The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-29
THEY WANT TO JOIN PORTLAND.
A Big AnnexatIonIst Meeting at
Woodfords.
Unanimous Vote In Favor Of eecon-
Ing Part OF Portland.
A Suburban Committee OF Five 70
Confer With the City Fathers.

In Lewis Hall, W00df0rds, last e7ening, to
discuss the present condition and the future
prospects Of the town. The municipal
needs Of the village portions OF the town are
very poorly supplied under the present town
government. The streets are not lighted,
there Is no fire department, no sewers. and
the streets are poorly kept No one appreci-
ates this more than the citizens Of the town.
The call for the meeting put forth three
propositions: Annexation 10 Portland; a
village corporation; or a city charter.
Mr.. Warren Sparrow called the meeting to
older, briefly setting forth its objects, and
Geo. G. Hopkins, Esq, was chosen chairman
and Mr.. Asher @. Kinds secretary.
The discussion was opened by calling upon
Mr.. William III. Scott for his opinion
on the question. Mr.. Scott said be
favored annexation to the city Of Portland
under certain conditions, which would pro-
tect carefully the rights Of the people Of
Deering.
Mr.. Neal Van Horne proposed that TO test
the feeling Of the meeting a vote be taken on
a motion fayOring annexation to the city.
and made such a molten.
Discussion then began.
Mr. j. G. Phenix was called upon. lie
said he was so anxious for annexation that
he favored 1t on any terms. lApplausel.
Mr.. William II. Seott-But you may find
yourself annexed TO the city without seeur-
ing any more advantages than you have now.
Mr.. Phenix thought they could be no worse
of. and that the chances were that they
would be much better OF.
Mr. l.. j. Perkins. being called upon, said
that he had formerly been opposed to annex
alton, but that he had become convinced
that the needs OF the town could not be sat
isfed by the present system. SO he favored
annexation. lApDlausel
Mr.. ii. +. Libby Of Oakdale also favored
annexation.
Chairman George G. Hopkins then arose
and set forth fully the facts Of the situation.
1t is conceded. said he, that the town Of
Deerlng Is in bad way. The simple fact
that we have eight cases Of diphtheria here
to one in the city Of Portland Is a suggestive
fact which shows that the sanitary c0ndl-
tion Of this town Is not what It should be,
and what 1t would be with good system Of
sewers. Then there is the question Of taxes.
There Is, said he. an impression that the
taxes would be higher were we part Of the
city. Now the taxes In Deering are, be-
lieve SIS on $1,000, while In Portland they
are 5000 on $1,000. Now this Is q small
difference, and II there are any men Ia town
who have so large possessions that this diff
ference will amount to large sum, they
ought TO be public spirited enough to make
the sacrifice. Bot 1t Is said that the valu-
alton Is much higher in the city than here.
Mr.. Hopkins did not think that this was so.
He had some pieces Of property In Deering
and some In the city. He did not think that
in proportion to the rents, the valuation was
any higher in the city than in Deering. He
thought also that this was the ex-
perienee Of the property holders Of
Oakdale, where the valuation Of prop
property Just across the line in Portland
limits.
Dr. Packard of oakdale thought this was
the fact.
Mr.. Hopkins, continuing, said he might be
reproached for lack Of loyalty; but be be-
lieyed in loyalty to no system Of government
unless 1t was a good system. Applause
He said it had been objected that the city
debt Of Portland was large, so large that Il
would not be advisable for Deering 70 come
under any responsibility In relation TO Il.
But 1t might be well TO examine the debt of
Portland and how 1t had been handled. In
1873 Portland had net debt OF about S.
100000. Now the debt Is but about 81
100000. But there was an amount Of Ogdens-
burg stock, now dividend paying, that would
practically reduce the Portland debt to a
million and half before long. Compare this
with the Deering debt. Ten years ago that
debt was not so large as IL Is now. 10 Is now
$4,000 OF 100000. The valuation Of the city
Is about S33, 10000, Of Deering S3,OOO,OO In
the ratio Of Yalutlon the city debt may be
proportionately little larger than the town
debt, but it must be remembered that the
city had property assets almost II not quite
equal to its debt, while the assets Of the
town Of Deering were very small. SO really
there could be no objection to annexation 50
far as the debt question Is concerned. As 70
the argument that we should be absorbed by
the city, Il should be remembered that Deer
ing would have her representatives In the
city government.
Mr. Hopkins twas loudly applauded In
closing his speech, the view he took seeming
to be the view Of nearly all present.
Mr.. Andrew j. Chase was called upon,
and as he advanced TO address the meeting
he was greeted with applause. He said be
was sorry he was unable 10 be present In
time TO hear the chairman's opening re-
marks, but he had hurried home from B0s-
ton to attend the meeting. Il am In favor
Of annexation rs& ITO % the city o. Of Portland said
citizens Of Portland have. We need IRE
department, police department, sewerage, a
system Of street lighting and better school
system. Annexation TO Portland will In
crease our LdAdtlOus butIt Is no use utny-
ing that. But in my opinion, In FIVE years
our property will increase % per cent In val
uatiOn by annexation. Annexation will give
us a system OF government impossible for as
to have now. We have no system In regard
to sidewalks, no system in regard % schools
no system in regard to lighting our streets.
What we need Is better government. think
can show you where we have spent $1,000
that we need not have spent II we had had a
good school system. The people Of Wood
fOrd's Corner thought they wanted a small
school house for the accommodation Of the
small scholars, but the town thought two
story building was necessary and so one was
built. A two story school house was built at
Cobb Lane at cost Of some $500, TO ac-
cOmm0date some eight or ten scholars The
people Of Oakdale wanted a school house.
and they were Of the opinion that about
$500 would build such one as they de-
sired, but understand that some $500 will
be required before II Is completed. | say
these things things Sssa1, because .o6 had a hand
want my words TO reflect upon
anybody. III we were annexed 70 Portland
we should have a permanent supervisor, a
system Of street lighting, a police depart
ment, FIRE department. We must have
sewerage In Deering before the close Of an
other year. We should raise a loan In order
to do this work. The town should issue
bonds before the next legislature sufficient
TO equalize the debt Of Deering with Port
lduu dCCOiuiuB 70 tuclI NdiudtlOus Lutrt
bonds to be used exclusively for making i'm
provements In Deering. think we ought 20
ask for annexation Of all parts Of Deeflng
that want TO be annexed. l have been told
that the people Of Pleasant Hin would like
10 be annexed to Falmouth. and perhaps
some parts would prefer 10 join WestbrOOk
| believe East Deering would be greatly ben
efitted by annexation to Portland, and 4
don't think we can give up Stroudwater for
a seaport to either Westbrook or ScarbOr0
1 believe 1t Is for the best interests Of Deer
ing to be annexed TO the city.
Mr.. W. III. Scott said that Deering should
put itself In condition TO be annexed. tie had
beed told by Mayor Chapman Of Portland
that the debt Of the city Is per cent OF lts
valuation. The debt Of Deering Is per
cent Of its valuation. Mayor Chapman lad
suggest TO Mr.. Scott that Deering before b.
coming annexed to Portland. should issue
bonds TO equalize the debt. lie thought the
legislature should be petitioned to allow
Deering to issue bonds TO the amount Of
some Sl500O0
Others expressed themselves as In accord
with the arguments already advanced.
The question being called for the chairman
put the question, those favOring annexation
TO Portland being asked 10 raise their hands.
Nearly every hand In the hall went up, and
when the contrary minded" were called for
not hand was raised, or possibly one hand.
Chairman Hopkins then said that the law
Of the State required that on all legislation
affecting towns II was necessary that a pub
lie notice should be given at least IA days be-
fore the assembling Of the Legislature. The
time for such a notice had already passed,
but he thought that perhaps II there should
be no opposition from the parties Interested
the Legislature might provide way out OF