesy Is no longer gift. The mem
bers are not a lew who think that the Euro
pean q North American Company is build
ing road at the expense of the State with
out any immediate prospect of an abundant
return except to the lucky few who baye be-
come stockholders. 1t is stated that this com.
pany has received considerably over million
ano a nall OF public money, and it is charged
that IL has tailed to comply with any of the
conditions upon which it accepted its charter
and public aid, the principal of which is the
settlement of the public lands. Mr.. Pike is
the leader OF this party in the House, and
honest shrewd and witty David Dudley of
the Senate is an able ally Woodbury. of
Houlton, strange as it may seem a. first
glance, is another able opponent. Mr.. Wood
bury has had as much experience in tie
affairs OF the State as any man of his age,
and has profited as much thereby. The
champions of this interest are Sewall of Old
town, able in council, fertile in expedients,
with the happy faculty of appearing to be
the most helplessly honest man in the world,
the real Democratic leat er, if Wilson be not
that cheftain, and Stickney, and who really
believes that the European and North Amer
lean is branch of the North Aroostook
railroad. This fight is avoided thus far by
both sides, but there has been preliminary
skirmishng enough to develope the mettle
and strength of the contestants. Dudlev's
bill to make the European and North
American Company an emigrant society
or pay So.COO year; the Northern
AIoosiook Railroad bill or Mr.. Pixies general
Dill VIII bring on the clash. Mr.. Pixies
being Calais man and having a road to
Hou ton very naturally doesn't want another
besides having one old prejudice against the
European North American. Houlton having
money in the Calais road naturally doesn't
care for another, much less one that shall pass
by on the other side. The European Compa-
ny rather likes to build railroads and own
them at tie public expense, and would gladly
invest the bare t. life of two millions for tie
good people OF Maine IN building itself ara-
road TO be run for itself into Aroostook.
There is something curious about railroad
legislation. To-day Mr.. A. will talk strong
for certain project, and you may be sure
that you have him; but tomorrow some
good friend may have had the gift to "gie
him" to see another interest that is more i'm
portaDt to him if he can make the string of
possibilities cling together by which the good
is expected to come. For '.ways that are
dark and tricks that are vain" commend us to
railroad legislation.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
The gentleman from Whitefeld has got the
House table buried with all the reports of the
Education Committee. Indeed, Il doubt if any
measure reported on by that intelligent com
mitee has passed beyond that pigeon hole of
the clerks desk known as the speakers table.
When the day comes for the slaughter. Will
son will never after speak of grinding zone
aveDging sworp'.
RARE OLD FOSSILES.
The sachems of the Democratic party have
been ia council here this week. There are
certain cd faces that we see whenever the
Democracy is in council that remind one OF
me organization as it existed during the war.
Iney always come up, talk of success in the
,u,are' curse radicalism, mix toddv and de-
pa pa,, aiu not see the Fellow who prayed |
ol". .he northerner who went South |
a LII ,iis vi Aoe Lincoln might be welcomed |
~. ~ nospi.aoie grave this year; He is out of |
the state, but the man who received tbo go
tie was there. 'he cps
Gen Butler, the Chairman of tbo Do
cratic State Committee, once comns o . Delno-
division - in Maine. He is said ~ q
resent the temperance wing of the party a,ptJ
next to City Marshal Wingate pours oui mora
liquor than any man in Penobscot, and with :
deal more OF system and regularity, it is said
STATE PRINTING.
The State printing is settled. The adver-
tisement for proposals was responded to by |
Messls Sprague, Owen d Nash who Offer ed to |
renew the contract of last year and also by |
Mr. T. A. Chick formerly one of the proprie- |
tors of The Standard, who offered to do the |
Ter GA cents per thousand ems |
and the press work for SLIP token. The offer |
of the former parties is composition so cents
per thousand and press work 81, per token of
$50 sheets OF 16pp octave or 24pp duodecimo,
printed Ga each side One or two other bids |
Wee received which from their vaerant char
acel We're not considered seriously. The
proposal OF Messrs. Sprague, Oven q Nash
was unanimously accepted, il being 80 per
cent lower than Massachusetts pays. The
printing the present session has been done
VIII remarkable promplness, besides being
E.U.N.