Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-02-17
LETTER FROM sAco.
SAco, Feb. l9, 1880.
Editor of the Democrat

est TO some Of your readers. The city Is
situated about Is miles from Portland on
the left bank of the Saco, near its entry
into Saco Bay. Besides the city proper,
we have within the town limits the celc-
brated "Old Orchard Beach," one OF the
most popular summer resorts In New Eng
land, and place that bids fair to become
city Of itself at no very distant day. 1t
has at the present time some Of the finest
hotels in Maine, and 1t Is reported that q
new one Of more ample proportions than
any already built, is to be erected in the
spring. Saco Is an old town, and as Is
well known. was quite prominent In the
early history Of the Province Of Maine
II was here that the first General Court for
the Province was convened, and even so
far back as the time when Gorges had his
city Of Gorgiana, now York, laid out, 1t
was a place of considerable Importance.
On the reception of the news OF the battle
Of Lexington in Maine, Col. Scammon
Of Saco soon reported in Boston, with a
regiment armed and equipped for the Con-
tinental service; and even back In the time
OF the French and Indian War, Saco con-
tributed men and money for the public
defense. and some bloody scenes were en-
acted on her SOIL John Boynthon was a
Justice Of the Peace and man Of consid.
cradle prominence In Saco, and in his off,
cial capacity had ordered some OF the I'M
ruly Indians placed in the stocks; and II
was the hatred that the Indians felt toward
him to which the garrison on the Bidde-
ford side OF the river once owed their safe
ty; for when large force of the Indians
was approaching the garrison from Blue
Point, in the present town Of Scarborough,
with purpose TO take the English by sur
prise, some Of the Indians who had been
ordered punished by Boynthon could not
restrain their resentment, aud set his build
ings on fire. The smoke was plainly seen
By the garrison, and when the Indians
arrived. they found the English ready to
receive them. Il was also near here that the
English passed their first winter In New
England-the winter of l6l6-l1. The party
was commanded by Capt. Richard Vines,
and the place of their encampment was at
Winter Harbor, a place about miles below
this city, on the Biddeford side OF the river.
The place. though pleasant and inviting In
the summer, Is cold and bleak In the win
ter, and sincerely must those hardy men
have prayed for speedy return to Merry
England" But bleak and desolate az was
their camp, the place had many things In
its favor TO recommend II before the other
places on the coast. 1t had plenty OF
good, wholesome water, with wood enough
TO keep them warm, and more important
for them, there was "a treasure In the
sand" In the shape of good sized clans.
Besides, the position was naturally defens-
ible against the sayages who repeatedly
attacked ii, but were as often repulsed.
The city at the present time contains n
population Of from 10 10 thousand and Is
gaining rapidly. II has considerable man.
ufacturing enterprise. The York Manufac-
turing Corporation is located here, manu-
featuring cotton goods, such as blue drill
ling, brown dncking, bed-ticking, bed
spreads, and very pretty cloth for mems
summer pantaloons, beside large amount
OF striped goods for ladies' wear. There
are no foundries or machine shops on this
side of the river, but large number across
the river IN Biddeford; there are, however,
tanneries, saw mills, cigar shops, and lum-
Der manufactures in great numbers.
Ssco is, and has been uniformly for
many years, strongly Republican, and was,
as will be remembered, one OF the Republic
can strongholds counted out by Garcelon
and his Council; but our representative,
Roscoe Bowers, is making, or helping to
make. laws at Augusta nevertheless. One
of the principal reasons for Saco's Repub-
licanism, is found In the fact, that the
manufacturers on the Saco side OF the riv-
er refuse 10 hire foreigners when Americans
can be found TO do the work for, whoever
is acquainted with the facts in the case,
knows that q foreigner and especially
Roman Catholic, takes 10 the Democratic
party as duck takes 10 the water. Bid
deford has acted on different principles,
and has hired and encouraged foreigners
10 come there 20 the exclusion Of natives.
The consequence Is more rapid growth
in its population but while the increase IN
population has been in its favor, II has fal-
len far in the rear ofSaco in the cleanliness,
order ana intelligence ofits people Who
ever owns property in that city, holds u at
the mercy OF an ignorant and in many cas-
es, an uuprincipled fabble; for 1t is fact
that the foreign eiemen. holds the balance
Of power, and, though possessing bu: Q
small percentage of the property, control
the expenditure OF the public money.
When the property holder complains ofthe
uncailed for expenditure Of his money, he
is often comforted By being asked by some
blackleg policeman or puHed up alderman,
what are you going to do about itr'
During the late trouble at Augusta, the au-
thorities OF Biddeford had large body OF
extra police on the street, which involved
a heavy expense for the taxpayers. AS there
was no visible cause existing for this out
lay, there is considerable dissatisfaction ex-
pressed; and az the spring elections, there
will be a strong influence brought to bear
against the present government. But tax