The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-20
The Annexation Project.

large majority of the most conservative and
influential citizens residing in those village;
consequently, it was hardly thought of In this
city by men who are not accustomed to waste
time upon visionary speculations aud in idl-
discussion. But now that the project has CON-
mended itself to the best men in the sections
named and they are determined so far a.
they are concerned to accomplish tLeir plans.
the question is one that commepds itself to
the careful and dispassionate consideration Of
the citizens of Portland.
On the part of the city, the first question
to be considered is: SIS an extension of the
limits of the city desirable? Is its business
in the future likely to require the control Of
more of the harbor line?' If, from a careful
consideration of these questions, we arrive at
an affirmative answer, the logical conclusion
must follow that the acquisition of tie whole
of the harbor line and of the outlying terrific
nv now or likely to BE- occupied by industries
in which Portland people are int rested and
Portland capital involved, is of first impor
tance and the OILY question then at Issue is
the means by which It can be accomplished.
If, on the other hand, we shall arrive at the
opposite conclusion-if the city at present
embraces sufficient territory, if its wharf
frontage is adequate to the present and future
demands of fast increasing business, if it is
just as well t, have Portland enterprises To-
Gated in Cape Elizabeth, if there is no common
bond of business interest that renders the
control of both sections by one municipal
government necessary or even desirable, then
it is of little consequence, though entirely IN
Objectionable so long as the burden OF taxa
ton is equalized. ts
=. 1t will no doubt be urged by directors that
there is still much land within the city limits
( that is unoccupied. This may be true, but is
that territory suited to the extension of
wharfage or general manufactures? We
think not. 1t can only be made valuable and
useful by an extension of business that will
render such sections desirable for residences.
If we go to Commercial street, we find it
crowded with railroad tracks and trains and
disputed territory for these interests to quar-
rel over. The wharves, we are told, are
crowded and greatly confused with different
kinds of traffic. Where there was ample
room, ten years since, business is crowded
now. When the Grand Trunk doubles It's
business, as it confidently expects to do when
its gauge is narrowed to conform to the rail-
way system of the country, and the Ogdens-
burg is completed and its extensive produce
and lumber-trade is added to the volume Of
our business, where will it find room for stor-
age and shipment? Certainly not on the
present frontage of the barbor within the city
limits. The back bay will doubtless afford
space for certain kinds of traffic, but for
wharves from which to load large vessels, for
grain elevators, and railroad yards for
the extensive business that our best infor ed
men Predict, it can never be made available
The only resort will be to go to the other side
or the narUor wrUnfn the fiuirs of an mother
municipality, and there establish the outlet
for part of our traffic, particularly that of
the Portland G. Ogdensburg r. R.
1t may be urged that there can be no OBJ
lection to this; and even if there is, it will be
time to annex these villages when our bust
ness renders it necessary. In answer to the
above, we may say that there IRE Serious OBJ
jectiops to that course. Men living in Port
land will be very slow to build wharves. stores
and factories in a town of which they are not
residents, and in whose management they
have no voice. Now only such Portland inter-
e,ts as are crowded out ofthe city. like the
Rolling Mills, the Portland Kerosene Oil Co.,
and the Dry Dock Company go to Cape Eiz-
abeth. The history OF annexation in other
places proves that as soon as these villages
eau become part of the city, other interests
that now remain within its limits, because
within, will find a newer and cheaper loca-
ton there. This may seem to be mere senti-
meut, but experience in such cases proves
that in business there is deal Of such senti-
mentalism. Again. the more conservative
citizen, who has not so much faith in the
Portland that-is-to-be, will say that
it will be ample time to annex the
villages when our business demands them,
We contend that Portland needs these oppor-
tunities for expansion noao; but allowing
that it does not, when the time comes that
Portland interests shall want them, it is alto
gether probable that such fortunate con-
junction of circumstances as now exists, will
not favor the union.
There are those who assert that the annex
alton will lead to the establishment of manu-
featuring establishments, and cite the in
stance of a party that came here with the
view of locating an extensive mandatory in
this city, but finding no favorable location
within its limits, declined to entertain prop
osition to locate in Cape Elizabeth, because
he wished to avail himself of an advantage in
trade that could be better secured in city
known abroad.
Claiming that the proposed annexation is of
first Importance from a business point of view,
let us next consider it from municipal stand
point. The part of the town proposed to be
set of, comprises the villages known as Ferry,
Knigh,ville, Turner's Island, and Ligonia, or
the part of the town that is not strictly agri
cultural, embracing territory about the same
as the present area of the city. Within
these limits there is population of about
2300, with 900 polls, and a valuation of $780,
$50, which will be increased to over 1,0OO,-
900 when the Rolling Mills and other proper
ty become available. The debt of the town
is about $4,000, about twothrds of which
WOuIu 10 Will ILc fdIudJiOu VI Gu0 pdIG III
question. The percentage of taxation has
been about the same as in oltland on a
lighter valuation. The schoo-houses are all
new, and adequate to the present demand,
except for the higher grade of scholars, who
can he accommodated at the city high school.
The aggregate length of streets is not great,
and the cost of maintaining them is compare
lively light. The larger villages have no
means of their own to extinguish fires, and
IL is doubtful if they ever will while they re-
main IN the town of Cape Elizabeth, where
the agricultural portion will vote solid AGAINST
appropriations for precautions against fires.
sewers etc., and the rival villages will afford
sufficient strength to defeat any measure cal
culated to exclusively benefit one of them.
There will, then, he an outlay to nrovide
some protection against fire ia the wav of res-
ervoirs, and perhaps change in the location
of one of the city's engines; or if the ctv
government decides to practically convert one