The Republican journal., 1904-06-02
Whites History of Belfast.
PUBLISHED IN BELFAST IN 1897 BY
E. FELLOWES.
CONTINUED
MISCELLANY.

has been in decilne for the last TWO
or three years. Taking the fact as
granted, they are at no loss to find a
cause for this change, but it seems all
have not charged it upon the same cir
cumstances.
One finds sufficient reason, for dim
mutton in business, in the scarcity of
money and attributes this scarcity OF
circulating capital. to the management
of the monied institutions of Boston.
another, says that trade is decaylng in
most other places in the Union, and
that nothing but the universal peace
that has been SO happily maintained,
for so long time, could produce an eff
feet. at once, SO uniform and extensive.
The mass of retail trade in the Amerl-
can sea ports. it is conceded. has been
much diminished by the almost entire
suspension of commerce with England.
But the town of Belfast has not, at
any time. maintained that intimate
connection with British commerce:
nor been brought into that collision
with the Boston Banks. that the sus-
pension of the one. OF the rigid eXac-
tions OF Justice III the other, could pro
duce general sensation. II trade be
falling away. the accident is chargeable
to other causes.
Belfast Is situated in the midst of a
country that has. continually, and
steadily. though not rapidly, grown in
population. The people collectively
from year to year have considerably IN
creased the mass OF means for their
support and their comfort: and with
this people. increasing in numbers, and
improving in estate. the principal traf-
tick OF the town is maintained. Neither
the peace. nor the want OF British com
merce. nor the Boston Bank manage
ment, supplies the necessities OF these
people: and still they are supplied
they are as well fed, and better clothed
than formerly How then has trade, in
the aggregate diminished: That trade
has fallen IN to many more hands, than
controlled it in time past, is very true.
And that many modern traders are
neither serving themselves, nor the
public, benefcially is true also; but it
still remains to be proved that the
amount of business is decreased.
1t is believed, however, that the open
trade of the country does not grow, in
equal degree, with the population.
The experiment, which the Legislature
has been trying for the benefit OF
poor debtors" has operated to put a
portion of trade under cover. How the
hopest poor are ultimately to be affect
ed by the experiment, can only be as
certained by the trial. They, at pres
ent, are utterly without CREDITOR the
reason that they are raised above all
personal responsibility The statutes,
having placed it at their option, to pay,
have done them the infinite mischief
of robbing them of all their ambition
to make an effort. These persons, de-
serving confidence, and who, under the
policy of the past time. found 1t re-
posed in them, are now entirely eX-
cluded from the books OF the professed
trader. But in every nelghborhood.
some individual of credit for money, is
found: and one too, who is ready to
stand between his poor neighbor and
his necessities, upon stipulated terms.
BY pledging his own credit, he procures
Tor his neighbor the supply Of lis
wants, at {. price enhanced 10y an inter
mediate profit Whether this system
will make slaves of the honest poor,
the experiment alone can test. That it
viii build up few individuals in each
town. with the sweat and the labor of
the poor is already more than probable.
Yet Ito one can doubt that the best III
terests OF the poor we're supposed to be
consulted i'll adopting the legislation,
that leads to these results.
y single glance at the future may
heIe be admissible. In estimating the
chances ot Belfast to take precedence,
at some future day, of the other towns
upon the PenobscOt, there is wide room
for difference OF opinion. The subject
a
very different aspects. Partially in
seusiby operates with some, and the
want of a knowledge of the whole
ground, is a source Of error in Others
And none may presume to pronounce
final opinion without hesitation.
1t is doubted perhaps by no one. that
some town on the Penobscot waters,
by common consent, will ere long be-
waters-Camdeu, Belfast, Prospect.
Frankfort, and Bangor, have each had
their preteutIons to this distinction.
We will consider them according to the
information We have obtained,-after
promising that two circumstances
must be kept III vieW-a common cen
tre and a good harbor. Camden has
the advantage of being nearest to sea,
centre: and the town is environed by
hills which forbids easy roads to reach
it from the interior. The site of the
town is pleasant one; the harbor is
small, and not easy of access. Bangor
has claims to great consideration. 1t
stands at the heads of summer naviga-
ton, about fifty miles above Camden.
The river is safely navigated to Ban
gor, and Will shortly be settled to its
sources: but the ice in the river sus-
ponds navigation four months in the
year, and time will produce as MANY
clusters Of houses and stores as there
may be found mill seats on the river.
Frankfort, at the head of winter navi-
CATION might be considered as the natu-
raj rival to Bangor, but the map shows
its location, in relation to the interior,
to be unfavorable, calculating that
trade is to come principally from the
north and the west, both Frankfort
and Prospect, are in some respect, in
Sulated; and the formation of the coun-
try makes the approach to them any
thing but easy and direct. And ii at no
time the ice below Frankfort is inn
penetrable it is often found to be great
ly embarrassing and injurious to navi-
CATION. Belfast holds the intermediate
ground among the aspirants. Within
the knowledge of man, its harbor has
been twice only seriously blockaded by
ice, 1850, and 1S15,) in that respect
therefore it is greatly more eligible
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