Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-25

Dailp lsrnnfbrr oournal.
Mn. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN:

Mr., SPEAKER AND GENTLEMES
You will all bear witness that ! have not
trcspasscd upon your time this winter in max
ing speeches. Nor have been absent since
the commencement of the session. | have
voted upon every question but one. and in
tended to vote on that but happened to be
out of my seat. Thi, is the second wear
have had the honor to represent my people in
this House. Il call them '-my people" be-
cause | was born and have always lived in
their midst.) In these two years | have not
received one cent from the State treasury for
any of them. now ask in their behalf and
in behalf of the hest interests of the State,
the passage of this resolve. The merchants
of Portland and Calais petition for it, One
thousand poor farmers. at least, ask for it,
Ii is in the interests of Bangor of whom we
buy large amounts of goods and to whom we
sell millions of shingles. All our manutac-
turing cities desire the bridge.
Now. gentlemen, the Committee on State
Lands and State Roads, of which have the
honor of being chairman on the part of the
House, examined carefully all matters sub
mitted to them. especially where an appro-
priation of money was asked. And in almost
every case the petitioners were given leave to
withdraw. Petitions from NV own district
shared this fate on account OF the poverty of
the State. But. Mr.. Speaker. the committee
were unanimous in reporting this resolve
And hope and believe that this House will
sanction that report and grant the appropria-
ton
have made it my business to ascertain the
cost of this bridge. And bridge builders on
the same river in the Province of New
Brunswick tell me it will cost at least Sl6,-
eco. For further particulars in regard to
~ | IN th., t..tn ..f fn..tu
House document ~.
Now. it may be said that this route would
send some of our trade into the Province
but this is not 50. Every one ought to know
that n market cannot he found in the Province
of New Brunswick for American produce
and American lumber. such as shingles,
clapboards. and other short lumber. without
paving duty on the same. Therefore we mus,
send such materials to our own country or
not send them anywhere. ON the other hand
we must have dry goods, groceries. farming
tools, and thousands of other articles which
we cannot buy in the Provinces because they
cost more than in Maine. and because of the
duty we should have to pay on them.
But some gentleman may say. Better have
a railroad in our own country" SO say | ; but
who is going to build it! Where is the mon
ey to come from with which to build it? Our
ii'i IL All Spi'i anu buI tltdSulN tIlftN. Dut,
8ntlcmen, if we or the State were now in
possession of the hundreds of thousands OF
acres of land that the State received when il
received those people who have waited thirty
seven years for an outlet to the outer world,
i say if we had this land we should be able
to build railroad which would give us the
outlet we much desire. But because we
are not able to build this road is the State
going to leave this vast and rich territory
fenced in longer: We have an outlet by the
railroad in New Brunswick. which never cost
our State one cent. and which is of as much
value to rs as to the Provinces. Now will
the State refuse to appropriate half the sun
necessary to build this bridge in order that
We may reach this road? | cannot believe IL
will?
Now. Mr.. Speaker, by the Treaty with
Great Britain on the 9th of August. 1872
We became American citizens. Ever since
that time we have been looking for an outlet
to a market some way by which we might
get acquainted with YOU. But we have looked
in vain. Have we not waited long enough ?
| think we have. And to-day appeal To you
in behalf of the poor farmers in that section
for this relief to that beautiful farming coun-
try