Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-10-16
The Co,snty-seat.
NORWAY. Oct. 5, 1871.

National and savings Bank, IeleSrHPn anu al
sirable place for holding the Courts, ana ior the
location of the various county oihees' -.
The buildings now in use are not desirable or
convenient, being out of repair. They VIII soon
have 20 DC rebuilt at the expense oil the county
As an ndueement for the county to change 70
Norway, We are prepared 10 offer buildings oeil'
ia modern style, with all Improvements, satisiac-
tory in every particular to the County Commits
siOners, free IRON cost 70 the County.
Knowing we'll your interest In county matters,
we take this method OF bringing this subject 10
your attention; and should you be favors5iy dis
posed we Will thank YOU Andly for your influence
and assistance in getting signatures 70 our petl-
ton TO the Maine Legislature, now being clrSuiAs'
Respectfully,
S iChS Z. f moRSF' Committee.
wM FRosr, p,
HENRY UProN, Secy.
Mr. Editor:
My attention has been called TO The
above circular and petition now bei-g
circulated throughout Oxford County for
signatures. think the taxpayers d 'hs
County will DO well TO consider The mat
ter carefully before taking so important
s step, aud see how much is TO be lost
and how much gained by the change
The property now owned and occupied
by the County, | am informed reverts TO
The heirs OF the former proprieIors OF the
land, whenever the County ceases 20
occupy them for q County seat.
The buildings, consisting of Jail built
OF granite, fire proof building in which
to keep the County records. jail house
aud stable and Courthouse, which have
cost the County some twenty-five or
thirty thousand dollars, are now in good
repair on the outside, and small
amount expended on the inside OF the
Court house, will put them in good con-
ditio1 Throughout. These buildings,
although rot possessing all the improve
ments OF modern built structures, are
nevertheless quite convenient, and au-
swer we'll the purposes for which they
were designed.
Paris Hill is one OF the most pleasant
and healthy villages in the State,a sit
uAted but little farther from the depot al
South Paris than Norway. Several ex-
cellent boarding houses in addition to
two as good hotels as can be found IL the
Stale, furnish unsurpassed facilities for
board to all who have business al the
County seat. All this the people OF the
County are asked to give, and what are
they to receive ia retLrn Nothing, rs
understand. except the poor privilege
OF doing business in the Norway Town
house. The citizens OF Norway DO not;
propose to give the County in return for
the sacrifice OF thousands OF dcllars, any
better facilities for getting to their place
OF business than they now possess. The
citizens OF the western portion at the
County are now accommodated ry q
court at FrIeburg, and those oil the north
eCn and eastern towns are most OF them
much better accommodated al Paris than
at Norway, so that nothing is 10 be gained
IN that direction. II the people OF NOT
way complain that buildings that have
cost tho County twenty-five thousand
dollars are unsatisfactory and inadequate,
how 10 they expect to improve them with
an outlay OF fifteen thousand The sum
is much TOO smsl,-the promised return
altogether too insignificant. Il The
County seat Is to be removed. 1t should
not by any means be carried west OF The
Railroad, aud should go up the line TO a
more central locality than either Paris or
Norway.
The citizens OF Oxford County are gsn-
orally well satisfied 10 let the County
buildings remain where they now are a.
present, and until such time rs they csn
determine where they can locate them.
With d reasonable certainty that they are
permanently to remain. Remove the
County buildings to Norway aud several
OF our eastern towns can be better ae-
commodated a, Androseoggin and Frank
lin counties than in Oxford, aud will be
looking in those directions tor relief from
burdens imposed only 10 crafty few
Interested parties. Personally, l have no
interest in this matter except as a humble
citizen OF the County. After carefully
considering the matter, have concluded
not 10 sign the above petition. and tor
the reasons above stated. that we art
getting but little il any nearer. the line Of
the railroad, no better accommodations
in any respect, and not near as good, IN
less much larger sum than fifteen thou
sand dollars is to be expended to provide
il, and not so near either the centre Of
travel OIL population, taking into consid-
Grafton that the western towns are now
provided for at Fryeburg. There should
be some better reason for the change Ol
the County seat from Paris to Norway.
distance OF only five miles, and more dis
tsnt from a central point in the County,
than any given in the circular OF the citi
zens of Norway. The County now own
their buildings as long as they choose to
remain. Change the County seat and thay
are nearly or quite dead loss. Aud as
the town Of Norway do not propose to
give the County title to single cents
worth of property in return. is it any wa5
certain that they will give them the use OF