The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-06-24
An,i.Ogdensburg Meeting.

The meeting in Fluent Hall Saturday eve
ming was called to order by Harris c. Barnes,
Esq, at half-past 8, who nominated George f.
Emery, Esq. for Chairman. Elias Thomas, I'd,
was chosen Secretary. On taking the chair
Mr.. Emery addressed the meeting at length.
He said the proposition before the voters of
Portland was whether or not it would make the
Portland & Ogdensourg r. r. Co. a gratuity of
Sl,3OO,00O. Mr.. Emery said he had always
been opposed to municipal aid to railroads. Such
corporations never were created for that pur-
pose The voting away of one mans property
by another under Legislative sanction is simply
robbery made lawful. The act is in defiance of
the rights of property, which are sacred. Mr..
Emery regretted that he was not better posted
on the subject, ard that our citizens generally
are not posted. 1t is generally understood that
the directors have contract with certain par
ties who propose to build the road for 81 800 000
but who had seen the contract? who knew its
provisions and conditions? This amount called
Tor must be considered gratuity, for the
money spent in the construction of railroads is
always lost He referred to the history of the
Portland & Kennebec, Maine Central and Port
land & Ogdensburg showing that not a cent of
the original is to be found. Mr.. Emery noticed
f. the fact in connection with the Maine Central,
that it Disseminated against Portland. Mr..
Emery alluded to the fact that two of the d.
rectors of the Maine Central were directors of
our road, and that consequently they had expe-
rience-a statement that pleased the audience.
The speaker proceeded to notice the business of
the ?. & O.. road. He had passed over the
country We can control the business this side
of North Conway, but it must be painfully ap-
parent that from this village most of the traffic
and travel will go to Boston. He predicted that
Boston would swallow up the whole. What
Portland needs, said Mr.. Emery, is popua-
ton to consume what our railroads bring to us.
Beyond the Notch another railroad runs to
Boston There is little or nothing there to ship
but lumber, and that is worth more in Littleton,
n. H., than in Portland The only considera-
BILE place is st. Johnsbury. Mr.. Emery mem
toned the Canadian connections by saving that
there were three or four roads competing for it.
Hon. Neal Dow was next called, who desired
to hear from Mr. Clapp, as he had learned that
the latter had some statistics prepared Mr..
Clapp preferred to present them at another
time, and Mr. Dow proceeded in his usually an
mated style. He said that the gentlemen in
-terested in the Portland s. Ogdensburg project
were esteemed personal friends, whose Judgment
he would respect, and if he had no knowledge
of this matter, would be influenced by them
First he objected to municipal loans an toto.
They are in violation of the purpose for which
government is established. He referred to the
fact that when this work was begun the direc-
tors pledged themselves never to ask for more
than 100000 He further desired to know if
any one had seen the contract with Messrs
Fuller & Harding No one knew ANYTHING
anteeing its fulfiIlment of five or ten millions
it, the contract, is no better than blank paper
He urged that the road cannot be completed for
the sum. Hardly for double it. He referred to
the Hoosac tunnel, which was to be completed
FOR $500, 900, which has already cost $11 000 000
He had objected to enter into this discussion
until he heard the drums and trumpets of the
Ogdensburg people over the way. As a matter
of conscience he could not ask A to vote for
the loan because it would give him work at the
expense of b. He then proceeded to notice the
road through the Notch. 1t has been stated
that the road there could be built there for
S40,O mile. 1t was preposterous. 1t will
cost $100,000 mile, and when built will not
stand five years, for on either hand there are
huge boulders, acres of loose matter that as
land slides will continually be filling up and de-
stroyng the road. Gen. Dow predicted that
the result of the loan would be an increase Of
taxes of at least one-third and this would
affect all classes, but those most who had small
homesteads.
Henry A. Jones, ESQ.,, was next called He
said he was hoarse from fighting the loan all
day on the street, and was in no way fit to ad-
dress the meeting. He warned the people of
Portland that this loan, if voted, was mort
gage upon their property, and by voting for the
loan they released their dover to their home
sIeads; He urged every man to do his duty. for
if he did not we shall be foored next Tuesday.
The latter part of Mr.. Jones remarks were
unintellgible from the noise caused by those
leaving the hall. At the close of his remarks
the meeting adjourned to Monday evening, at
u o'clock
The audience numbered about $50 when the
meeting was called to ORDER but had dwindled
down to much smaller proportions when the
meeting adjourned, at twenty minutes to 10.