Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-10
STILL LIKES MAINE.
Hon. George PottIe Gives I'm
pressions of Western Trip.
His Views Concerning Taxation Sys-
TENS in Other States.
Observations on the Growth Of Public
Observations on the Growth CT Public
Ownership Sentiment.

Hon. George Pottle of Lewiston, a
member of the board of State assessors.
has just returned from a four weeks
trip through the states of the middle
west. In regard to the impressions
gained from the trip Mr.. Pottle says:
MY journey has been a most pleas
ant one. covering nearly four thousand
miles. l visited Lansing, Mich, ST.
Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, Des
Moines. Iowa, Indianapolis, Indiana,
Madison. Wisconsin, Chicago, Peoria
and Springfield. Illinois.
While my mission was to investigate
the tax system of these six great
states. l could not fail to note the
general business thrift and activity
in every city l visited. The seat OF
empire both business and political is in
the Middle West. Chicago. The City
of the New Hope is colossal i'm it's pro-
portions, everything is conducted on a
magnificent scale. A giant in its
growth: Il giant in thrift, in enter
prise; in public spirit. l visited some
of it's mammoth retail establishments:
the claim is made that they cannot be
duplicated in any city of the world.
Manufacturing is increasing rapidly in
western cities. A cheap and abundant
supply of coal near at hand makes
this practical under normal conditions.
Soft coal can be purchased in carload
lots free on board cars at $3.50 per ton.
| am informed that the Illinois Cen
trail r. r. Co.. one of the great rail-
road systems of that state purchased
it's supply of coal in 1901 on board
their cars for less than $l.00 per ton.
The chief industry of Peoria, the
second city in Illinois. is the manu-
facture of whiskey and beer. there be-
ing located here five distilleries and
eleven breweries. Yet good influences
are not wanting here. The city con-
tains twenty-eight churches: the Y.
NJ. G. A. has a fine four story block on
one of the best business streets.
THE Women's Christian Temper
ance Union of Illinois was holding Il
state convention while I was there.
"At Springfield, the capital of Illinois.
T visited the grave of Abraham Lin
coin, the man whose memory is revered
and loved beyond that of any Ameri-
can. An imposing monument marks
the spot which is visited by thousands
every year. In a large room, in the
base of the monument are many in
teresting relics of the great COM
mOner. The table and three chairs
used in his law Office when he was
elected President; several letters in his
own handwriting, one written to
lady in 1864 regarding the great con-
Hict which was the burden of his heart.
written in that serious and religious
vein so characteristic of his later ut
terances. l noticed there a glass case
containing hundreds of Grand Army
badges representing many G. "A. X
posts: the loving tribute of old SOL
diers who have visited this spot.
Later 1 visited the house where
Lincoln lived, and the only property
he ever owned. 1t is now owned by the
state, and occupied by a niece of Mrs
Lincoln, a comely woman IS years OF
age. She related several incidents OF
her recollection of Lincoln when she
was young She told me that there
were about twenty thousand visitors to
the house every year.
INV tourney between cities extended
across prairie farms fer hundreds of
miles. with great fields of corn. inn
mense herds of cattle, sheep and hogs
the upturned soil black with richness,
everything speaks of plenty. 1 believe
7 saw corn fields sufficient to make a
belt ten rods wide from Quoddy Head
to the Golden Gate. But after all,
with the boundless fertility of the
prairie soil, and lmitless capacity for
production. how much better off are
the western farmers than their New
England neighbors. they live in poorer
houses: they are not better fed nor
better clothed: their homes lack that
anneorance of neatness and comfort so
aracteristic of New England rural
life.
Lilies fitful fever is short at best
.nd soon over and I am inclined to be-
lieye that on the whole the New Eng
land farmer gets more Oh happ'he
and comfort out of living thah does the
farmer on the western prairie. Inc
state of Indiana has just completed
soldiers monument at q cost Oh ScoV'-
mn. said to be the finest IN thls couh-
try IT is situated at the foot OF the
main avenue leading from the front OF
RI. capitol and is dedicated TO the
,nemory of the soldiers OF 1876, OF lsl2,
of the Mexican war, of the great con
1ict of '61-'65. and OF the war Win
Spain. An imposing prone statue VI
yice-President Hendricks Is the ohis
monument in the State House grounds.
The systems Of taxation OF the states
visited with the exception OF Minne-
sofa, represent recent enac,ments, ana
contain much that is good: some Things
preferable to those in our Maine laws.
T secured copies of the revenue Jaws
Of each state and blanks showing the
tp.al
varicas methods of listing etc. a''e
IL ,daitior made extensive notes from