Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-01-24
THURSDAY. JANUARY u. ls7s.
Editorial Correspondence.

Jan. i7s'-
DEAR AMrRrc Az Since NV last, the Com
mitiees of Senate and House have been hard at
work grinding on; daily in the shape of Bills
and Resolves. the grisi which the good people |
Of the state, send TO the Legislative MILL Ar
ter winnowing the heap, small amount OF
really valuable grain remains, the bulk being
of light weight, or chat.
The Senste Com. on Senatorial votes are still
hearing the contested case OF Madigan against
Burleirh The hearing seems interminable,
and Mr. Madigan will be fortunate II he j, all
miited 10 hi, -cat before the idc- Of March
The question, OF the sufiicency Of the returns. I
eligibility and frauds can be discussed uninier- |
miitcdly.
Aroosiook County. with IT, large territory, !
it, diverse nAiionAlities. it. continued and con
tinuAl wants. and IL many political aspiranis,
demands and receives large degree Of legisla-
tive action. The policy Of the state has a.
ways been liberal toward, il, but now it. peo- /
Die should remember that other sections Of the |
state arr Al this time suffering morc than they |
from the depression Of business, and thai their
County j. now more independent and prosper |
Gus than most o,hcrs.
81 the Petition of RESIDENT. Of Hurricane IL
and 10 b. 81 a from the town Of NinAlhaven.
and incorporated into separate town, took
place on Friday Afternoon The cas- presents
a novel and unprecedented feature in the hisio-
" % our legislation.
Hurricane Island situate IN PcnObscO; Bay,
l. mike East from EocklAnd. j. part Of the
town 81 NinalhAscn. IL contains about l"o
acrcs ami j. owned by Gen. Davis Till>0n Of
RocAlaud. The whole island j. 4 barren rock
with little >oil or vegetation thereon. In $50
il was bought By Gen. Till-on for Sl.0o.-
Through hi enterprise and energy. the mex
hausiible quArries Of superior granite have
been worked. mschinery introduced, lAhoryrs
employed. until this desolate island. valued al
nothing and paving no tax when bought. j.
now valued al $4,000. numbers 4 population
OF six hundred persons. pay tAA vf ci-WH
annually 10 Ninalhaycn, and had IN ls.1. 80
polls. There are over one hundred houses on
the island most of which are owned 10y the
residents The title 10 the land or rock, l.
solely in Gen. r.. who leases il to the house
owners. on condition that they should be good
citizens. Schools are supported. religious
meetings without distinction Of creed held on
the Sabbath. and everything conducive TO the
good order and moral wefare Of the people has
been instituted and encouraged by the proprie-
TOT The petitioners beg 10 be set of for the
reason that they can and do receive no benefit
for the taxes they pay and no privileges from
Vinalhayen. They are distant from the main
island three miles, the distance 10 the town
house is two or three mics further, and Of
course, it is always incousenent and often i'm
possible for them TO 90 TO town meetings.
They have no social or business relations with
the main island. II is entirely with Roekland,
10 and from which q steamer runs daily. Ma
turally the remaining residents Of Ninalhayen
are willing 10 lose this profitable little island
from their domain. but there is property
enough, ysters enough and ever, thing except
territory, sufficient TO allow incorporation, is
this sufficien; objection:
AT first, the idea seems absurd TO incorporate
hundred acres of rock into q town, but if
they possess all the other elements Of munich
paity. are they TO be deprived Of the boon be-
cause their territory is not larger: As they
well say, ait is not our fault because we are not
bigger"
There many other towns in Maine with
less valuation and less number Of polls, and
there seem, no valid reason, with the eXcep-
ton Of their diminutire territory, against their
separation and becoming town. The Com.
will probably divide and make two reports.
In the mstter Of the Hancock and Suiya an
Ferry, the Com. have reported TO retain the
present Ferryman. Ransom B. Abbott, and re-
duee the rates of Ferrisge, a. follows;
Single team with persons, 30 cts.
Double 8 80 =.
Additional passengers, each, -
Foot passengers, 10 -
Friday the Maine Press Association held
their annual meeting. Officers were elected for
the ensuing year. In the afternoon Mr.. Wilder
W. Perry, Of Camden, gave sn essay on 1.-The
growth and influence Of journalism 1t was
well written production, and held this aiten-
tiou Of auditors 10 the end. Mr. Elwell Of the
Portland Transcript, closed with poem full OF
humorous and spicy hits upon the members OF
the Association. and graceful, happy illusions
30 the annual excursions OF the Society and its
incidents. The Excursion for next summer i:
trip 10 Quebec and the ssguenay river.
There was also on Friday hearing BY the
Com. on Temperance. Several ladies wer'
present and took part in the discussion. The
topic Of the proposed Druggists law is the
most prominent just now before the Legisla
ture. Petitions in large numbers have beer
sent from most Of the cities and prineipa
towns in the State, asking that Apothecaries
may keep and hold spirituous liquors, com
pound their medicines and dill prescriptions o
physicians. The old Temperance stsgers ar
all to 3 man. opposed to the proposition. an,
predict the direst woes to their cherished caus'
il the petitions are granted. The argument
are certainly strong on the side Of the drug
gists. and the names Of many ciergymen, phys
icians. and true and lifelong friends of TEN
perance are appended to the petition. Blu
side by side with these are also the names O
others who like and take their tod. With tn
experience the temperance leaders have ha
with their liquor agencies throughout the State
half of them nearly being little better than IL
galized grog-shOps. it is no wonder that the
depreeate and dread this opening Of anothe
source. which may do the ssme or create
harm to their cause. In the body polite, Bur
is the Spirit Internal, brutalzing those who Us
it, corrupting and cursing those who traffic i
1t. either with or without the sanctions Of tn
law, and continually thwarting and renderin
miserable those who would prevent its destru,
tive influence upon the community at large.
There 10 no doubt that the Temperance Com
mittee will report not to grant the prayer Of th
petitioners. but should the subject be.cxrrie
into the Legislature, there will be lively time.
The only parties who will enjoy:the fun is tn
prescribed rumselleY, who so long time Ia
been usier the ban. and who for the first tim
will see something like sn equal contest b.
tween his Temperance foes and a respeetsbl
class In the community.
The State Temperance Convention is to b
held in this city on Wednesday and Thursds
Of the present week. How much influence
will have in modifying the views Of the ten
persaee men, who have signed the Druggists
s,>sffious rauaains In be seem