The Portland daily press., 1872-01-16
Matters at Augusta.

f
.hn Matters at Augusta.
AUGUSTA, January 18th, 1872.
The Legislature has now entered upon its
third week and perhaps it may not be improper
at this time to give brief outline review of
its proceedings thus far.
t MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
The manufacturing interests of the State are
receiving due attention this winter. Already
several charters have been granted and many
more are asked for. The most important of
them acted upon are the Corona Manufactur-
ing Co.," the Lewiston Bleachery and Dys-
house, . the 'Dexter Manufacturing Company"
and the ''Nichols Mills at Lewiston. A gen.
eral law under which manufacturing corpora
tions could organize without limit to capital
stock, could be so guarded as to preserve the
rights of all parties and of the State, and
would save great amount of trouble and ex-
pense in special legislation. F
RAILROAD SCHEMES.
Railroad schemes thus far developed are not
numerous, but quite important The people of
Lewiston and Auburn ask for a charter for
road from Lewiston to connect with the Grand
Trunk at Danville Junction. This will give
them the choice of two routes into Portland
The Maine Central Company already has
charter covering the same route, but it is under
stood they will not construct the road. 1t is
understood that this company has so many
other interests at stake, that it will not deem
it prudent to oppose the granting of the char
ter, now asked for. gl- urREt
charter is asked for to build an extension
of the Androscoggin railroad to be called the
SANDY River Railroad" Some of the wealthy
men of Bangor ask for leave to construct
railroad from Bangor to Calais, through the
counties of Hancock and Washington. This
road would be competing line with the Euro
ropean and North American road mE as
A charter is asked to incorporate the Union
River Railroad. The Portland and Rochester
company renew their prayer for the charter of
a road from Gorham to Danville Junction.
This matter was before the last Legislature and
referred to this. 1t then met with opposition
from the Maine Central company, but it is now
understood that this opposition is withdrawn.
This Rochester route is becoming an enter
prise of considerable Importance. When it is
completed to Nashua as it will shortly be, it is
tween Portland and New York and considera-
bly, nearer than by any other route. To connect
it with the Maine Central and European and
North American road it becomes necessary to
construct the road from Gorham to Danyille
Junction. Then it is claimed that this will be
the most direct route from Halifax to New
York and will be entitled to precedence in
transmitting the European mails
Two parties petition for charter for a road
between Portland and Bath This is one of
the most important railroad projects before the
Legislature, and will doubtless meet with vic
lent opposition. 1t contemplates shore line
between Portland and Bangor and Calais and
OF course competing line with the Maine Cen
trail Company If consolidation were accom-
plished de jure as it is accomplished de facto.
this company would be in much better con-
dltlon to fight its rivals but until this question
Is settled it seems powerless to oppose anything.
Should the court decide against them and the
Legislature decline to allow them to issue their
joint bonds, in other words to ratify consolida
tlon-it would leave them in no enviable posi-
hon-It seems quite evident at this time, that
all charters asked for, with evidence of good
Faith and intention and ability to construct the
proper roads, will be granted
TEMPERANCE AND PROHIBITION
The Importance of this subject has been rec
ognized by the appointment of a joint special
committee of seven on the part of the Senate
and sixteen of the House to which is referred the
Governors suggestions on the subject-and to
which is to be referred and petitions and papers
which NAV he nrasantad raI.+;nr 20 -
The only gentleman appointed on this COM
mlttee who is known to have been active in the
temperance cause is DR.. Stevens of Parkman-
though tits belived that large majority of
them are in favor of enforced prohibition
The recommendation of the Governor with ref
erence to the enforcement of the criminal laws
by the sheriffs of the several counties, under
the direction of the executive will meet with
but little opposition. In order to make this
method of enforcing the laws efficient, the stat
ute should be changed SO as to make these sher-
ifs appointees of the governor, instead of cleo
tive by the people. Should this question come
up, it will doubtless meet with considerable OPP
position 1t is doubtful whether sheriffs, in
several localities, would rigidly enforce the
laws, unless their existence in office depended
on their doing so. But perhaps the wisdom of
the Legislature will find some means to reme-
dy the difficulty.
A statute will be asked for providing that
town liquor agents convicted of selling LIQUORS
contrary to law shall be disqualified from hold
ing such offices again. There is so much COM
mon sense in this proposition that it ought to
commend itself to the Judgment of every one.
A fhn 1oc &c
county two liquor agent pleaded ,,olo conten-
dere and paid one hundred and fifty dollars
each. Since that time they have been openly
and VIGOROUSLY selling liquors to all who can
pay for it and create monopoly which is
worse than the unrestricted sale. They paw
over none of the profits to their towns and
boast that they can pay this fine every
year and make money all the time.
CONTEST FOR SHIRE TOWN.
The contest for the removal of the shire town
in Somerset county is renewed the present ses-
sion large batch of petitions have been re-
ceived asking that Skowhegan may be made
the shire town instead of Norridgewock Show
hogan is smart, enterprising town, and has
railroad privileges which are not en-
joyed by the present shire town. Railroads, if
they do not change the geographical, certainly
change the business centres of counties and
States, and whether this new order of things
shall be conformed to, is only question of
time.
STATE TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.
The usual annual State Temperance Conven-
ton is to be holden at Granite Hail. in this city,
on Wednesday next. 1t is hoped that temper
ance men from all parts of the State may come
here on this OCCASION not so much with view
Of influencing or endeavoring to give auy spec
al direction to legislation ON the subjrct as of
taking council together and aevising some
means, which may be effective of awakening
new interest in this important cause. Surely it
was never more needed than now.
STATE LIBRARY.
Under the efficient management of the pres
emit State Librarian the character of the Library
has much improved within the past few years.
Ten years ago it was almost impossible to find
complete set of books in the library and the
yearly purchases were not selected with much
care. Since that time old sets, as far as pos
sible, have been filled up, the best of the new
publications have been added, and the library
now is such as a citizen of the State need not
be ashamed of. ES~
Items.
James Fisk, Jr., was the awful example In
several New York sermons Sunday.
Postmaster Smith of St. James, Long Island.
set trap gun for burglars and forgot it, in con-
.a1 l.