Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-26

x.co,ered that the petitioners were mot con-
..rt with that. They wanted every single
lime quarry the valuation Of which y Sl4S, GOO,
n".. =. nonresident property. A very fne
w' ..o.;ton for the petitioners, seeking to re-
Fly themselves Of certain responsibilities
l Iss n retain all the rights and benefits from
~. .ha market and other privileges in the city
W..t Rockland loses no benefit by division.
S,s x;ll receive all the benefits Of Rockland
s,oner save that she may avoid the
H.h;I;tv to some extent Of paw
:.a for what she receives. Still, they
M ~ N be set OF to avoid this liability.
IT. city has incurred a ibiiity Of 500. 900
n aid Of the Knox & Lincoln railroad. As
hs understood, it was incurred by unani-
Won, vote of the people. Every single voter
n ward voted for it. That libility rests
anon the ciiv As a city. The bill proposes a
Jiv;sion of the territorial limits and necessa-
.;,r proposes a division of the indebtedness.
West Rockland, so far as its liability is con-
armed. steps one side and out Of the way,
md anv judgmen: Or bonds falling due, falls
mon Rockland as it is situated at the time.
Those bonds will have to be paid or renewed
nv Rockland Divide the city and you have
n. city Of Rockland minus the seventh ward
renew TIE DobuS "a ~ may DC
aid that Ward shall pay her proportional
nart. Blu. suppose she refuses to do 60, and
sIe. petition for an injunction to prevent il?
This would lead TO almost endless litigation.
A. the same time Rockland is deprived Of the
credit TO which she is entitled. He under
stood that to-day her bonds have deprecated
,ome five per cent. on account Of this agita-
ton Of division.
Further than that: |, is said if the city is
divided West Rockiand shall assume certain
liabilities. The Constitution provides that
M town or city shall incur an Indebtedness
which exceeds ) per cent. of its valuation.
Make the division and suppose this is re-
rsrded as an assumption Of an old debt; it
becomes an obstacle to the assumption Of any
new liability. Five per cent Of the valuation
Of West Rockland is about $780, The
full assumption of the Indebtedness Of the
new town will be about SOL 900, about $780,
600 more than the Constitution wonld allow
it to assume, provided THIS should DC consld-
cred new assumption.
to Auburn, giving the city to-day about 3d.
900 acres. And here we have one of 1000
and are asked to cut it down to 1000. Shall
we leyislate in behalf of certain individuals
and against the united protest of the repre-
sentatives of that city? He thought the legis-
lature should allow that city to remain as it
is and require Ward to help discharge the
liabilities which it had assumed in common
with the rest.
On motion of Mr.. WILLoCGHBY the yeas
and nays were ordered.
Mr.. PLAIsrED advocated division. At first
he had been opposed. He had been informed
that those against division were willing to
concede to the other side what was right, and
as long as he believed that he had been Op-
posed to division. But he had learned that
those gentlemen now refuse to do this act Of
justice, and persist in holding the people of
Ward to pay for city advantages. He main
tanned that it was not just to obligc people in
the suburbs to pay for the advantages enjoyed
by those in the city. 1t wa, upon this ground
that he favored the bill. He could not sec
the objections to divisions which gentlemen
had pointed out. He quoted from official re-
ports to show that Ward is more heavily
taxed than those in the other wards. He did
not consider the arguments in regard to adj
vantages which had been urged. of any
weight. The same arguments could be used
with equal force in regard to adjoining towns.
1t was fallacious.
He claimed that IA division is opposed by
few rich men representing large and strong
corporations, in no way representing the
people. In regard to the constitutional
point raised he said that portion OF the debt
assumed by the new town would be regarded
rs a debt existing ut the time of the amend
mcnt to the constitution, and there could be
no obstacle in this respect, to division.
The whole territory Of that city is held for
the debt as it stands to-day, and no division
cun affect it. The petitioners DO not ask to
be- relieved from this liability. They are
willing TO paw as fast as Rockland pays.
Mr. Goss of Bath:
Mr.. Speaker The question before the
House is one which ought to receive our care
full consideration. There arc principles in
volycd here which if we ignore will be detri-
mental to the State. There is not member
on the floor Of this House, whatever may be
the occupation of his constituency, but that
will be affected more nearly or remotely by
our action here to-day. We cannot afford to
separate our industries and legislatc in favor
of one Jas against, or to the detriment OF
another. The greatest good to the largest
number is a wise rule to adopt in legislation.
We cannot separate the agricultural from the
manufacturing interests, OF the MANUFACTURE
ing from the commercial. You cannot build
up a manufacturing city without the farming
interest being benefited. not only in the I'M
mediate vicinity. but in all parts ofthe state.
Compare the cities Of Auburn and Lewiston
Of TODAY with what they were 40 years ago,
and look ut the increased amount OF taxes
they pay into the State treasury, and you Will
ace that all parts of the State are benentted
BY it. Energy and business capacity backed
by capital have utilized the water power OF
the Androscoggin and added wealth and pop,
ulation to the STATE. Now what Is true OF
these cities is true of Rockland. Her bust
ness men are among the most energetic. m
telligent. go-ahead of any in our state. by
their tact and zeal they have obtained con,
troll Of the lime market Of New England, ana
| may add Of New York. and that too against
strong competition. They are entering upon
new industries, manufacturing our otherwise
worthless rocks into cement. Ihey are
Quarrying granite from the outlying ISLANDS
They are building wharves to meet the IN
creasing demands Of commerce. Ihcy ouht
a steamer last season at q cost OF some c4o,-
600 to accommodate the travel to Mt. Desert,
and the new mines being opened in sullivan
and vicinity. Now can all these improve
ments and industries be put in operation
without benefitting the whole State, increas.
ing as it does its wealth and taxable property:
Do not these industries which increase the
value Of the farms in Ward Z, by creating q
home market and thus increasing their value,