Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-03-26

Of a conviylal character.
Much Of the business OF the town dur
ing the first twenty years Of its incor-
poration, briefly glanced at In the fore
going extracts from the records, relate
to the laying OUT of highways, their
tlscontinuance and changes, and to the
setting of of inhabitants from one school
district to another, and similar matter
pertaining to local administration which
Indicate the interest OF the town In good
roads, schools, the care Of its poor, and
also in important public affairs begin
ming to receive the thought aud attention
OF its citizens. An interesting history
Of the town could be compiled from its
public and family records. and it is to
be hoped that at no distant day Sidney
will follow the example Of many other
towns In Maine and authorize the com
pilatiou Of Its town history.
According to the March report OF the
statistician OF the Department OF Agri-
culture, the condition OF the cotton in
d,istry in the South is anything but re
assuring The total cotton production
Of the world ia 1870 was a million and a
half bales above the sales, and the sur
plus for 1891 is even greater. In two
years this country alone has pro
dueed more than 100000 bales Of
cotton above the normal require
ments. The cons' uence IA that in
order to be self sustaining, the cotton
states must greatly curtail their produc
ton OF that staple or other crops must
be introduced. Twenty tive years sgo
this condition of affairs would have been
disastrous today 1t merely threatens
prosperity. Then the South knew
nothing but cotton. Now. thanks to a
protective tariff, she knows milling, min
ing, numbering, smelling, foundry work
and fruit raising.
within year, it is safe 10 predict,
check lists will be used at party prima-
ries In all the cities OF Maine, They are
used In Portland in connection with the
Australian system of voting, and the
results are said to he highly satisfactory.
Check lists have been used for
some time past at Republican eau
cuses in Lewiston. IL was found
practical impossibility under the
old syste m to prevent Ineligible men from
voting. Finally when the Democrats
undertook to dictate Republican nonina-
tons the imperative need of change was
conceded nd the use Of the check list
adopted. The result has been eminentls
satis factory The new plan has been
found TO consume little IL any more
time than the old plan. 1t i, usually the
case that there are not more than one or
two contests. and that the most OF the
nominations can be made By reclamation.
The caucuses are orderly, and the results
Of them acquiesed in with no chance to
call in question their fairness. A prom.
inent Bangor Republican told the writer
several days ago that without doubt
the party would hereafter make
use of the check list in it, primaries
there. He said that 1t was generally
conceded among the members of tie
party that this is the only way to secure
satisfactory ca1cuses and ensure the good
feeling in the party that is slways to he
earnestly sought for. 1t is evident
that the desire to employ the best
methods in political action, which has
always been characteristic Of the Re
publican party. will soon result IN
placing the primaries upon the same
secure basis that orr elections are. We
trust that In this movement Augusta may
not be found in the rear guard