Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-05-08
BOARD OF TRADE.
ELLSWORTH WILL HELP ALONG
ELECTRIC ROAD.
GONE TRUTHS PLAINLY TOLD BY DR..
j. F. MANNING - AID FOR PAM
AMERICAN EXPOSITION.


Thursday evening to arrange for suit
able reception for the gentlemen who are
to come here to make a preliminary sur
vey of the route of the proposed electric
railway between Ellsworth and Castine.
The attendance was large, and the
interest manifested indicated that the
project had the hearty sympathy Of the
board, and OF the public generally.
President @. L. Morang presided, and
Secretary L. F. Giles recorded. /. L. Hal
man stated briefly the object of the visit
of the railroad men to this city.
A. w. King followed with some stirring
remarks, and moved that committee of
seven, OF which the chairman should be
one, be appointed by the chair to CO.
operate with the standing committee Of
the board in seeing that the visitors we're
properly entertained.
DIR. j. F. Manning, in seconding the
motion, reused the meeting to high
pitch of enthusiasm by presenting some
very cold facts in a very warm way. He
said:
That a little life yet remains in this board of
houc 10 encouraging WVu'u INV w ooo Az "
little more alive than it is. and so many of our
citizens in attendance at Its meetings that
room much larger than this would be required
to hold them; but while there is any life there
is hope.
1 believe 1t Is good for us to Come together
and talk over our sorrows, and to console one
another. If we, as business men, have any
failiugs or shortcomings. it may do us much
taIL tha 10
find the way by which we may do better.
In spite of what we do or say, we are all
interested in our city corporation, as all are
stockholders TO greater or less extent, and
anything that can be done to improve, enlarge
enrich this corporation must benefit, directly
or Indirectly, each individual stakeholder.
Ellsworth belongs to us, its citizens. and we
alone are responsible for it. If our city corpor-
alton IS badly managed it is our fault, as we
choose our own managing agents, snd they
serve us at our will and pleasure. If our re-
sources are unused and SO unremunerative,
that, too, Is our fault. In fact, Ellsworth is
just what we make it-nothing more and
nothing less, and IL we damn it, why should we
not expect it to be damned?
think it is quite generally conceded by the
people of Ellsworth that our material pros
perlty Is NOT quite SOUe OIL us
feel that we are wanting in some things which
we ought to have. and which we might have. as
they are within our reaen. Others of our citi.
zens seem to have lost hope. They seem to feel
that we are wanting in everything, as we have
nothing, and that there is nothing within our
reach. and if there were we have not life enough
left to reach out and grasp it. Now the discon-
ISOLATE we have always had with us, and they are
probably no more numerous now than formerly.
Since have known Ellsworth, it has had It's
full share of grumblers who have constantly
been looking backward to the good old tines
abusing the present and predicting dire calami
ties for the future. pressing duty of this
board of trade it seems to me- is to undertake
the great work of consoing the disconsolate,
quieting the kickers. and converting sinners by
pointing out to them the errors of their ways,
and in demonstrating it to them and, if possible,
making them understand Ellsworth's true
status.
There is no reason why we should be dis
heartened and melancholy. There is much
reason for encouragement.
We have reason for encouragement that
some Of our citizens, by their energy and enter
prise, have procured a charter from our State
legislature for an electric railroad connecting
us with the western part of our county, and for
the encouraging assurances that there is a good
prospect that outside capitalists can be induced
to construct this road
1t seems reasonable that the sanguine hopes
of the holders of this charter may be realized,
as capital is plentiful in this country, and is
seeking opportunities for investment, and is
usually at hand when a business project prom
ises good return for Its use.
Should such road be constructed, naturally
and unquestionably it would benefit chiefly the
people through whose towns it passes, and par
ticularly the people of Ellsworth.
How do we receive this railroad project?
Judging from the talk on the Streets we receive
1t In our usual way, not with a cool shower
bath, but with Il perfect deluge of ice water.
The talk of the street seems to be that this pro-
ject is nonsense; that the road will never be
built, and If 1t is built, that it will never be
operated because it would not pay operating ex
penses. This talk, coming from the people who
should be most interested In its success, and
who would be most benefited by it, is cool CON-
fort for those of our citizens who have under
taken this enterprise. But this talk does not
come from the heart. 1t comes from habit. 1t
has become a second nature with u.s. 1t almost
seems as If we were oorn that way, and can't
help it.
How do we know the road won't be built? Is
it because we, the people whom 1t would chiefly
benefit, won't allow 1t to be built?
This railroad project is not nonsense. 1t is
very feasible, and in all human probability, if
the railroad is built, 1t will be operated and
operated probably.
The entire length of this road, we are in
formed, will not exceed thirty miles, and the
towns through which 1t will actually pass have
a population of more than 10000, not including
Castine and the towns along the route not
traversed by the road but which Will be directly
benefited by 1t, and which must naturally help
to support it. These towns have population
of 1000, making total of more than 1900 scat
tered along its route to support thirty miles of
electric railroad, more than five hundred peo-
pie to the mile of road. We should also take
into account the facts that the support of this
road will be reinforced at one end by two steam
roads, and at the other by line of steamships
direct from Boston, and that nature has given
us, in abundance, the cheapest power possible