Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-14
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from page 81


where they expected it. They don't ask
| for anything more They are satisfied
but of course they don't forget us In the
time Of taxation. If this Amendments
passes, don't see as any harm is done TO
the bill. The county can vote upon It,
The rest of the delegation are not afraid
to present it without the amendment
Then present it to them with the amend
ment and let them act upon it.
| Mr. Powers of Houlton said that this
was an Aroostook matter, and it concerns
only Aroostook county. The AroOstook
county delegation, with the exception Of
three have decided what should be done
have signed neither report for reasons
satisfactory to myself. The reason why
| L have signed neither report l will state
| to this House as stated to the committee
| and as stated to the representatives OF
the railroad company. 1t is because l
| would be very much benefited by the
building OF the Ashland branch, and not
withstanding think have contributed
by direct subscription and by taxation to-
wards the building of the road that has
opened up the settled portion Of the
county l do not wish to be open to the
criticism that l had used any influence
with the delegation or with this House to
effect the passage of bill that would
largely benefit myself personally. So far
as the main question is concerned, l am
perfectly willing to leave it to the people
of Aroostook county to vote on. What
they will ultimately do have my opinion.
But if you are to leave the proposition at
all, you want to leave it in a manner
satisfactory at least to one of the parties.
br, hat
they want this bill as it is or they don't
want it at al AS far as the gentleman's
second amendment is concerned, it seems
to me to be an equitable one, and yet l
do not know as it would be of any great
Importance or consequence. The first
amendment l believe to be entirely
wrong, and 1t is against that amendment
that desire to offer few remarks.
l view this matter entirely from
different standpoint from what the gentle
man from Van Buren, does. l yield to
him sincerity, but l think his zeal has
got the better of his judgment. Let me
refer to this moment and see If l can
make IL plain to the House, and by the
way, am one of those hard hearted land
owners that he refers to. Perhaps the
gentlemen do not know that the landed
interests build more than or nearly one
third of this road and pay for it and have
built it thus far through the settled por-
ton of the county, and if this Ashland
branch is built, it will benefit this in
terest. l think every man in Aroostook
county knows, and think the gentleman
from Van Buren, knows. that there is not
man, woman or child but what is very
DESTROYS for this road 1t seems to me
that there is not q man within the hear
ing of my voice but what must know that
the people of Ashland and the towns all
along that country desire to have this
road.
Aroostook county is large. This road
comes into AroostOok in the town OF Sher-
man, about 40 miles west of Houlton, and
runs in an easterly course until it gets to
Houlton. 1t cuts off section south of
that of nearly 40 miles square, larger than
most of the counties in this State. 1t
then runs north to Presque Isle, Caribou
and Fort Fairfield When this read was
| projected, the branch to Ashland was a
part of the original scheme. When it was
surveyed, the branch was part of the
original survey, and every man interested
there and living there was told that it
would be built; that is, if they could get
the money to build it with.
l believe that the road to Ashland
should be built provided it can be built.
This bill gives an additional subsidy to
them. 1t takes nothing from them that
they now have This road has been built
with great rapidity, greater, think. than
any in New England, and certainly than
any in the State of Maine. They have
arrived at Caribou and the gentleman
from Van Buren, assumes that they will
20 no further. They would like to sub
nit its proposition to the county. If a
subsidy is voted, l have no doubt but that
next year both or either of the roads will
be built in case they can get capitalists to
furnish sufficient sum of money on top
of the subsidy Whether the county of
Aroostook will vote that money or not,
whether it is wise and judicious for them
to vote it or not, that is not a question
for you to consider. That is q question to
be submitted to the county of Aroostook
and to be voted ON after fair discussion.
1 think the people of Aroostook need no
guardians. l think it is safe to trust them
to vote upon that question. l am not
here to defend that company. They have
built large amount of road and have
opened up good country and the benefits
will be seen by the whole State 1 only
want you to understand it. don't believe
there has been an breaking of faith with
the people Of Van Buren, or the people on
the ST. Johns river. i understood that
when We voted them that subsidy that they
were to build the Ashland branch or an
other branch only SO far as they got
money Have made myself plain? The
Aroostook delegation have decided what
they want to submit to the people of that
county. The have decided what they
think is right 1t has passed the Senate
and comes down here to the House, and
they ask of you simply this, that they may
submit what the majority of the delega-
ton believes to be right to the vote of the
people of the county. Something has
been said about submitting it again in
six months. That is not n very uncom-
mon thing 1t is very common legisia-
ton and don't believe there will be any |
objection to it. The only question is this,
shall the county have the right to submit
to the people of Aroostook the question
whether they in their wisdom believe 1t
is right to vote subsidy of $4,000 mile
to this road leading to Ashland and