The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-15
BEHRING'S WELCOME.
Portland Citizens Generally Want
Annexation.
PORTLANDS GROWTH SHOULD
BE HER OWN.

Such Was the General Sentiment About
Town Yesterday-There Were Some
Dissenters. However-Brief Interviews
With Business and Professional Men.
Friday afternoon. with view to testing
sentiment of the pepole of Portland In
ega1d to the annexation of DeeIing, repre-
sentatives of the PRESS interviewed many
prominent business and professional men.
All the prominent men In Portland could
not be seen. Some were not at their places
of business and time was lacking for COM
plete canvass. But enough have spoken to
show great preponderance of opinion III
favor of welcoming Deering. The inter-
views follow:
PRESIDENT E. B. WINSnOW
of the Board or Trade: 81 am fully in favor
of it. 1t will be better for both cities. Port
land has now got practically all the popula-
ton she can hold. The business blocks are
now crowding hard upon the residences. |
have pride in the growth of Portland.
Why don't you come to Portland2 say to
men looking for place to locate industries.
they ask me what is our population. anu
how fast we are growing: and / have to ex-
plain that we do not increase much because
other places get our growth. There is an
other point. ! was for time chairman OF
the street committee in Portland land Know
something about the streets. fully endorse
the work that Mr.. Fernald and the commits
sioners are doing, and l know that this
years good showing is but beginning.
Now want Deering to have the benefit of
that excellent system. Deering needs also
the police patrol, and many other things
that Portland could give her."
PRESIDENT S. R. SMALL.
of the Casco Bank thought annexation had
got to come, but the question was, sis this
the proper time'' If DeeIing is. as well
equipped as Portland he would be favorable
to the scheme, because this city has got to
grow, and its growth must be made in that
direction. Many Portland people are resi-
dents of Deering. They are really Portland
people, for 1t is here that their business is.
If asked to vote today should vote yes.
MR.. PHILIP G. BROWN.
one of the trustees of the Brown estate, said
that as at present advised he was opposed
to annexation. He could not see how the
union would help Portland except in
sentimental way. HE didn't think that
additional expenses should be assumed by
the city, but that if it could be shown that
annexation would not increase the city
taxes he should be in favor of the move
ment.
MR.. J. HENRY RINES
thought it better for the two cities to be
annexed. By SO doing economy would be
obtained through one set of city officers for
both places, provided that each city
shall bear it's proportionate share in the ex-
penses of the two cities. An estimate
should be made of the expense of improve
ments. in the way of sewerage. fire depart
ment and sewers for Deering. and the ex-
pense fairly adjusted. Annexation would
do away with such squabbling as prevails
between the cities of St. Paul and Mime
apolis, and give the city of Portland a
greater prominence in the financial and
commercial world.
MR.. x. JOHN LITTLE
was heartily in favor of the scheme from
the knowledge of the matter in his POSSESS
sion He thought all the neighboring towns
ought to be consolidated with Portland. The
phenomenal growth of western cities is
caused in this way. A city of $4,000 people
has Tar more influence than one Of $4,000.
Portland is as much interested in a Deering
road az in Portland road. When we drive
out of the city We want good roads to drive
over. With Deering annexed 10 Portland
we could have the road to Deering one of
the finest in the country, WITH a double
track for the electric road. The business
men could reach their homes in Deering in
half the time, as they should snOw. and
where a hundred houses are erected in
Deering now there would be five times that
number. 1t is good plan for city even
to spend money in order to get growth. The
more beautiful your town, the greater your
Undue ements. the faster will your popula-
ton increase. 1t is the middle classes that
make towns Importance, and city must
do all 1t can to draw such people to it.
MAJOR ROLLINS.
of Owen, Moore & Co.. believed in annexa-
ton, He wants to make Portland as large
as possible, even if it does not change our
appearance materially.
MR.. Haskell,
of Haskell & Jones. was strongly in favor.
He thought it would be a capital thing for
Deering people, and would cost Portland
little, if any more.
MR.. 4. F. HOMSTED
thought D6eIIQR SuOulu 10 HuuoAous HUN
his present knowledge. That city has
good. electric light and sewerage system,
and Portland wouldn't have any additional
expense in those respects.
MAYOR BAXTER
thought annexation was of great Importance
to both cities. 1t will give an impetus to real
estate and building especially. in Deering.
and be a good advertisement for Portland.
When it is known that city is growing.
that fact tends to draw people to it. With
a large population Portland will take great
er pride in herself. We have got to have
a new poor house. Deering has splendid
poor farm of ITO acres, good buildings and
but few inmates. It Is located most admi-
rably on the line of the railroad, and is big
enough for city four times Portland's size
for hundred years to come. With Deerng,
annexed Portland could cut up the present
poor farm into most valuable building lots.
When Mr.. Herring, the sewerage expert,
was here he looked over Deering as we'll as
Portland with sewerage in view. BY
those plans he is making it will not cost
either city any more than it does now for
sewerage. A small increase of the police
A~ H. Ill - ia e