Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-10-25
NaIlomell locaI Menus.

Some fifteen or twenty years ago the Coun-
ty Commissioners laid out road leading
from this city to connect with the Manchester
road at the "beach tree" a few rods west Of
the Hallowell Granite Quarries. The late
Benjamin Wells, Esq, made survey of the
route, and we well recollect the report made
by him in "town meeting called to vote on
the acceptance of the road. He stated that
the heaviest grade for the whole distance
from Water street to the Manchester road
was from Water to Middle streets, or from
Beemans corner to the Methodist meeting
house. The route surveyed, laid out and
accepted by the town, followed the ravine be-
tween the Academy and the residence of Hon.
Z. 4. Sanborn, crossing the Chamberlain
road near the residence of Mr.. Stephen Lord,
thence by the old Hackett farm to the west of
the Longfellow hill, avoiding entirely the
two formidable hills to be encountered on the
present Winthrop street road. After the road
was laid out and accepted by large majority
vote, another meeting was called by the OPP
posers of the enterprise, and after much dis
cussion and no little bitterness of feeling, a
vote was carried for discontinuance. and
greatly to the regret of many Of our then
most active business men and liberal tax pay
ers, tine enterprise failed and probably was
| soon forgotten by those who manifested none
other than a selfish interest in the welfare of
the town. Had that road been built at that
time when the work could have been done at
comparatively triflng expense, there is no
| estimating the benefits that would have been
derived therefrom to the permanent advan
tage of Hallowell; but narrow penny
wise policy prevailed; while in the mean
time our Augusta neighbors constructed
their Western Avenue road to Manchester,
thus turning much of the country travel
and trade to that locality, to the manifest de-
triment of our own city. 1t may not be too
late in the day for Hallowell to awake to the
Importance of devising ways and means to
cherish and encourage the growing business
operations that have given such an impetus
to all branches of trade and enterprise in our
city, and we are confident that our authori~
ties and people will never allow suicidal,
parsimonious policy to prevail, that would
inevitably lead to disastrous consequences
and eventual financial prostration. If the
best interests of the city demand new roads
or improvements upon the old, let the neces-
sary expenditures be made with liberal
spirit, and when new schoolhouse is wanted
to accommodate the increasing demands of
the rising generation, let it be constructed
without unnecessary circumlocution or su
prene regard to the fate of 'red tape 1t is
always wise policy to ''cherish the hen that
lays the golden egg" and no less so to foster
all legitimate business enterprises with par
ticular reference to our future good as well
as present welfare. While on the one hand
schemes of extravagant pretensions and
measures of doubtful expediency should be
held in allegiance or premptorily rejected,
every enterprise manifestly contributing to
the business, educational, moral or social well
fare Of people should receive prompt and lib
eral encouragement. Our people are ready
to extend the hand of welcome to the 'uni-
versal Yankee nation," and can soon con-
vince business men and men of all honest
PROFESSIONALISM women, too-that Hallowen
is not to be distan led in the race of enterprise
and Improvement.
Flaherty's New Mirror of Ireland, with
accompanying attractions, received generous
patronage from the people of this city, and
gave the utmost satisfaction. The paintings
were in the high style of art, and presented
in an attractive manner. new feature was
introduced, giving sunrise and moonlight
views, which rendered the various scenes
life-like and true to nature. The storm scene
was one of the best representations of the
kind we have ever witnessed, and the closing
tableau deserves high commentator. Miss
Jennie Kimball, Miss Alice D'Erina. togeth-
er with Messrs. Kelly, Atkinson and Sheridan
sustained their various characters most adj
mirably, eliciting generous applause aud pro-
voking unlimited mirth. Our Gardiner
friends have rich treat in the enjoyment of
the above, this evening.