The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-18
ANNEXATION DISCUSSED.
Citizens of Both Places Met Mayor
Baxter Yesterday.

DdAteF IeSuerudys
Variety of Opinions Expressed-Speakert
We're Mayor Baxter, e. b. Winslow
Sidney W. Thaxter. Woodbury. S. Dana
Elias Thomas, Albion Little, Theodore
C. Woodbury.. Judge Webb, Andrew
Halves, Joseph S. Kicker, Joseph H.
Hut.ohins, Mayor Sawyer, Geo. B.Leavitt
and Col. Moore.
There was an informal consultation OF
about forty citizens of Portland and Deer
ing in the Common Council chamber yester-
day afternoon. Mayor Baxter, who had in
vited them to be present, presided. City
Clerk Dyer acted as secretary. The subject
was the annexation of Deering; and there
was an interesting and varied debate.
MAYOR BAXTER.
in opening the conference said that it was
purely question of business. Will it pay
Portland? will it pay Deering2 Portland
needs more room for her expansion. The
advantages of the consolidation would,
aside from this point, be the larger for
Deering. But Portland has a bright future
before her as commercial city; and her
future expansion depend much upon this
question of annexation.
PRESIDENT E. B. WINsLOw.,
of the Board of Trade. said that the
future prosperity of Portland demanded
that she incorporate the outlaying districts.
OF four years ago the business men of Port
land had manifested as much interest in
the matter as they d. now, annexation
would have been brought about. At that
time Portland did not realize the need of
more room. Of course since that time there
have been changes of sentiment in Deering,
many friends.
hayeAseen it stated that Portland is
anxious to take Deering. now that DeeIina
has got her sewers all putin. But it must
be remembered that that those sewers have
been put in by issuing bonds, and those
bonds must be paid. Another point in this
connection merited attention. Deering is
now sending her sewerage onto the flats.
and into the government channel near the
pottery, where it was making trouble.
questions on tais point were
likely to arise for Deering
1t is only short time since I have been
compelled to make an arrangement with
your honor in order to get the assistance of
the Portland fire department. The insuI-
ance company recognized that the fire pro-
lection in Deering was not adequate, and
would have raised the rates much had it
not been possible to make the arrangement
with Portland. The IRE department of
porf md oo bod IS z:.-1s- 81
should be at the disposal of Deer
ing. Deering needs also a::police force. They
have there now force that comes out on
special occasions; but there is not the
patrol service that could be wished.
Mr.. Winslow went on TO speak generally
Of the advantages to the two cities of union
and closed by saying that he hoped that all
would assist to bring about the the most
feasible plan to keep harmony and get an
nexation. think We may get an enabling
act SO that the people of Deering may vote:
and have no doubt that they will vote
largely in favor of annexation. s
MR.. SIDNEY ". THAxTER.
was next called upon. He said that he op-
posed the annexation of DeeIing. Portland
was commercial city, well paved, we'll
well drained we'll kept, while Deer
ng is largely a country region. Portland
ioes not need a larger area. We do not
want to step over our natural boundaries,
and annex large area which needs large
md extensive improvements. We expend at
he present time two per cent of our tax
sble valuation, and we require this money
,or our own uses. The annexation of Deer
ng. moreover. must result in a shifting of
values of real estate. The building of the
Onion station has deprecated real estate
IN Commercial and Middle streets. Tie
of Dsering would raise the value
IF real estate in DeeriAg to the detriment
If Portland. This wrong should not be put
lpon the large interests of Portland. From
he Deering point of view also. there are
many arguments against annexation. 1t
will bring the cost of living there up to the
,ity standard. Another point, the annexa-
ion OF Deering would in the future de-
crease the representation of the western
part of the state in the legislature.
WOODBURY. S. DANA, ESQ,
.fter saying that he favored heartily the
movement as in the interest and for the
of both cities. gave some in
eresting and instructive "reminiscences of
he growth of Portland. He said that he
,ould remember when above Brown street,
IN the right hand side Of Congress street
he land was field. On the other side of
he city there were very few houses around
he Observatory. except the residences of
'ew negl oes. Around High street and Park
streets there were also fields. These few
acts show the changes which We may ex-
rect in the future. l am decidedly in favor
# the annexation of Deering, and 1 can
hardly conceive how business man can
hink otherwise.
ALBION LIT TIE, ESQ,
aid that he was heartily in favor of making
ne city of the two. The reasons were too
numerous to mention. Some oppose because
t will be great advantage to Deering an
zone to Portland Why is that an objection?
+ Portland gets Deering. why doesn't Port
and get the advantage? This is now time
Nv