The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-25
CAPE ELIZABETH.
Another Meeting Discusses the Question Of
Division-Many Jordans Interested in
the Movement-A Lively Discussion of
the Proposed Dividing Line.

The people of Cape Elizabeth who ia
vor division of the town held a large
and interesting meeting at the town
house last evening. Among those pres
ent, whether for or against division,
were: Clement E. Staples, Eliphalet G.
Robinson, V. B. Fuller, Charles E. Jor-
dan, Elisha N. Jordan, Lewis c. Hanna.
ford, Albert F. Hannaford, William G.
Robinson, John N. Brown, Albert Jor-
| dan, Charles F. Jordan, Andrew j.
Wheeler, Scott D. Jordan, J. Scott Jor-
dan, j. L. Brown, Charles Ellsworth
Jordan, Charles G. Jordan, E. F. Knight,
George G. Sawyer, Rev. John Gibson,
Alvah E. Poland, Rev. George Barstow,
Rev. R. H. Kimball, Charles Fl. Water
house and John Malta.
The meeting was called to order by
Elisha N. Jordan, Esq. The secretary,
Rev. j. Gibson, read the record of the
last meeting, and then the discussion of
the main question was in order.
| A large map of Cape Elizabeth, show
ing the proposed dividing line, was hung
up before the assembly. The location
of this dividing line was described and
illustrated in the PRESS of last Monday.
1t is sufficient here to say that the divid-
| ing line runs from the shore In the vicin.
ity of Cliff cottage in an irregular line
across the town to the Scarboro line, at
a point near the old bog road. This line
practically divides the villages from the
farming portion, leaving the town house
with the villagers and the poor farm and
| the fine summer cottages on the shore
road with the farmers.
Mr.. Clement E. Staples was the first
speaker of the evening. He advocated
the raising of a committee of three to
| meet a like committee from the village
people, with view to having the matter
of division arranged amicably. So far
| the matter had been discussed with good
nature, and he hoped that no bitterness
would result.
Mr.. N. B. Fuller of Ligonia said he
came to be enlightened rather than to
express an opinion, and declined to
make any remarks.
Mr.. Eliphalet G. Robinson asked if a
| petition had gone to the legislature, and
| if so, whether it specified the dividing
| line given on the map.
| He was informed that such a petition
| had been sent, containing the names of
65 voters. To explain the status of the
movement the secretary read the
| records of several previous meetings.
Mr.. Clement E. Staples supplemented
| this with brief statement as to the de-
tails of the plan of division. He tn ought
that the line divided the business 0 the
town very fai ly. A compact town
would be left on each side of the line.
| situation to adopt city charter, which
| he thought it would do.
Mr.. J. B. Clements hesitated to ex-
press an opinion.
Rev. George Barstow criticized the
dividing line. He thought it proposed
an unequal division. The great object
| of the division, so far as the farming
community is concerned, was to secure
| lighter taxes. 1t was urged at the last
| meeting that the farmers and the vii
| layers had interests entirely distinct,
| Bnt the line proposed would, he VEN
| tured to say, include in the village por-
ton more farmers than there were in
| the other portion. He favored north
| and south dividing line. South Port
land was the great ulcer which they
wanted to get rid Of, and this could be
done best by north and south line. Mr..
Barstow thought the voice of the town
ought to be taken on tho subject of di-
vision. Sixty-five v, tiers tout of about
1900 had petitioned, for division. That
was not sufficient showing of the senti-
| ment of the town.
Mr.. Clement E. Staples humorously
tore to pieces the preceding arguments,
especially the idea of a north and south
dividing line, which would not effect
division of the conflicting interests.
Mr.. Barstow called attention to the
contract with the water company which
required the payment of $4,000 in Is
years, and to the ferry slips and other
improvements. He thought the burdens
Of these obligations should be divided.
Mr.. Staples said in reference to the Sc
bago water bill that when the division
should be made and it should be deter
mined how the water bill ought to be di-
vided, the farming portion would bear
their part willingly.
Mr.. EGphalet G. Rob nson said he did
not care to express himself, excepting to
criticize Mr.. Barstows proposed north
and sonth line.
Some one asked how South Portland
felt, and Mr.. Robinson answered: I'VE
are satisfied; we think you have left us
too much, if anything" Laughter.
FEd Il. Jordan and R. S. Melcher
were cautious about expressing opin-
ions.
Mr. Scott D. Jordan said in reference
to the idea that the consensus of the
town should be taken, that this was
matter for the legislature to decide, not
the town. It was competent for any
number of citizens to petition for divis-
ion. He had heard Of no opposition, and
did not think there would be any from
the villages.
Mr.. Barstow said there were some
farmers who were opposed, those who
lived at Town House Corner, and be-
tween Mark Dyer's and Andrew Saw
yer's. The speaker believed that South
Portland helped the town. It bought
great quantities of butter, milk, etc.
Years ago he could remember when one
COW would supply all the milk used IN
South Portland
Mr.. R. S. Brother Barstow