The Portland daily press., 1871-01-23
Letter feom Augusta. -

To the Editor Of the Press:
For once the close of the third week of the
session promises short session and if the leg.
islature should adjourn now, it could he called
one that was bent on retrenchmeut. The usual
business is further along now than it was in
1869, and in 1870 at the end of the fifth or sixth
week.
The railroad projectors are here with their
projects, several week earlier Than usual. This
is due largely to the promptness of the Rail-
road Committee in assigning an early day for
hearing matters relative TO railroads.
Thursday afternoon the wel-kuown form of
John A. Poor appeared in the committee room
to press his scheme, which his opponent,
General Anderson, showed was really to
get O charter to tide water where be
now has none, as the latter claims. The
contest was spicy enough and made some
of our country spectators who consider &C
cusatious of falsehood and scouDdrelism any.
thing but common place. Mr. Poor enlarged
upou his Rutland and Portland sch- me, and
offers the modest sum of twelve millions for
the freightag. of the road the first year. As
usual he paid his respects to those who oppose
nm, euS p''bSiPdI Va WuUH was MT. COln d.
Brown. He said Mr.. B. very self lilly opposed
any plan, any railroad com ng into Portland
that did not terminate in his (Mr B.'s) capa-
ciOus pockets. He said that the Portland and
Osdensburg railroad could never be road that
would do heavy freghting on account OF its
heave grades. He said that his charter gave
him the p ivileee of entering Portland but he
wanted an extension and wuening of his s'vest-
ed rights" Gen. Anderson said in reply that
Mr.. Poor knew that be had no charter 10 enter
Portland and never pretended to have such a
charter until within few weeks, and that this
request for enlarsing his rights was only one of
Mr.. Poor's many 'cover suts," to use the Gen
erals language, to get charter into Portland
in order that he might realize gain from it, He
further set forth the plans of the Portland and
OgGensburg Company, the money expended,
the city credit. &c. He said that the Portland
and Rutland route was grand one and would
some day be utilized, but that the class of spec
ulators now held seven separate charters
which they once tried to sell but found 30 buy
ers. Gen. A. said he felt called upon to defend
friend who was absent, Mr.. Brown. That
man, said Gen. A., pointing to Mr. Poor,
fawned about John B. Brown, a suppliant so
long as he could suck dollar. He would lick
his boot soles, and chung to Mr.. Brown as a
parasite until Mr. B. flung him from him as a
CHASTITY vampire. Here Mr.. Holland at the de-
mand of Mr.. Poor, stopped the gallant Ander-
son much to the disappointment of the inter-
ested spectators. You already know that Mr.
Poor waived the pushing of that part OF his bill
oil AZ tn. lin +; saba
One of the airy railroad schemes, airy at
least to practical and common people, is that
of Mr.. Burpee for a charter from some point on
the European and North American Railway
near Passadumkeag thence westerly to the
Blngor and Piscataquis Railroad and along
that line to its termination, thence through the
wilderness to Moose River and along that river
to the West liue of the State where it is to con i.
meet with some line to Montreal. This is one of
the great national lines of transportation" it
is claimed.
The Westbrook division case called out some
OF the strongest men in that town. The hear
ing begin Thursday evening and continued at
The session of the committee until ten o'clock
Friday night when the testimony on both sides
was nearly completed.
speak of both sides; should say that the
contest is triangular, as there is one party for
the division, the party against it and another
party that desire to b. set off to Portland.
Toe case has been continued until Monday
evening, January 30th, when the committee
>will Listen to the arguments.
The Hallowell steam saw mill aid bill called
out one-sided discussion in the House, Satur-
day. Mr.. Cram argued against the business of
the loauiug of towns credit and against its
.constltutionality. Mr.. Pike said that the leg
islation Of the State should be in the other d.
rection instead of giving encouragement to the
destruction of our forests. The lumber market
is giutted and Matte is getting but small re
turns for her wealth of timber. Mr.. Cieaves
said that the Two hundred men who signed the
petition could contribute the $4,000 themselves.
The work OF Saturday goes TO show that
Saturdays and Mondays will, during this sess-
loo, be working days.
The matter OF State printing has, as you we'll
know, been opened for proposals. No printer
of any reputation in Maine can do the work
any cheaper and better than it is now done, as
you may know by consulting the contract I
have heard the leading printers of the State
say that they woald not take it. There is but
one book press 10 Augusta outside of the Jour-
nal office and that belongs to the Name Far
ner. E. JIM.