The Portland daily press., 1886-01-15
NOTES.
The soldiers, Monument.

To the Editor of the Press:
/ was glad to see the article headed The
Soldiers Monument in this morning PRESS
and thought that the character of the sign
er would command respect, but am disap-
pointed. No writer is proof against sarcas-
tic criticism who objects to the useless ex-
penditure of money. | well remember the
abuse and ridicule heaped upon him and all
others who opposed the city's credit to the
Portland & Ogdensburg railroad. Does any
one now ridicule him for his opinions them
How many citizens question his soundness
on that issue now?
The destruction of the old landmark 'The
Old City Hall Building, is OF trivial impor-
lance when compared with an outlay of mil
lions of dollars. But | predict that fifteen
years hence citizens will respect Gen. BOWS
views upon this question, as they now respect
his views of fifteen years ago upon the clty,s
credit to the Portland & Ogdensburg rail-
road.
When the city is able to give this property
to public benefaction, it can do so econom-
ically. The county is now clamoring for
more office room, which the city is obliged,
talk of building 100000 building. | hope
no citizen would approve OF turning the pub
lie library out, even at the expense of build
ing another building but let the city, II It
can dispense with the Old City Building,
put it in condition at a cost of few thous--
and dollars, and move the public library and
the superintendent of schools into it,. Could
not the room in the City Building then, be
utilized so as to accommodate the county and
city for the next twenty-five years? make
this suggestion for information; / do not pre-
tend to say that it is practicable. The coun-
ty and city offices ought to be in the same
building, but it is useless to unite upon any
subject other than destroying the old land
mark (the handsomest building in Portland,
when put in order, and with proper sur
roundings), for it will come to popular vote,
and popular vote can be carried by a few
interested persons, when money is to be eX-
pended, or any novel thing done, like tearing
down building to see how the location Will
could get popular. vote to build water
level railroad from Munjoy to BramhaH's
Hill, to see the cars running over the tops OF
buildings. During the contest on the Port
land & Ogdensburg railroad campaign, ask
vote yes, of course. asked him why He
said he thought it good idea to buiId the
railroad. l asked him if he knew whati it
would cost the city. He said it would not
cost him anything This is popular vote
January 18th, 1885,
1.-THE Soldiers Monument Association is
composed Of large number of the most re-
spectacle citizens of Portland, all of whom
are quite as much interested in its prosperity
and well being as Gen. Dow or Economy"
and many of whom are quite as large tax
payers. They have succeeded in raising suf-
ficient money to build suitable monument
to commemorate the great struggle to pre-
serve the nation, and now they ask the city
to give them lot to put it on. Market
Square has been suggested as the most suita-
BILE place, and it is proposed to ascertain
what the people think of this suggestion at
the polls. We fail to see anything improper
in this proposition. Nobody has any axe to
grind in this business Nobody is advocat-
ing the gift of this lot to subserye any per
sonal end for none cafbe subserved by it
Last winter there was great agitation be-
cause an act then before the Legislature left
the disposal of the Ogdensburg Railroad to
the City Council. 1t was contended that the
people ought to have an opportunity to ex-
press their views. Now it is proposed to
give the people chance to express their
views in regard to the propriaty of the city's
giving this lot, and Immediately the cry goes
up that the people will vote for anything
that changes the existing order of things or
costs mOney1