The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-08-20


sistible flow of population to the great
centres has checked our growth, out
there is no great cause for despair IN
that; while the total population has put
lust about held its own In the nity
wears. the number of polls has again
begun to increase, and with the CROWN
of our manufacturing interests we may
confidently look for a corresponding
increase in population.
Thoroughly dissatisfied with the ex-
isting means of communication Win
the great markets, and in strenuous
effort to improve her condition, the CITY
pledged her credit to build a railroad
and mortgaged herself through all pos
terity. The venture proved a verltable
Pandora's box, and the heavy DEBT
thereby incurred has been a grIevous
burden that has prevented the accom-
plishment of many cherished pro]ects
and checked many Improvements that
would have made Belfast seem more
enterprising. With taxes at almost
three per cent. and Insurance at two
and half per cent. the wonder Is not
that there were not more enterprises
started but that any were started at all,
or that we managed to retain what we
had. Our embarrassment led to the
adoption of ingenious expedlents to
make improvements without violating
the law, but the determination was too
strong to be checked. Fortunately that
burden has been lightened, but those
wearisome years when the weight OF
enormous taxes and high insurance
prevailed have been ever fresh IN men,
ory and have rendered the starting OF
new industries difficult task.
Our schools have grown from a sys-
tenn which, like the average country
road. began any where and ended no
where. to a system which gives us
schools inferior to none. Fifty years
ago. the city and country schools were
entirely separate: now. every school IN
the city is working under systematic,
comprehensive course of study based
on the best thought of modern educa-
tors. Then, pupils began when they
pleased and went as long as they liked;
when they had gone a certain time to
one grade they were advanced to the
next. and so on till the High school was
reached and they went there as long as
they pleased There was no incentive
for study, no promotion, no graduation;
advancement came to all who waited
and they did not have to wait long.
Now, from the time the pupils enter
school until they are graduated rpm
the High school, they are subject to the
training best adapted to fit them Tor
life: the system is at once rigid IN us
requirements and elastic in its appllca-
ton: it is as essentially practical as IL
was entirely theoretical; it provides Tor
the dullard as well as the precoclous;
merit tells, and merit alone. Then, the
High School, the cap sheaf OF the Wnole
system, was heterogeneous mass With
out form and void where there was no
attention paid to qualification, desire,
age. or any thing else; the pupil just al
mitted was as near complexion as lie
scholar who had been there tve or SIX
years: now, the pupil has the choice OF
three admirable courses, one OF when
will fit him for any college that admits
upon certificates. Then, pupils living
in the remote sections OF the city were
obliged to walk through ram and snow;
now, they are brought to the very
doors. TIL N, text books were not uni
form and no one knew what DOCKS
would be used the next term; now, text
books are supplied by the city.
In the matter of school buildings
alone have we stood still. There mas
not been one school house built III the
, old Central District since we be-
came a city. Our school buildings
are from sixty to eighty years Old
! are neither adequate nor sultable,
and should be replaced by modern
building at the earliest possible mo.
ment. Our debt can not be increased
and it is impossible to levy single tax
| large enough to build, yet we are mol
without hope. In few years we small
come into possession of this building 70
be used to erect a new school house
| Every one knows it will not furnish
money enough and that other funus
will have to be raised. They Will have
to be raised gradually, SO why not be
gin now? Each city government turns
over to its successor uneXpenQed ap-
pronriations varying from five to
twelve thousand dollars; instead OF ap
plying these sums to reduce the appro
priations of the following year, why
not fund them so that when the Pelrce
bequest falls into the city's hands there
will be money sufficient to erect at once
, a building that will be an ornament &c
the city and of which we may all be
proud?' Is not such a project worth
/ consideration?
The ecclesiastical history of our city
shows no phenomenal growth, but
steady increase that promises future
gains. Our churches have pros
pered and trained the children IN the
way they should go to be lawabldlng
| God-fearing citizens. The fifty years
have seen the erection of two churches
and the rest remOdelled at an expense
almost equal to their first cost.
During those fearful days when the
life of our nation hung trembling II
the balance, Belfast responded MOLLY t.
the call for men; nearly nine hundred
of her sons went to swell the rolls OF TIM
country's defenders. From prlvates tt
colonies, their valor was tried on man!
battlefields and their blood helped &c
ment the nations foundations. Owe
one hundred of them gave their live
that q government of the people, b.
the people, for the people, should no
perish from the earth. A grateful cit!
bears their deeds in loving remem
brance and has erected memorial tt
hallow the recollection; but though gu
city offices form fitting monument
yet more enduring one exists IN thu
hearts of our people. Aud as it was q
yore, it is now and ever shall be. Ih'
sons will always maintain the hlgf
ideals of the fathers. When the queer
of the navy was recently called upor
to make worlds record for naval yes
sells, it was the cool head, the skilled
brain of Belfast boy that navigatet
IL I'D foo