The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-14
WHY I WANT ANNEXATION.
To the Editor of the Press:

To the Editor of the Press:
LIST. Because it is for the best interest
of every individual citizen of Deering;
every poor man because every dollar in
crease in the value of property in COM
munity, increases the advantages with
ont increasing the cost to him in the
same relative proportion. The larger
and weather. a community the easier a
poor man can get a living. If you do
not believe it go into some of The small
farming towns away from railroad COM
munication, SO OF 100 miles from Port
land, and the writer will pay for the cost
of the trip if any honest man does not
acknowledge the truth Of this asser-
ton.
End. Because it is unfair, unjust and
little short of dishonorable for me to
accept the advantages derived from the
aggl egation of wealth and it's benefits
meted out to all, rich and poor alike,
without being willing to bear my pro-
portionate part of the burden, i. e., pro-
viding am able and have property that
should rightfully be taxed. Our prin-
,cipal tax payers all want annexation and
as they pay the bills I see no reason why
they should not have something to say
about it. But there are mean individuals,
amply able to pay their part in the cur
rent expenses of q church or any society
to which they belong, who would just as
soon have others pay the bills but if, for
instance, it is dinner there is nothing
their appetite.
3rd. Because l am a tax payer of
Portland and resident of Deering and
want the privilege of voting where pay
my taxes and want some of the money
paid in taxes, used in the improvement
of Deering, which is very backward in
this direction if compared with other
cities and towns of its size in the State
Take Waterville. for instance, almost
exactly the same in population and see
what it has and is. There is not single
bank either, National or Savings, in
Deering. Waterville has four, one
of which is Savings bank. Deering
has neither daily or a weekly paper
printed in town while Waterville has one
daily. four weeklies, two monthlies and
one semi-monthly. Deering has not
single photographer. Waterville has
four. Nine boot and shoe stores, eleven
BARRIERS, thirteen physicians and thir-
teen LAWYERS. See the Maine Register
for comparison. also Bath, Gardiner.
Ellsworth. Calais, Saco. Brunswick and
every one of them is unaided by having
great wealthy city like Portland to
support it. Deering politicians are fren-
zied by the outlook and never since the
beginning of this annexation movement
nearly thirty years ago were they in such
an alarmed condition This is behring's
last year on earth and citizens aspiring
to be Mayor will never again be forced
into the position of hog reeve and fence
viewer. Deering is in great danger from
these people claiming to be it's friends:
there are office seeking anti-annexation-
lists that are willing even to die for her
and to save her from becoming part of
Portland and losing the great opportu-
nifty in store for her by having them
elected to the honorable position of
Mayor, or, perchance, Treasurer, Clerk
or Collector (the best paying offices in
the city) and the funny part of this
all is that all of these officers
are opposed to annexation. If half of
them were in favor and the other half
opposed we should know then better
where we are at but they all fight it
tooth and nail. This of itself ought to
be enough to convince any reasonable
man and it will. 1t also accounts for
the great stampede in favor of annex
alton. But &c whiz aren't they working
though, but it is of no use the die is cast.
This is one of the games the people win
on ant. the politicians may take back
seat.
Why / want annexation
4th.-Is because we want better fire
protection so that when we have another
fire like Hawkins shoe shop we can
have force enough to put it out ASK
tiremen but lack of steam fire engine.
Annexation will give us this but Deering
officials say it is not needed. 1t will
also give us police protection, free de-
livery of mails. free delivery of express
from Boston and other ports, free deliv-
cry of kilograms, free use of public
library with $4,000 books, an equal
privilege with citizens of Portland in
Evergreen cemetery. 1t will also save
us enormous expense by having one city
government instead of two and one poor
farm instead Of two. 1T will also give
advantages for our money by it's more
Intelligent application and use than
would be possible by any city govern
ment that Deering might elect. Deer
ino's taxes are going higher, higher,
higher, while Portland's will be lower.
PROSPERITY.