The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-22
MASSACHUSETTS,.
THE MILL RIVER DAVE.
What Sham osts.

Boston, May 21.-The special legislative
committee appointed to visit the scene of the
Mill River disaster having returned, held a
meeting to-day and took testimony in regard to
town damages. The loss to Rockingham was
first investigated,
H. X. Starkweather, chairman of the select
men, said ten bridges, all bat one nearly new
had been swept away, the cost OF which with
damage to highways would make the total loss
to the town $4,000. The valuation of North
hampton is SIS, 100000, and the debt is $500, 600
Many hundreds of acres of rich meadow land,
worth from $500 to $500 an acre is totally
ruined. The engineers figure up 80 acres at
$4,000 in one place, and in another place $75,
600 are lost to owners.
The committee then took up williamsburg.
b. S. johnson, cashier of the Williamsburg
Bank, stated that about one-third of the viii
lage had been destroyed, of the valuation of
nearly 81 500, 900, and with the loss of business
and depreciation, there must be loss of tax
able property of $S0O.000. The village of
Leeds the two button factories and the board
Florence there is $4,000 loss to buildings and
machinery. Lewis Rodman Of Williamsburg,
suggested that TIE town be relieved partly of
its taxes for several years. If their roads and
bridges could be restored and their water pow
er replaced, they could do the rest for their
people.
III. III. Bond of Northampton, made a brief
address, in which he urged the committee to
relieve the two towns from taxation and to re
bull the roads and bridges, as he believed this
had been done in past years by the State on
several occasions. He said there were parts or
about one hundred families left who had lost
everything they had in the world, and these he
thought the Legislature should help, as they
were nearly in the position of paupers
The published statements of riotous demon
STATIONS and threats of lynching made among
the crowd at the scene of the disaster, are
pronounced wholly nnfounded.
The State Police and Liquor Bills.
The bill aboishng the State police which
was passed by the Senate, Wednesday, receiv
ed vote in the House to-day, 12S to 70, which
makes its final passage sure unless Gov. Talbot
jnterposes, which is not probable.
The liquor bill remains in the Senate and
will probably be taken up soon as the State
than probably it will meet its death in the Sen
ate and the law will be left substantially as it
is.
Yacht Race.
The first yacht regatta of the season took place
to-day in spite of bad weather. 1t was under
auspices of the Dorchester yacht club, and tn e
Boston club participated by invitation. The
Curlen won in first class schoonere, the Kelpie
in first class centrehoard sloops, and the Tulip
III fourth class centreboards. La all the other
other clcsses the prizes were disputed The
schooner race was overi a 20 mile course.
Time hour and 35 minutes
Casualties.
The broom factory of Whittinger & Rhoda
in Chelsea, was damaged $500 by fire this
morning.
The seock of e. j. Smith at West Newton,
was damaged $4,000 by fire in his store this
morning.
Geo. Thayer of Braintree, in stepping off the
train at Quincy to-day, fell under the Gals and
had both legs cut off.