The Portland daily press., 1872-02-13
QUAKER BROOK

Mr.. EDIToR,-One of our prominently en-
terprising mechanics remarked to us day or
two since that he and fifteen others were going
out of the State to seek employment, for the
reason that they could find no work here in
Portland. Here are fifteen men, over one half
of whom are married and have families. This
is only an example of what is being done here.
Portland is decreasing in population, and has
been for the last three years and will continue
to do SO, for the reason that there are no in
ducements for labOrers and skilled mechanics
and the middle classes to remain,
The question of the moment seems to be,
shall Portland grant its aid to the Portland s.
Ogdensburg and the Portland s. Rochester
roads? This is a naonae7tous question. But
while this discussion is going on there are other
questions which are of equal, if not of superb
or Importance.
Railroads are essential, and in, this case
the Portland & Ogdensburg and Portland s.
Rochester are deserving roads, and ought 10
prosper and become promoters of Portland's
prosperity. Yet we find that the general de-
sire among our citizens is to encourage the
establishment of more manufactures, large
and small. Why should not our city vote to
loan its credit in aid of, and exempt from tax
alton for ten years newly established manufac-
lures, if not older ones giving especial favor to
the medium or smaller ones, making diver
sity of interest for the greater general prosper
ity?
Look at several Of the manufacturing cities
of Massachusetts, and Rhode Island; for in
stance, Lawrence, Springfield and Providence,
with large number of varied but not immense
concerns, all prospecting and adding largely to
the population and valuation of these cities,
and employing large number of skilled me-
chanics and laborers, both women and children.
Now, if the citizens of Portland will petition
the legislature to authorize them to loan its
credit to the amount of $780, 000 and do it at
large, and take security on the buildings and
machinery, and set our mechanics and laborers,
both women and children, to work, who now
have nothing to do and no way to support their
families without leaving home to seek employ
ment in some distant city, our city would dou-
BILE its population in from fifteen to twenty
years. 1t may be said that we haven't the IA
cilities for manufacturing, we lack water pow
er, &c. We don't need water power. We can
do it is as cheaply with steam power. 1t is
we'll known fact that it is as cheap to use
steam as it would be to go into the country and
build canals and dams in order to set water
power, and transport to and from the raw ma
terial and manufactured goods We have
skilled mechanics, a pleasant city, and one of
the best harbors in the world. What say you,
citizens of Portland, will you grant your aid to
the P. & o. and 2. & r. railroads and live on
come, obliging our mechanics and iabesins sas..
to seek other cities, or will YOU come to the
rescue and build up Portland and by SO doing
induce capitalists to come in and invest their
money, not only in the manufacturing business,
Portland & Rochester and other enterprises?
We have no doubt, but that the projectors of
these roads are determined that the city shall
take stock, or loan its credit, and nobody would
Effect to it, if the city could afford to do SO.
evidently it is the duty of the city to loan its
credit where it will benefit the greatest num-
Der of Its own citizens. This no one will deny.
Now the question is, who will be benefited
when these roads are built; will it be the me-
chanics and laboring men or will 1t be the pro-
jectors of these roads, who will make the mon
ey. Passed experience in regard to railroads will
answer.
Let the city loan its credit to establish man.
ufactories and it would give steady employ
ment not only to skilled mechanics and labor
ing men, but to women and children. Now if
the city can only loan its credit to one of these
interests, which ought it to be?
We hope none of our citizens will be led
away by glittering generalities, brought for
ward by parties to induce them to vote for
the city to loan its credit to their railroads.