The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-05

sneak to the gentleman of the city coun-
Gil on the advantages to lie derived
from the annexation of Deering to Port
land as all Of them must be familiar
with the subject. He went on to say
that Deering was not in reality "a city. but
a collectionsof small villages which he
enumerated. Not one of these places is
commanding of itself and all of them are
directly, connected with Portland IN
more ways than one.
81 think you will all agree with me-"
said Mr.. Ssiders," when l say that with
in few years Deering will become a
portion of the city of Portland and if
majority of the citizens Of Deering or
any part of it desire to be annexed to
Portland this city should welcome them.
Mr.. Seiders went on to explain by
means of map that part OF Deering
which it is proposed to annex and
showed that the proposed new dividing
line between Deering and Portland
would embrace Evergreen cemetery, the
property of the city Of Portland, within
the city limits.
Mr.. Soldiers went on to say: "That
portion with its inha bitants which it is
proposed to set off and join Portland is
worth about 81, 600, 900 while the indebt-
edness Of the city of Deering is 21a per
cent of it's entire valuation. while the in
debtedness of the city Of Portland is
per cent of it's total valuation or up to
its limit. In other words if this portion
is annexed to Portland it Will bring you
$4,000. Don't think that If we take this
portion of Deering We are rohbing Deer.
ing, for even with this part taken away
Deering still remains the.eighth NUM-
cipality of the state. I often find men
who are citizens of Deering who desire
to be annexed but some of them say "if
you can't take all of Deerina you should
MT take any of it, Now this argument
does not seem to be a logical one. If we
annex this part of Deering to our terri
tory, the other half of Deering will be
knocking at our doors for admission in
two years. Now gentlemen it does not
seem to me to be a very gracious act for
Portland to close her doors in the face
of these gentlemen who como TO us and
ask to be annexed. This movement for
annexation on the part of the citizens of
Wards and and the part of Ward 5 is
not induced by any political fued or dis
satisfaction with the city of Deering, but
simply desire on their part to become
citizens of greater city and to enjoy the
privileges we now enjoy.
Councilman Virgin asked Mr.. Seiders
what Inducements this part of Deering
was willing to offer for annexation.
Mr.. Soldiers replied that this part of
Deering brought with it one million in
valuation and larger extent OF terri
tory.
"How many miles of streets in the pro-
posed territory will the annexed part of
Deering desire to have paved after an
nexation2' asked Mr. Virgin.
Mr.. Seiders didn't know and called
upon Mr.. D.. D. Chenery the county
treasurer who was present to answer the
question. Mr.. Chenery said that there
were no streets needing to be paved and
none that would need sewers. The citi-
zens Of Wards 6.and and of Deering do
not receive their share Of improvements
in Deering and are therefore in favor of
annexation which will bring to them
many privileges which they do not now
enjoy.
At the suggestion of Alderman Kehoe
Alderman Aver of Deeriug was
called upon to give his reasons
for being opposed to annexation.
Mr.. Aver said: Heretofore you
gentlemen Of Portland city council have
been listening to only.one side of the
question but there is another side to it.
What those who ask for annexation de-
sire from Portland are steam fire en-
gines. better police service and many
other things that they think they can get
from you without paying for them. The
petitioners do not represents more than
one half of the population of Wards and
and that part of Ward 8, while the ma
iority of the citizens of Deering are OPP
posed to annexation. The argument that
has been used to secure signsrs to the
petition for annexation is that from
Portland they may obtain everything
without being obliged to pay much for
the Improvements.
Mr.. Chenery stated that what Alder
man Aver said was false. No argument
of this kind had been used to obtain
signers to the petition for annexation.
As it is now Woodfords gets the lions
share of everything and the other wards
of the city get nothing.
Alderman Small Of Deering was pres
ent and was asked his opinion in regard
to annexation. He said the natural law
of gravitation was the best argum emit he
knew of why Deering should be annexed
to Portland. He thought it would be the
best thing that could happen for both
cities.
Then Alderm an Aver and Mr.. Chenery
got into discussion as to what part of
Desring obtained the most improvements
and many arguments pro and con were
made. Finally the matter was dropped
and thon name tha real issue bafora tho