The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-17
Annexation.


Mr.. EpIToR:-This subject seems to grow in
the minds of people everywhere The large
cities are moving to annex the smaller cities
and towns adjoining them. On the 9TH inst,
Charlestown, Brighton and West Roxbury vot-
ed to unite their interests with Boston, Brook
line alone refusing to come in. Few people, l
think, doubt the wisdom of this move. Who
in New England will not take a just pride in
its largest city with enlarged territory, increased
population and Importance? Boston will now
have an area of 10000 acres, and a population
of over three hundred thousand, and predict
great prosperity will follow this grand enlarg-
ing movement, and shall expect to see Boston
reach five hundred thousand within the next
ten years, with parks and drives unsurpassed,
if not unequalled in the United States.
Portland cannot equal Boston more than Bos-
ton can New York or London, but there is no
reason why we shall not do our best to make
our beautiful city by the sea as large and as
prosperous as possible; and can any sane man
doubt that the annexation of portion of Cape
Elizabeth and Deering will be of great import
ance to our city; and yet as confident as am
of its vast Importance to Portland, am more
than equally sure it will be ten-fold more ad-
vantageous to the people of Cape Elizabeth
and Deering than it will to Portland. 1t will
give them start and an impetus in an increase
Of population and wealth that they can scarce
ly realize at this time.
In February, 1854, the writer was in New
York and visited the Crystal Palace exhibition
then open in the rear of the 9Th avenue reser-
vor From the Astor House we took stage
to the Park, near where the 9Th Avenue Hotel
now is, and there waited for the hourly that
run from there to the exhibition. well re-
member that nearly all New York, above 25th
street was vacant, unoccupied and unslghtly
land. In 1856 the movement for Central Park
was commenced, and like all such movements,
met with great opposition, the first objection
being that it would increase the taxes; second,
it was too far up town, being four miles from
City Hall, ETC. but the project was pushed for
ward. The projectors of course were accused
of iobbing, stealing, &C., but Central Park was
built, and what is the result? 1t is hundred
fold more fruitful of good in every way than
the most sanguine ever predicted, besides being
so desirable for health, for comfort, for enjoy
pride and glory of New York, and we venture
to say the humblest in the city would not part
with it for ten times its cost All admit 1t has
brought to the city many thousands that would
never have located tnere WITHOUT III.
But, says some grumbling tax payer, has it
paid in dollars and cents. We most respectful
ly and positively say it has, as the following
figures will plainly prove, and furnish very
striking illustration of increase in the value of
adjacent property as the consequence OF an i'm
portant local improvement.
The three wards Immediately contiguous to
the Park are the 18th, 10Th and the 22d. In
1856, just before the Park improvement was
commenced, the assessed valuation of the real
cto 30 ~, hasa or1c ,,pfaA 70
and in 1871 it was S185, Sol ,195, showing an in
crease of $159 37l $3.50, in fifteen years. At the
tax rate of 1871 this increase yielded to the
city treasury 3,469, 520 The cost of the park
1871, was $50, 44s, 623. The interest of the park
bonds being deducted from the increase of tax
revenue in these three wards, we have net
increase of $2,726, 500 which in about five years
would be sufficient to refund the city for the
whole expense of the park improvement:
That this rapid increase in property valuation
is due almost entirely to the influence of Cen
trail Park is shown by comparing it with the
growth of valuation in the other wards of the
city, In 1856 the aggregate valuation of real
estate in New York city was 1912, 900, aud
in 1871 it was $797, 100000, and that of the
three wards contiguous to the park was at the
latter date about twenty-five per cent. of the
whole valuation, while at the former date it
it was only about eight and a half per cent. of
the valuation. The general increase for the
whole city in fifteen years years is little more
than one hundred per cent, and in the same
time the increase in the three wards referred to
amounts is six hundred per cent. Had their
increase been at the general rate of the city
their real estate valuation in 1871 would have
been S53, 100000 in round numbers, instead of
$185, sol JOG.
The Independent in recent article says:
s'The city of New York, in an economic point
of light has certainly lost nothing, but gained
much by the debt contracted in purchasing the
ground and constructing Central Park The
city is richer with the Park and the debt in
cured by it than it would be without the Park
and without the debt. For the purposes Of rev.
enue it is largely the gamer by running in debt
for this improvement, to say nothing of the ad-
vantages to health innocent recreation, and So
cal enjoyment Substantially the same result,
though in less degree, has attended the con-,
struction of Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, as
well as in other cities of this country.
Local improvements, when they bring forth
such fruits, even if they involve the creation of
municipal debts, are really no burden to tax
payers. They supply more than an equivalent
for their cost and the interest thereon, by in
creasing the valuation of property and furnish
ing proportionately larger basis for tax reve-
nue. We are not in favor OF contracting mu-
nicipal> debts in a reckless manner or for eX-
travagant expenses; yet, when the improve
ments secured by such debts contribute largely
to the growth end wealth of city, by inviting
large Investments of capital in q permanent
form that would otherwise not be made, then it
is wise TO run in debt to reasonable amount
and look to the future for its liquidation. The
penny-wise and pound-foolish policy is never
really WISE"
Who can donbt the conclusions of the INDIE
pendent. if it was wise for New York to spend
an amount equal to thirteen dollars for every
man, woman and child in the city for a park,
can it be unwise for Portland to spend less than
one-half as much in proportion to her popula-
ton when such grand opportunity lies within
her reach and within her means to make one of
the finest Parks in the United States at a nom-
nal cost, If it be wise for Boston to annex
Charlestown, Roxbury and other adjoining
cities and towns, is it not wise for Portland to
desire to annex Cape Elizabeth and Deering?
If it is wise for Charlestown and Roxbury to be
annexed to Boston, can 1t possibly be unwise
for Cape Elizabeth and Deerng to join their
interests and future prosperity with Portland?
Let us calmly consider these matters and try to
act wisely and for the best good of all.
c. PIX.
G. A, R.-The Post are busy getting ready to
present to the public the thrilling military
drama written by Col. A. r. Calhoun of Penn
sylyania, entitled "The Color Guard" The