The Portland daily press., 1885-01-19
Gov. Coburn.


II knew the Co6urns," !" said Boston mil
'ionaire, ''nearls forty years ago, when I was
selling goods TO traders in the Kennebec val
ley. AT that time there was very little mon
ey in this country, scarcely dollar but Co
burn notes of all denominations were he'd
by people of means. Indeed, l think they
were used as currency. Everybody had con-
tidence in them. 1t seemed that everybody
who had nay, grain or cattle to sell was sat-
isfied to exchatge them for paper signed A.
4 P. Coburn." 1t is said tbat when Abner
Coburn was Governor, he was SO accus-
toned 10 sign the firm name that in more
than one instance he affixed s'A. & P. Co.
burn F" to S ate warrants, and in one in
stance TO bill which the Legislature had
enacted.
There was time during the war when
the firm name was in higher credit than that
of many STATES.
Speaking of Governor Cohurns financial
tandlng suggests the courage and conf
dence which those who knew him best had
10 him. Soon after the consolidation of the
railroads now making up the Maine Central,
the hard times came op. The business fell
off and the company had floating debt
which those who held it were yery clamor-
| into worse condition. Il was agreed to
have the president aud one OF two directors
| go to Skowhegan to see Governor Coburp,
| who at that time was just recovering from
severe illness. The president laid the case
| before him and ended with the somewhat
startling statement tbate there was but one
way out of the difficulty, for him to endorse
the company's notes for $s00,00U at once,
| and $1,000 more during the next go days if
n1pFf he ttThQ Gavnrunt3c fooa
| passive as MARBLE" said some of those pres
ent, and he said not word and asked not a
| question until the speaker had finished
Then he simply asked them TO make the
| notes tor $500, 900, which he signed. have
| forgotten whether the other notes were
called for, but the confidence which he in
| spired qnieted the anxiety Of many creditors
| The Maine Central outrode that storm, aud
| is now strong corporation. But its best
| friends will say to-day that Abner Coburn
| was their sheet anchor.
| Governor Ccburn's methods when Cover
nor did not always please The politicians. lie
| always believed that the right thing to 10
| Aas the best thing-lhe only thing. He
! judged men for the 81 ate's service Just MS
| ne did for the lumber woods--for what they
were worth. One of Names best regiments
| in the field was we'll nigh denoralized by
| reason of the dseensions Of two or three Of
| custom was observed. He listened TO the
| complaints of all the wranglers, but sa d
nothing. In few days two Ulcers of low
| er rank were announced as the officers Tor
| the places over which here were quarrels.
81 know these men and know thatlhey will
| fill the bll.'' was his reply to the indignant
| protests. And he was right; the wranging
| ceased and the regiment became one of the
most famous from the State. This is sim
| n1V a N illnst of hie bode no
| tic welfare before individuals was bis rule.
| There was vein of hnmor in Gov. Co
| burns makeup that showed Itself frequent
| ~. One OF the most lud crsus scenes that
| the writer ever witnessed before Legisia-
| live committee, ~as on the occasion of the
| investigation Of tue sales # the aericultu-
! raj college land scrip. Gov. Coburn was
| summoned as witness. Que of the mem
| bers OF the committee was young lawyer
FRI m rural village, who took it upon him
| self TO examine the venerable Ex-Governor.
The Governor sized up the limb OF the law
| III an instant, and the opportunity was enc he
c9uld not 1T pass. "What is Your occupa-
tionT asked the bantam. "That would be
difficult 10 iell," quietly remarked the Gov
| er or. with ponderous gravity, and vet with
twinkle in S eye. "Have you ever been
| interested in lands" pursued the inqaisitor
II Gave been,' was the quiet remark of the
men WIZ obSO oWhtu tOU SQUARE uDlNS II
| his own State and large patches 10 the West
| Good judge of lands?' pursued the on
81 have sometimes thought | was not,' was
the que. reply. "Own and in the Wesi?'
| put the LAWYER. Yes" How much?'
II can't tell with any degree of accuracy"
well, tell US Somewhere near" II can
not" you canDot? Have you Z 900 acres2''
" think somewhat more" How much?'
81 prefer not 70 say.' d. you own 5O,OUO
acre-?' 81 shoud say as much as that"
about this time the Governors face began
TO beam with fun, and the auditors bryan to
litter. 'Did you have any of the agricultu-
raj college scrlp9" continued the lawyer
No." reglied the Governor slowly. '.Did
| yon want any?' "Yes,' was the answer.
why didn't you get ii?' Because" an
swered the witness, 81 thought the sale was
to take place al IL O'Clock, aud it took place
at 10. 1t was sold when got there" ''You
would have paid more for The scrip than the
| price for which it was sold?' "No; not if
| could have got IL for less" By this time
committee and audience, except the young
inquisitor aud the witness were conVulsed
with laughter. As matter OF course the
situation afforded much amusement, but
there was enough of it until Hon. Frederick
| A. Pike of Calais, interposed out of regard
both for Gov. Coburn and the committee.