The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-01-07

q hcuucuuC, 0oNoIuOk OVS0s0 WIS W.
President, aud thereafter Q prominent Dl-
rector of the consolidated line. BY excel.
lent management the Portland 4 kennebec
became financially stronger than the Maine
Central proper. The old Maine Central,
however, was much stronger In the Lcgis-
lature-particularly In the lobby, and was
able to prevent the Portland 4 kennobec
from extending Its line into Somerset. Ar
ter several years Of conflict In 1870 the
two interests-the one because 1t WAS cut
off BY hostile legislation, And the other be-
cause 1t had been weakened By reckless
management consolidated BY . perpetual
lease and took the name Of the Maine Cen.
trail. Governor Coourn became . Director
In the company. A scheme was undertAk-
en- for the funding of all the debts OF the
two lines which was accomplished, the CO.
burns being the most prominent men in
this financial undertaking. In 1875, the
Eastern Railroad Company having secured
a majority Of the Maine Central stock was
able to dictate the selection OF the Board
Of Directors, but In order not to provoke
local hostility elected Governor Coburn aud
subsequently made him President. This
was evidently done uunder the conviction
that he would be able to give little a,ten-
ton to the duties OF the position, and
would be dictated by those who intended
to use the Maine Central to avert the i'm
pending collapse Of the Eastern. They
were mistaken. Mr.. Coburn was Presi.
dent de fdctO 10 the fullest sense. He man
aged the road In the interests Of It's stock
holders and resisted successfully those who
desired to use the line for other purposes.
The conflict was sharp until the collapse OF
the Eastern. His management of the
Maine Central was model OF economy
and efficiency. With declining revenues
consequent upon the business depression
he maintained the efficiency Of the service,
made many permanent Improvements aud
at the same time SO reduced the expenses
as to show an increase Of net earnings.
This result was largely due 70 his rem%k
able administrative ability aud tact, which
when displayed by statesmen or military
commanders, Is styled genius. OF many
Incidents related to show his watchfulness
and carefulness of detail, the following
will serve a. an illustration Of his methods
as well as his humor. Through some de-
feet at a crossing, 3 horse and sleigh were
damaged The President directed the Com
panys attorney to negotiate an adjustment.
The next day Mr.. Coburn called upon the
solicitor for the facts. That official hogan
with long statement which appeared to
the matter.of-fact business man rather as
plea OF the plaintiffs counsel than the So
licitor OF the defendant. After he had
proceeded for time, the president stopped
him with the following observation Be
fore we 70 any further, let me clearly un.
derstand whether you are the solicitor Of
the Maine Central, or the lawyer Of the
man whose horse was injured" The Pres
ident took the case Ia hand and satisfied
the claimant with q sum about q
third as large as the solicitor advised pay
ing. Mr.. Coburn declined to serve longer
as President, in 1878, having filled the pc.
sition three years.
the Coburns were interested In two or
three western railroads, among them the
Northern Pacific.
Many years ago Mr.. Coburn became
Director of the Skowhegan Bank, and sub
seQuently It's President. When 1t reorgan-
lied under the National Banking Act as the
First National Bank Of Sxowhegan, he was
made President, which position he has
since held. He was also President Of the
Skowhsgan Savings Bank.
POLITICAL.
Governor Coburn always took deep in
terest 10 political matters. Born FEEDER
alist, he gave his first vote, In 1924, when
Fl years OF age, for John Quincy Adams.
Afterwards Mr.. Coburn found his political
affinity in the Wing party-almost always
In q decided minority In Maine In point of
numbers, but always embracing majority
of the abest men who have honored the
history of Maine with their public services
and their high character. Edward Kent,
George Evans, Luther Severance, VIM.
Pitt Fessenden, and E. L. Hsmlin, were
leaders to be proud of. Abner Coburn was
first q member of the Maine House In 1888.
This was the first House In which the
Wings had majority. Elisha H. Allen of
Bangor, was Speaker. He WAS again In
the House In 1910, when Hon. Hannibal
Hamin was Speaker, and again Ia 1874,
when David Dunn of Poland was Speaker.
In those legislatures were such men as VIM
PITT Fessenden, Hannibal Hamiin, Free
man H. Morse Of Bath, Ezekiel Holmes OF
Winthrop, Latber Severance Of Augusta,
John W. Dana Of Fryeburg, Arson p.
Morrill, of Madison, Shepard Cary Of HDul-
Bangor, and Phineas Barnes OF Portland.
One Of the perplexing questions was that
relating to the Northeastern BOundaries.
In Houses embracing so many able men In
both parties, Mr.. Coburn served on the fol-
lowing leading committees: Finance,
Northeastern Boundary, Banks and Bank
ing, State Lands, and State Valuation. In
1852, when Gen. Scott was the Wing Can
didate for President, MIR. Coburn was on
the Electoral ticket.
Upon the breaking up of the Wing party,
Mr.. Coburn naturally adhered 10 the Re-
publican party. He did not wal. but was
In the organization at the begiDniDg-oDe
of It's founders. In 1856 he was member
Of Gov. A. p. Morrill's council, and In 1857
a member Of Governors Hamlin and Will
iams council. In 1860 hs was an Elector
on the Lincoln ticket. In 1862 he was the
Republican candidate for Governor and was
elected, receiving ~, 744 votes to 81, lOS for
BiOn Bradbury, Democrat, and 6,764 for
Gen. Jameson, War Democrat. Governor
Coburn filled the Office during the most tyr
ing year of 1868 year when many were
wearying Of the war, when several North
ern States had fallen into Democratic Con-
troll, when the peace element at home be-
came mischievous and source Of appre-
tension, and year when no apparent pro-
gress was made toward suppressiDg the
Rebellion. At no time were the duties of
the Executive more delicate and arduous.
Abner COburn was Governor. There was
no power behind the throne. He brought
TO the discharge Of the arduous duties Of
that Office, large experience 10 business /;
rare perception OF the value Of men !;
prodiglous industry; the courage which
comes Of deep conviction; that rare facul-
ty of grasping subjects which appears
marvellous power OF Intuition In some men |;
and, above all and SURPRISING every other
attribute, that answering integrity which
ennobled his whole life. or that contemp-
tible trickery and those indirect methods
which are admired by class Of politicians
az evidences Of rare political sagacity, he
was utterly incapable. The business Of the
State was to be conducted on strict BUSH
ness principles. At q time when hundreds
of men were pressing for positions In the
army for which they were unit, and hum
dreds assailed the treasury from every
point, it required all OF his nerve and dill
gence to carry out his purpose. This
course caused dissatisfaction among the
noliticiana sxho heliexa that Manaiis, are