The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-01
DEERINc ANNEXATION.
Some OF the Arguments for and
Against IL.

The following from the Portland cores
pondent Of the Boston Herald gives clearly
and strongly the arguments Of the annexa-
tionists Of Deering:
The movement for the annexation OF the
town Of Deering to Portland has so far pro-
gressed that meeting Of the voters OF the
for the purpose OF deciding whether the
town viii accept the enabling act passed by
the last legislature. III the act Is accepted
by the town 1t will then be presented to the
city, and, II adopted. the town will become
the eighth ward OF the city.
Portland Is now the smallest In area OF all
the cities OF the country, being about two
and one-half miles long, and, upon the aver
age but trifle over one mile wide. Its pop
ulation Is claimed to be 1900, and, II this
claim is well founded 1t is the most densely
populated as well as the smallest. OF cities.
Deering lies Immediately north of Portland
and Is likewise small In area. 1t Is some
what longer than the city which 1t touches
on the longest side, and about twice as wide.
Its population Is not far from $500, q large
proportion Of whom are simply residents In
the town, doing business In Portland. Both
town and city abut upon the common water
front and both are interested in the develop
ment Of the Back Bay. A circle drawn from
the city building as a centre, and taking the
extreme boundary of the city for its cIrcum-
ference. will include the villages of East
Deering, Oakdaie and a portion of Wood
fords. while IL the radius be increased three
quarters Of mile, it will then include three
quarters Of the area OF the town and nine
tenths Of its population.
The adherents of annexation are very gen.
orally business men whose interests and
prosperity are dependent upon the growth
and development of all the advantages Of
both city and town. 1t Is urged by them
that the town has become too large to sue
cessfully administer its municipal business
through the old-fashioned machinery OF town
government and town meetings, and they
point to the fact that the rate OF taxation has
increased from SIG per thousand In 1885 to
$50 per thousand In 1890 notwithstanding
the large increase In the valuation In 1889
made for the purpose of keeping down the
rate, and also the large increase In the town
debt III the valuation had not been increased
and II the money NECESSARY Tor the maae
taxation, instead Of by loan, the rate Of tax
alton would be S25 per $1,000. This great
and rapid increase In taxation is caused, not
by the necessities OF the town. but by the
methods of directing all its expenditures in
one day In town meeting, which renders 1t
impossible to exercise reasonable delibera-
ttOn or Investigation.
The total amount of money to be raised
this year exceeds $4,000, and yet at the last
town meeting held for business, out Of the
1890 voters OF the town, less than 100 were
persent. Nor does there seem to be any ade-
quate reason for maintaining the expense Of
a separate municipal government. 1t Is es-
timated that by incorporation with the city
SIC, 1000 per annum can be saved, and, OF
other directions where it will be vastly more
beneficial to the citizens. Also, the greater
stability in government, better system of
oversight and unity Of plan will give more
favorable results for the money expended.
The union Of town and city will also do away
with lOeal iQal0nciQ1 and frrit attnU friQfi0u
between town and city and develOpe more
harmonious feeling. which cannot help BEN
citing both. The combination will give the
city greater force In business, more room for
development and more commercial import
ance.
The growth of Deering Is mainly an over
flow from the city 1t ought to be seen In
concerted action In municipal affairs and In
the census. The united city will still be
small in area, smaller than Biddeford. Saco.
Lewiston, Auburn, Augusta or Bangor, but
will show an increase In population from
$3.50 In 1880 to upward Of 5000 In 1890, and
this showing Will raise IL In the rank Of
cities to that position which 1t ought to hold
on account OF its enterprise and the substan-
tial increase In the value Of its business.
The opposition to annexation comes chiefly
from the conservative spirit which leads so
many people to oppose any and all changes.
They do not seriously controvert the posi-
tions Of the annexationists. and admit that
both town and city would be benefited by
the change, but they look around to see IL in
some way they can not avoid the inevitable
step. In the city there Is some opposition
from those who do not want to see any evil
dence OF growth, and who yearly argue that
a small city is to be preferred to large one.
They are not numerous and their real motive
Is the fear that annexation will turn the tide
of building toward Deering. and therefore
hinder some Of their little real estate booms.
There Is also some opposition from the farm
ers Of Deering, but they are also few In num-
Der ana are rapidly finding out that the farm
ing sections in our Maine cities are well sat
isfied with their position, as they have all
the benefit and no higher taxation than their
uatoh hore In tho adiaeant towpa