Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-23
Remarks Of Mr.. Haines OF Biddeford,


Remarks OF Mr.. Haines OF Biddeford,
In House of Representatives Feb p, on bill an act
to authorize the city of Portland to grant further
aid in the construction of the Portland Oglens
burg Railroad.
Mr.. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN Il wish to
say very few words upon this question, and
what say will be mainly in reply to asser-
lions made by one of the gentlemen from
Portland who addressed the House this fore
noon in opposition to this bill, and also in re-
ply to the gentleman from Washington who
has just taken his seat. They would have
you believe that Portland is to reap no bene-
fits from this road when completed, and base
their arguments on the fact that the Ogdens
burg road has been recently tapped at Con-
way by branch of the Eastern Railroad J;
that it will be again tapped beyond the White
Mountains by another road in the interest of
Boston; and that it will be third time
tapped at the Connecticut river by still
another road running to Boston, and conse-
quently that all the trade will be diverted
from its direct course to Portland over these
roads to Boston.
MIR. Speaker and gentlemen. in reply to
these assertions, which on the face appear so
very plausible and conclusive, l would say
that the interests of this road being in the city
of Portland entirely, and the city being itself
the owner of seven-tenths of the stock, will
be most likely to take such an interest in the
management of the road, as that the city
shall receive no detriment; and the Ogdens-
burg road will also be most likely to give to
the city of Portland any,, and all advantages
it can afford phe merchants of the city of
Portland to-day stand ready to compete with
Boston merchants for the trade of that section
of country. They can compete with them as
has been fully demonstrated during the few
years past. of competition between the two
cities for the trade of Maine, New Hampshire
and portions of Vermont. Why is it that to-
day many if not quite all of the trade of Con-
way, North Conway, Jackson and Bartlett
comes to Portland over the Ogdensburg road
when this new road has been opened from
these very towns to Boston? The merchants
OF Portland have been greatly benefited and
their trade largely increased since this road
commenced operations, as many merchants
of that city beside myself can testify; and
were this matter left to the business men,
capitalists, and taxpayers of the city of Port
land believe they would vote for this meas
ure by very large majority. Their letters
recently published in the Portland papers,
and which many of you have read, are suff-
cient proof that they reap great benefit
from this road, and their desire that the road
should be pushed forward so as to open up a
large and wide field of business, coming as it
does from the very largest wholesale houses
in the city, ought to be sufficient reason why
this House should not legislate against this
measure, but give the people of Portland,
business men, capitalists, and taxpayers an
opportunity to decide for themselves upon
SO important measure, affecting as it does
| their interests alone. l, for one would be
willing to leave it to the property holders and
| taxpayers Of the city to decide, believing, as
l firmly do believe, that three quarters OF
them would vote for the bill, and secure this
| great benefit to the city.
One word more The gentleman from Fall
mouth argues that we ought not to vote upon
the people of Portland the necessary ex-
pense which would be incurred in taking a
vote on this matter. This l think, does not
come with very good grace from one who but
yesterday put himself on record (and trust
he has not forgotten it, as voting to subject
the people of Portland to a direct tax of up
wards of eighteen thousand dollars annually
when they not only did not ask for it, but
when the entire Portland delegation opposed
it, and when he knew that the voters of that
city would oppose it if they could have any
voice in the matter. But, gentlemen, we are
not voting tax upon the city of Portland OF
g., 500 900. as some would have you believe.
We are only allowing the people of the city
of Portland to decide this matter for them
selves, and if as the gentlemen argue, the
people of Portland will vote it down by such
a large majority as has been represented,
why, ask, are the gentlemen so afraid to
trust the matter in their hands? Are we
to be the guardians of the city of Portland
Are they not capable of managing their own
affairs: And will they not weigh well the
cost before sanctioning any measure involv-
ing their credit to the amount of s., 500, 900
When they come here and ask our guardian
ship over their interests, it will be high time
to take such action as is asked for by the op-
ponents of this bill. Till then let US give
them chance to have fair hearing in this
matter, that they will decide what is for their
best interests 1 have no doubt, and for this
reason l go for the bill as it is, clean of all
amendments, clean of all qualifications. leav-
ing it to the good judgment of the city OF
Portland to decide what is for its best inter-
ests. The gentleman from Washington, asks
how long before this road will be in the hands
and interests Of the Vermont Central Rail-
road! l answer him, that so long as Port
land owns seven-tenths of the stock in this
road and the citizens of Portland own the
| other three-tenths, it will not be very likely
| to be turned from the interests of Portland
! during his day or during my day.
/