The Portland daily press., 1873-01-01

Poston ,& Maine road desiring W OBTAIN the
.o,,rol of new route to Bangor, parallel to
The Maine Central. The completion of the
penobscot Bay and River road from Rock
land to Bangor is embraced in this scheme,
which is of course opposed by the Maine
Central.
The town of Pennington has been re-
strained by an injunction granted by Judge
walton, from assessing taxes to pay sum
of money voted by the people of that town
az gratuity to the Anjlroscoggin railroad to
aid it in extending its line across Sandy river
to Pennington village. The public will await
with great interest the decision of the ques-
ton whether towns can give away money to
corporations, even " th the consent of the
Legislature.
Telegraphic companies are very prone to
consolidate and the Western Union and In
ternational lines which were a lew months
ago bitter rivals are now one.
LITERARY.
Among the present or former residents VI
Maine who have engaged in literary worn -
note during the year, are Hon. D. n. ohase
of Calais, who has written Paihphie' set-
ting forth novel theory of the tides; es-
Senator RoIster who has written valuable
.Form Roolr. y and C. B. Stetson of Lewis
Lon. author of work on industrial drawing,
which has been published by J. r. Osgood G.
Co. orof VIM. Mathews of Chicago Uni
versity, formerly of Maine, has written an
interesting and instructive work called ''Get-
ting on the World, or Hints on Success in
Life" Griffin's history of the Maine news
paper press completes our list
In the Maine newspaper world, the year
has been revolutionary one. The Bangor
Commercial, Biddeford Times and Augusta
Liberal Republican, all daily, the Portland
State and Leader, and the Calais Tribune,
weekly, have been started within the last
twelve months. OF these the Liberal Repub
tcan, the Tribune and the Leader have ceased
to be published. The Portland PRESS and
Star have changed owners and editors. The
Adoertiser began with the new year to issue
three daily editions ,stead of two.
DISASTERS.
What year of disasters! OF course the
attack of the epizootic, and were temporar-
lily disabled. Happily few animals, and those
mostly OF little value, died, and tn disease
is now almost extinct, having prevailed since
the middle of October.
The fires have been destructive. Maine
hardly ever fails 20 present at least one town
or city to the flames each year. This year
the victim was the little village of South
China, which went up in flames on the night
of April 26th. Among the other destructive
fires may be mentioned that which destroyed
the house of Joseph Bryant at Machiasport,
March Sth., that gentleman, his wife and two
| granddaughters perishing in the flames Som
erset Mills, loss 100000; City Mills, Auburn,
loss $4,000; Shaw's Block, Biddeford; Unit
ed States Hotel, Portland, loss $4,000; fire
at Windham, loss $4,000; at Phillips, loss
$4,000; Mt. Zircon House, Milton Planta-
ton; Woolen mill at Harrison, $1,000; Su-
perphosphate factory and grist mill at
Knghtsville; fire at Ro "kland, March 23d,
$4,000; Lisbon Falls Hotel; Lapg's saw
mill at Woolwch; Bailey's oilcloth factory,
Winthrop. $4,000; Portland Packing Com
pany's lobster factory; the railroad bridge at
Topsham
The Steamers "Oriental' and ''Star" have
been burned. On the 22d of July the
steamer New England struck on Eastern
Wolf and was lost. The boat was valued at
S150,0O0. On the Sd of July the steamer
Emperor, of the Yarmouth and Portland
route, struck on Seal Island and was lost. By
an explosion in the granite quarry at Vinal
Haven one man was killed and six were
wounded. We believe that the life of no
traveller on Maine railroad has been lost
this year, sn what is strictly called a"railroad
accide' e." The disaster to sailing vessels,
many of them recent, have been numerous
and destructive to life.
CRIME.
The year furnishes its fnll quota of homi-
cides. At Dix Island Barney Little killed
WIN. White, was convicted of murder and
received a capital sentence. In Boston the
mate Harris Of the Rockland schooner Julia
e. Gamage, killed sailor named Samuel
Hanson, but he was discharged on its appear
ing that he acted in self defence. In Forest
City Edward Kieby killed James Thompson,
and was convicted of manslaughter In East
Pttston John Marson killed Alden Marson,
his father, but was acquitted,it appearing that
the homicide was justifable. In Portland
Leah Roberts, an unmarried colored girl, was
arraigned for infanticide. The killing of
Richard Nally by Constable Moore of Brewer,
was, we believe found justifable. In Wash
ington Samuel w. Cheesman, a Maine man,
was killed by Barney Wood, and the latter
was executed for the crime. The trial of
Joseph B. Smith, for the murder of Thomas
Josslyn, resulted in the murderer's being SEN
fenced to death. The trial of Simeon A.
Lovett, of this city, for killing L. F. SWEET,
resulted in disagreement of the jury. Both
the homicides last mentioned were commit
ted before the beginning of the year. In
York county an old man named Remick was
sentenced to ten years imprisonment for
shooting his son, and at the same term an
other old man named Luther Smith received
the same sentence for shooting his two sons
Bridgton postoffice.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The town of Whitefield has 1ecoveree $4,000 |
from Daniel I. Pike Of Augusta, in a paper
credit suit. Thomas Thorn, after spending
20 years in prison for murder, has been par
doned; the two solvent Peck bondsmen were |
allowed by the Legislature to settle the claim |
of the State against them for $4,000 each.
The town of Houlton has repudiated the
bonds issued to aid in building the Houlton
branch road-the first case of reputation in
Maina. There is report of the discovery
Of gold in Pittsfeld. Lewiston has a new
city hall which is one of the finest public
buildings in New England. William Writ T
Virgin has been appointed one OF the Justices
Of the Supreme Court, in place of Rufus P.
Tapiey, and ex-Gov, Chamberlain was elect
I'd last winter Major General of the State
militia. Sea faring men will be glad to know
,ha+ all the preliminary arrangements have
oeen made for establishing life-saving stations
IN the coast of this State. The seat of gov
of Somerset county has been chang
ID from Norridgewock to Skowhegan, and