Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-02-28
8. 8. srlARNa geo, or NORWAY.
ATTEMPTS TO oouxrrRAcr THE NisREr-
REGISTRATIONS AND yALsKHooDs OF
THE AoTrAroRs BY CHARGING Ms
LEADING uPox THE DEMOCRAT.

ton that this discussi0n 10 accompanies
BY 90 little acrimony and bitterness.
That there should be some 10 almost 10.
evitable, but the influence OF all good
citizens, both those opposed and those 10
favor Of removal, should be exerted "a
keep down all bitter feelings and TO pre-
sent only those arguments believed by
them to be valid ones. -.
That some mlslesdlng statements will
be made by partisans on both aides 10 TO
be expected In all such discussions.
Many Of them doubtless are-made unin-
teutionally. Il u my desire TO point out
No well a. can some Of the statements
and arguments made by the opponents
Of removal that seem to me misleading.
Il Was = misleading statement on your
part to claim that removal meant dis
ruption of the county, when such men
a. Mr.. Bisbee, Mr.. BRIGHAM, Mr..
Sta rles, Mr.. Pettengill and many other
Influential men In the eastern tier OF
towns, are pronounced In their advocacy
Of removal, and 10 pronounced 10 their
opposition to any splitting on OF the
eastern towns. When such men ~
Mr.. Hastings, Mr.. Jenness, Mr.. East
man, Mr.. Almon Young, Mr.. Pendexter
and many others Of the most Influential
men Of the western towns, are urgent
| In their desire for removal, and even 60
30 far 40 to say that disruption 10 more
likely to come II the buildings remain on
Paris Hill than II convenient arrange
ments are made ut South Paris. What
ever may exist In the imagination OF
some h0t-headed dlsruptl0nist II 10 safe TO
say that no towns will be torn from old
Oxford County unless there be . practi-
cally united movement In the Interested
towns for secession.
Again, Il was misleading statement
for the agents OF Paris Hill and cor
respondents Of the Democrat to assert
In the paper and all over the county
that new buildings would cost the county
SIOO. 600 90 or more. To be sure this
estimate has fallen to S75, 10000, then to
CSC, OOO. 90 and finally In the editorial
columns of the Democrat OF Feb. IL, to
100000. Now | want to say right
here, on the question OF cost, In answer
to the query Of Bro. Davis, "Are we
shrew WIDER and smarter than other coun-
ties," and to your Roxbury correspond
emit who asks, show We can build any
cheaper than other countless" that
know no reason why we are not as
smart and as shrewd and why We can
not build as chesply rs other counties.
The Franklin County court house, with
lot (which you say IL worth 5000,
while ours at South Paris 10 to cost only
$500, grading, building and furnishings
complete, cost tribe over 822,OOO. IL
was built by NJ. c. Foster OF Watervllle,
q man well known to many Oxford
County people, who was ready to con-
tract to build jail and Jsiler's house at
the same time for $1,000 additional which
would have made the total cost to the
county little over 90, 900.
Brother Swasey says the Franklin
buildings are not good enough for US.
Now have heard Judges Of the Supreme
Court speak In high terms Of them. Have
had them pointed out to me with pride
by citizens Of Pennington who seemed
unconscious Of any defect. lhaye heard
many attorneys Of our own county wish
we could have as good buildings, but
never an adverse comment except from
Brother Swasey. / can see no reason
why we need any better buildings than
Franklin, or why We cannot build as
chesply a. they.
Again, It WAS . glarlngly misleading
statement for Brother Swssey 10 MS
argument before the County Commis-
missioners to claim that the protest read
by him was the depression OF majority
OF the attorneys 10 active practice ut the
Oxford bar to-day" when as q matter OF
fact, Of the forty attorneys In Oxford
County, the names Of only eight or nine
appeared upon the protest, and OF those,
Bros. Carter, Atwood, and Austin, Ger
talnly cannot be said 10 be In active
practice, while large majority OF the
LAWYERS OF the county are actively and
earnestly engaged In working for the
removal.
Again, It was misleading statement
for You TO say In the Democrat OF Feb.
2lst that SHINE towns In the western part
Of this county have Q registry aud fire'
proof vaults for their records" Wnen 40
matter of fact the only records In the
fire-proof vaults at Fryeburg are records
Of deeds, attachments, etc. The probate
records OF these nine towns are OF vastly
more importance to them than their
deeds, aud they are exposed to destruc-
tion In the insecure vaults on Paris Hill,
which Brother Davis says "have stood
the test Of time for seventy years." just
what the test Was and when applied,
Brother Davis does not say.
But, Mr.. Editor, the most misleading
part OF the discussion, II seems TO me,
Il the attempt to lead the voters OF this
county to believe that II they vote no on
the question of removal II means the ex-
penditure of only . small sum Of money,
1900 or 5000 ut the outside. Where
10 the authority for any such statsment'
Undoubtedly some repairs can be made
for $1,000 or $1,000, but what Is the prob
ability? The County Commissioners
are bound to accept no vote OF the
people of this county, as expressing
their preference for PsrisIIlll as the prop
err place for the county seat, and 1t then
becomes their duty by statute to make
the buildings safe and conrenient where
the people have decided to have them
stay. In doing this they are not to look
simply to the saving Of few dollars Tor
the present, but are to decide what 10 true
economy for the county for future years.
win they think II their duty to put .
few moro plmples and patches on the
old buildings, which may be OF value
for few years and then have to DO done
over, or will they make their worn
thorough, 90 that this agitation will be
ended and the county have what the
statute requires the Commissioners to
provide viz. Safe and convenient build
ingsf I have no hesitation In saying
that II the buildings are to remain on
Paris Hill, I think II will be the duty OF
the County Commissioners and 10 the
interest OF the truest economy TO pro-
coed at once to build q new building for
the records and the offices, and this view
Il entertained BY many people whose
acquaintance with this needs OF the
county and the condition OF the build
lngs Is greater than mine.
John Barker of Bethel who has lately
vacated the chairma nshlp OF the board OF
County Commissioners, says: l believe
the only way to do 10 to build Q now
building for the county Offices and the
vaults" From Mr.. Barriers Interview
Il appears that this very thing was dis.
cussed by tho old board, composed OF
himself. Mr.. Woodsum and Mr.. Whit
marsh, and that the opinion then was
that they ought to make permanent In
proremeRts n they did anything. NOW
Mr.. woodsum and Mr.. Whitmarsh are
still members OF tho board, and 70 there
any Indication that they have changed
their minds, or that tho conditions have
while Il 10 doubtless true, 40 Mr..
Hubbard and Mr.. Davis say, that the