The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-27

New York City. There is some vacant iano
at the extremities of the city on the uiie, GU
trely unsuitable for manufacturing OF nusln sn
purposes and there IS ALSO sGlno fnr Jwall;ng
toMsa lots The acquisition of this territory
from Cane Elizabeth will give admiraoe Sp and
Cor bnshess and manufacturing purposes, an
will enable the man of moderate circui hnnse.
who wishes to make tor nimsell a., ,'' limits at
70 bring his house lot within the city siin listed
a reasonable rate. Everybody VINO na 20, trans
tha y,lace on our water front whefe seen how
portaton meets water ca sarFFolso%mn The demand
mqfee railroads already far exceed tne possible
tiles of the narrow strip of level grocnu,iarge-
ly reclaimed from the ocean-,Wyinlcn lies De-
tween the hill and the water. WIN anneAa,
t;on onr lumber, coal and wood wharves and
Yards would 90 naturally to the other side and
;f our western business grows as we expect, for
we are hopeful folk, our grain elevators and
wharyes for foreign grain vessels would go also
to that side. Then we expect 2 great encour-
agement, considerable accession of energy TO
manufacturing enterprises under stimulus of
the added eonpeniepces and opportunities,
which will add to our prosperity and impor-
lance. So Portland looks favorably on the
proposition, though many of our people are not
at all enthusiastic about it.
Of cOnrse the development Of industries and
the material prosperity of one section is TO the
advantage Of the whole State and he VINO mas
the interest of the State at heart cannot be IN
different to the interest of any part. Inc otaee
| should see to it, that her principal haroor mas
every opportunity for the attainment 81 los
| highest possible usefulness, which cannot ne
had SO long as it is surrounded by dlffereht ana
| unsympathetic municipalities.
| The petitioners, then, seek a thing which
benefits themselves the city of Portland and
| the State os Maine Now whom does it harm
| of the town not included in the proposition for
| annexation. 1t is yopr duty to examine first
whether the grounds for objection are substan-
| tial and secondly whether the grievance, if
there be one, is of sufficient magnitude to over
| balance the great advantages OF the change.
| AS have already said the agricultural portion
| of Cape Elizabeth is unusually rich and pro-
ductive. The sea throws constantly upon its
shores great masses of kelp and sea weed, fur
nishng gratutiousy q fertilizer Of large value.
| from the most distant point, affords conven-
| lent and good market for all commodities and
| we may safely assert that nowhere in Maine
| can be found farming community with SO
many elements of prosperity, The inhabitants
are in general men of wealth, mauy OF them
retired on competent fortunes, for the whole
| coast is admirably adapted for beautiful and
| and quiet dwelling places. All along the coast
| too, Ore large hotels and boarding houses fol-
| the accommodation of summer guests, who are
a source of great revenue to their entertainers.
After the separation there will remain ovel
1000 inhabitants and three quarters of a mil.
lion of State valuation, making town much
lurger in both wealth aud population than the
| average towns in Maine. The representation
| of the town in this body too will not be chang
| ed-certainly until 81 or 'S2-whioh should be
| duly considered by the ambitious p litciaps OF
| Cape Elizabeth. Their expenses will be very
| light when once they are relieved of these
| grasping shore villages and taxation will nat
qrally be moderate, To be sure they lose the
| taxes of the manufacturing est ablishmenti
| which are just about becoming taxable, but
| this point IS considered in the bill which re-
| lieves them of two-thirds of the town debt
while only four seventies of the taxable prop
erty is taken. A town will be left large in
area, populous and rich, of an homogeneous
population, troubled by no discOrdant elements
| and with every prospect for light taxes, peace
and prosperity. 1t really seems surprising
| that they did not continue as they began, to
| say to the obstreperous shore villager, $50 in
peace and good radiance"
| 1t is now for you to consider whether the dog
| ip-the-manger policy of these people shall be
| approved, whether the unnatural alliance be.
| tween in compatible and discOrdant cOmmuni
| ties shall be forced upon unwilling parties
| whether an odious government shall be main
| tanned without the consent of the governed an(
whether the wasteful wrangles and quarrel
| shall be kept up indefinitely. Separation not
| being granted this year they will come next
| 1t generally taxes people at distance from {
| situation like that of Cape Elizabeth a year OF
| two to comprehend that communities canno
| be compelled by legal enactment to live har
moniousy and that when once things have
come to this pass an irrepressible conflict has
arisen which will never cease until separation
is accomplished.