The Portland daily press., 1898-08-04


those which could not get one of the 500
seats, SO that all told tie Harrison people
were prepared to feed 1000. AS wal tresses
there were the young ladies of the village,
all of whom wore white caps in addition
to their light summer costumes and who
did their duties most acceptably. For a
long time the people were busy under the
shed and in the shady hooks near by and
then they were in a pleasant mood to
listen to the feasts of reason, which, had
1t been possible for them to have been
out of sorts, would speedily have driven
away the blues, for many bright things
were said by after dinner speakers,
among whom were Prof. Henry 2. War.
rem of Albany, Ny, Rev. DR.. MoGibnen
of Philadelphia, Prof. Spratt OF North
Bridgton, Alphonso Moulton of Harrison
and Rev. Mr.. MCDOWELL of Bridgton.
The speaking lasted until the shades OF
evening had fallen and then came the
fireworks with which the celebration
closed. These were paid for by the sub
scriptions of Harrison people and they
evidently Clipped in generously judging
from the extent of the display. So the
day ended in blaze of glory and the peo-
pie of the town of Harrison in these
pleasant ways had served notice on the
country round about that the Bridgton
& Saco River railroad had been extended
TO their village and they were glad of it.
In charge of their celebration was q
committee composed of DR.. G. B. Sylves-
ter, S. II. Dawes, G. X. Kicker. William
Briggs and Q. M. Chute.
The Bridgton & Saco River railroad
has showed not only good Judgment, but
great deal of energy in the building OF
the extension.
Mr.. Frederick J. Illsley of Portland.
the chief engineer of the work. made the
preliminary locations in the winter OF
1867, but the permanent location was
not made until January and February
of the present year. Then after the frost
came out OF the ground, preparations
were made of the beginning of work.
The contract was let on May 10 to K.
D. Shannahan of Portland. and he COM
1nenced work ten days later. At times as
many as $50 men were employed so that
today the road Is practically completed
and is remarkably smooth and well bal
lasted for new one. The two stations
will be conveniently arranged and Of
pleasing appearance In fact everything
about the road Is Of first class material
and workmanship The Bridgton q
Saco River is,a local. enterprise and one
| in which the people Of the towns through
| which 1t runs takes pardonable pride.
Its history was told in the excellent adj
dress of Mr.. Cook which was as follows:
I Mr.. COOKS ADDRESS.
I am always glad to be part of any
gathering that celebrates the progress
and improvement of the State of Maine.
| AMI I am especially glad to be part of
any gathering that celebrates the pro-
gress and improvement of the town of
| Harrison-the town in which my boy
hood was passed and in which my father
| lived so many years and died, and IN
| the affairs of which he took SO active and
interesting part.
keenest satisfaction that find myself
permitted to be present tofay and TO
become one Of you again, even Tor SO
short time, and assure you the time Is
all too short to suit my fancy. For am
not so old and have not beea away from
| this town SO long as to have forgotten
| my old association with 1T or its people
And never since left 1t have l ceased
i to look forward with pleasure to the re-
4 yiyal of such association whenever OPP
portunity should offer.
After speaking of the contrast between
methods of travel today and one hundred
yearsaago and referring to the great value
of the railroad in the life of the people,
Mr.. Couk said:
When your committee rendered me my
Invitation to BE present today they also
suggested to me that was to consider
myself the chief, spokesman of the COCA
| sion, Now T. never like to throT away
an honor that really belongs to me and
on the other hand i never feel quite
comfortable in accepting an honor that
/ think belong elsewhere. Now feel per-
fectly certain that the honor Of being
chief spokesman On this occasion does
not belong to me, but that 1t belongs
neither to your completed road. 1t
speaks for itself, and in a way more
forceful than any words of mine can be.
1t is the thing itself that makes the con,
| yincing argument on this occasion and
the most that the rest of us can do is to
see to 1T that we strike no discordant
note.
| Now what does this road say about it.
self? Does it say that it has been con-
structed simply as q speculative venture,
as a make-shift to catch town aid from
the towns through which it runs, or as
basis or excuse for an inflated issue OF
bonds to fat the pockets of it's buildersP
/ have not heard of it, On the contrary,
l have heard it say that it has been con-
structed as legitimate enterprise by
corporation of reliability and established
credit, corporation managed by tho
rough business men, not strangers 70
you, but your neighbors, men Interested,
not in this road alone, but in the business ae
and prosperity and development OF tnls
entire community as well. All their ON
or interests, like your own. will suffer
with failure of this road and viii Dc
enhanced by it success. II you neeoea
guaranty of proper management OF this
road by it's officers you could nave no
stronger guaranty than this.
To the admitted honest purpose OF tine
officials of the road you have here added
their personal interest. But tbs road
tells us another thing and, in view OF
| ott