Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-02

The divisionist and non visionists Of the
fair town Of Camden left the brew to sim-
mer while they went home for the Sabbath.
BY next Tuesday afternoon, however. they
will be back in forcs at the hearing. which
10 to be held in Representative Hall at 2
p. n. The Camden side or those who are
for division, will be represented by ]. II.
Montgomery. Esq.. aud others, while the
Rockport and West Camden interests will
have Lawyers Heath and Baker TO tell the
committee why, In their opinion. the town
of Camden should not be divided. It 10
impossible at this writing to give all the
different arguments which will be presented
pro and con. The following are, however.
some OF those which have been talked
about the State House; Camden, say the
divisi0nists 10 Q town of about $500
inhabitants, 1860 Of whom are voters. OF
these, they say. $50 on the Camden side
are for division. Already = petition a
has been received containing 55s signatures
and not content with that they are getting
up one to include oil the voters on the
Camden side Of the proposed line. Some
Of the arguments Of this faction are tina,
there 10 little prospect Of the whole town
living in peace and that it 10 much better to
be divided and happy than united in name
and continually quarrelling; that the line
they propose does not interfere with the
lines Of the school districts, and only
crosses . few farms; also that ~ regards
valuation, Camden by the proposed line
would only have about 475 900, the larger
valuation Of taxable property, and IL only
the Rockport side had its shipping properly
located for taxation its valuation would ex
ceed that. ..of the, Camden side Of the line
They furthermore sllege that the two VIII
lsges differ in their interests, Camden being
. manufacturing town. while Rockport is
not. Not year ago ut . town meeting il
was voted almost unanimously TO divide the
town. and committee WAS appointed to
decide on line. This committee, say the
divisionists, was 90 composed that the Rock
port and West Camden people had = large
majority. This committee made majority
ana minority reports. The report Of the
ms sj0rity did not please the voters of the
village Of Camden ~ they believed it ran
into the precincts of their village, but they
did favor the minority report, which 10 in
substance the terms Of the proposed di.
vision.
. Those who are opposed to dividing the
town say ths. they voted for ii on that
townmeeting day in the excitement Of the
moment and that no good reasons exist for
splitting up q community whose interests
are really common. Some Of the larges
property owners have property in both vii
lagos and . division it 10 claimed would
prejudice them. Furthermore they say
considerable amount Of taxable property
that has been exempted by . vote of the
town all lies in Camden village; that when
this becomes taxable should there be n
division Camden.would get all the benefit
This line they contend, while it gives the
Camden side the greater valuation, also
bequeaths to the Roekport portion four.
fifths Of the paupers. There are in the
town between 30 and 100 miles of county
roads to maintain and KoCkport says this
plan leaves them the larger amount of
these roads TO care for. They add. too,
that there sre not the usual reasons for
divisions, viz separating of village and
country but this line would 60 through the
town from the coast to the back line, sleav
ing . village and country population IN
each. To be brief they say there are no
reasons why the town should be divided
and they will oppose such measure TO the
last.
They will also offer proposal to Offset
the one fOi division, viz. To unite the vii
lagos Of Camden aud Rockport into city,
dividing the whole town up into warcs ~ in
Augusta for ins1ance. Those who wish to
listen to an interesting bea-ing will do well
to attend next Tuesdsy afternoon.