Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-06

eR 3aAuAAse1E1ng Interests.
fossibly few Of our citizens NAV be in
eiined not to favor liberal policy Of taxation
towards the Edwards Manufacturing Com
psny because the Sprasue enterprise did not
prove 20 successful - it was expected The
question now before our citizens 70. solution
u entirely different from that involved in the
vote accepting the proposition of the Sprague
Manufacturing Company. and should be Goa
sidered entirely on its merits and lis reIatio
to present facts. But it 10 well to remem.
Der, that though this great Rhode Island
company suffered a disastrous failure
after so many years of extensive
operations, it did not fail to accomplish i'm
portant results for Augusta Ofthe sum vo..
ed it BY the city to effect the sale of the old
dam and factory and to consolidate the nee
essary landed interests for the successful
working of the water-power, a large proper
ton Of it was paid to our own citizens and
did not take wings to other localities of the
West and South. During the years of 1.-The
company's operations here it paid out in our
for labor and supplies, besides the large sum-
expended in rebuilding the dam and con-
struefing the aeW factory. Though this is
much less than was hoped, there
is no doub. that the property within
the city limits is to-day worth at least half a
million dollars more than it would have been,
had the Sprague proposition never been
adopted. The old dam would have been
swept away without any probability of its
being rebuilt. The old factory. now Of so
little real value, would have had little motive
power to cause the rebuilding of the dam or
to invite purchasers from abroad. The old
canal was on the road to ruin, and general
delapidation was making its fatal in
roads. But for the Sprague undertaking
the Kennebec would have been now
sweeping calmly through the entire
territory of Augusta, its unfretted waters
passing to the sea, with fair prospect that
they would thus run to the end of time.
What would have been consequently the
growth and prosperity of the city We need
not dwell upon at length. With so many
other water-powers in the country surround
ed by cheap and unoccupied lands inviting
the capitalists, who then could have been in
duced to rear factories and mile in our
midst?
1t is, then, owing to the expenditures of
the Sprague Manufacturing Company in re-
building the dam in q superb manner,
the enlargement and improvement of the ca
nails. the building of the new factory,
as well as to the prior efforts and sacrifices
of enterprising citizens of Augusta, that suf-
ficient inducements exist in our midst to
bring capital from Massachusetts and to
cause our own citizens to invest some of their
ton of the Edwards Company, with a
financial basis which none dispute. /
Thus, through many obstacles and rebuffs,
despite disappointments and failures, Au-
gusta with her beautiful location at the head
of the tide waters of the Kennebec, surround.
ed by a fine agricultural region, whose
population needs the stimulation Of q
varied industry and of a home market, so
that our young men and women may not be
drawn away to other localities and flourish
ing fields, is in fair way to share
the prosperity of the future. We
all know what manufactures have
done for Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Rhode Island, for Lewiston, Auburn and An
droscoggin county, for our neighboring
young city of Waterville, and only by reso
luton, courage, and liberal action can we
win success and aroid being left out in the
cold. Cracking and growls will not bring
prosperity nor add a spindle to our mills.
They only tend to repel and blight, while
a hopeful spirit. energy, and wise fore
cast of the future bring benefcent results
and valuable fruits. Our country is moving
with gigantic strides as the largest .manufac-
turing nation Of the world, and those COM
munities who take the necessary action in
time, cannot fail to gain their share of the
manufacturing extension and wealth which
the march of events is bringing to o ur teem-
ing land. 1t is cheering to believe that our
citizens so generally understand what the flu
ture interests of Augusta demand, and that
nearly all wish to do what is best in the pres
ent emergency.
D~n~