Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-01-03
HON. oGoRoe ?. EMERY

THINKS 1HE COUNTY BUILDINGS Arr
ALL RIGHT WHERE THEY ARR,
AND REVIEWS rHR HISTORY or AT
TENTS 10 REMOVE THEM.
M Dear SIR:
Although have not the slightest In
terest In the matter, my regard for the
good people Of Oxford County, and e.
pecially for my native town, leads me TO
write you concerning the new movement
TO secure q removal OF the county build
ings TO South Paris or Norway.
In 1905, after . full hearing Of parties
interested, tho General Court Of Msssa-
chusetts determined that Paris Hill was
the most suitable Of all localities for
permanently establishing the seat Of jus
tice for the new county. In the sound
Judgment thus exercised there was for
long period y universal acquiesence.
People from ell sections Of the county,
and the msgnatcs OF the bar from other
counties, such M Stephen Longfellow,
Nicholas Emery, Samuel Fessenden,
simon Greenlcaf, II. A. l.. Goldman,
Joseph Howard, John Jameson, N. s.
I.ittieheld, and others were 40
custOmed to attend the courts on
Paris Hill, and anticipated the journey
thither with delight, never dreaming
that It was q hardship to travel over the
bcautiful hills and valleys requisite to
reach their destination, and being sure
that they would lind most agreeable
quarters on reaching the end Of days
Journey.
But In the progress Of time the people
Of Lewiston and Auburn got up the proj-
ect Of forming new county, and by the
persistency Of few leading spirits at
tained their object. resulting In detach-
ing Turner and Liyermore from Oxford,
two OF the principal towns on the Al.
dr0scoggln. But these had to pay well
for their new accommodations, and to
my personal knowledge their dlsmem-
berment from Oxford was matter OF
regret to some Of the leading men
whose attachment to the old county a.
our fathers established II was strong
and lifelong.
After the facilities for travel were
changed by railroad construction the
people Of South Paris and Norway all at
once came to the consciousness that II
was an awful burden to travel three and
five miles from the railroad, and In
augurated movement by circulating pc
tltions to convince the people that their
sufierlngs had become int0lerable which
could be relieved only by = removal OF
the county buildings down the hill, and
simply calling on the taxpayers to pay
the bills, and all for the special benefit
of enviOus neighb0rs who run the ma
chine. But the movement after full
hearing and an animated contest was de-
liberately vetoed by the Legislature
rendering q substantial verdict against
the projectors. This new movement Is
therefore In the nature Of motion for a
new trial, based not upon the discovery
of new evidence, for with but slight
exception Continuing the railroad from
Canton to Rumford) the facilities for
travel have not changed since the move
ment was efiectually squelched.
| have too much confidence In the
sound common sense Of the people OF
my native county to believe that this
movement to upset the verdict so re-
Gently and SO we'll established will be
successful. Certainly the facts and
weight Of argument Is all In favor OF
letting that verdict stand.
With u small draft from the treasury
of county free from debt, the present
accommodations on Paris Hill can be
made entirely satisfactory to all reason
able people. The court house was good
enough for our fathers, and has been
greatly improved by their sous. II u
worth days journey to gaze through
its westerly windows and drink In the
inspiration sprlnging from view OF a
ndscape hardly excelled In beauty and
variety the wide world over. The jail
can easily be made safe enough, II not
so already, to conflne the minimum OF
malefactOrs often reduced to zero. The
rooms for the county officers with slight
expense can be made as good and safe rs
new, and unless times have changed there
are any quantity Of competent people
who would jump at the opportunity to
occupy them as they are. am not sure
but II would be an Improvement to hold
the Probate Courts In the court room In.
stead Of the Registers Office where
formerly had the honor To aid poor
widows In settling their accounts. This
reminds me, by the way, II more people
attend the Probate Courts now than
then, very much smaller number at
tend the other courts than when the old
Common Pleas and \. j. Court system
was In vogue, calling for more terms,
aud longer sessions to dispose Of the
business now largely reduced by dlmlnu.
ton OF litigation and the meagreness OF
the number OF suits docketed AS COM
pared with the olden time. IL used Ia
be a pleasure for the judges Of the Su.
preme Court to hold law term where
they could breathe air 80 pure and ga
lubrlOus that II starves out doctors, and
Is unaffected By malaria from ponds and
sluggish streams, engendering levers in
other localities whose names can be
guessed. And who wishes to run the
risk OF exchanging hotel fare and &C.
commOdati0ns for which Paris Hill has
always been famOusf Put that question
to judges, the bar In general, to jurors,
witnesses and all along the line. A.
respects the burden Of travel now com.
pared with what was the case when the
seat Of justice was established where II
Il, and when everybody was content, II
has been largely removed, and the num-
Der Of attendants at court greatly re-
duced. Probably Judge Wilson would
flnd Il personal convenience to perform
his functions near by his own door, but
Il Is safe to presume he will not throw
a., Ind hts, tn ltsnsaf aIAnlt hta
hope aud that of his c0ad jutOrs be again
frustrated. never heard Judges Raw
son and Prince, under whom ] served,
complain because they had to ride D hall
days journey over hills to hold their
courts. II It Is a luxury to be taxed to
accommodate few, an opportunity IL
now held out for qualification, but ms-
jority Of the farmers and middle-lnterest
men OF Old Oxford do not banker much
for II, unless times have changed.
II will be remembered that for the pur.
pose Of converting those who have Oc-
caslon to Walt the Registry Of Deeds
people In the western part of the county
have q district Of their own at Fryeburg.
To remove that on the Hill farther west,
will add to the Inconvenience OF pOr-
ton OF the north and east. Not for
slight reasons should the shire of q
county DO changed, and the geography
of mn ancient and honored county be
supplemented by new lines and destroy
Ing old associations. SO at least II
seems to Very truly yours,
GEO. r. EMERY.
OiIR "JOHNv