Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-23
MAYOR RoeERTsoN's ADDRESS.
The City Of Augusta and Its Man,
Points of Interest.

Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
When as a boy studied geography
learned tina. Augusta was the capital
If the State of Maine situated at the
mead of navigation on the Kennebac
years in Augusta las led me TO believe
that the seOSri PHI book did not tell all
the truth. Augusta, to many of us old
fellows. is more than the capital of the
State; it is the center of the universe
Of our affections. the hub about which
all the re: of the world rcvolres. AMI
It is not the head of navigation on Ken
nebec waters. That head it at Ham
mOnd'S Grove on Lake CobbOssecontee,
where my steam launch is now locked
for the winter AMI where divers menu
hers of vouI board are used to navigate
the veasty waves Ct that inland sea in
crafts of various sorts from punts to
Finances.
| love Augusta. It's not my mother
town but is my foster or perhaps step
mother town. The best years of my
manhood have been spent here. Here
have done my life work he it good or
i'll. Why. gentlemen, l cannot walk
Your streets or enter your places of
business. without me ating those whom
l have tried, in past years, to make bet
ter mon and women to fit to do we'll
the work of life. Sometimes that FL
hess had to be brougl about by other
means than tender smiles and gent"
words. I would not be surprised if
within the sound of my voice there
We're some whom. to make item VIII 1T
they are today l may have had to
but I forbear lest 1 should provoke
something other Than applause.
During the years of my residence
hero | haze seen Augusta grow. There
have been no booms. Orr growth has
Lot been by fits and starts but, on the
whole, that steady, healthy growth
which develops the healthy, hearty boy
to the sturdy, strong man. We have
grown in population ana generally in
population of the right sOrt-industri
Gus orderly, law abiding and wealth
producing. Our business growth has
been of the. right sort as witness or
productive Industries, our factories. our
mills. and our mGrtS of trade. Follow
Water street from the foot of RineS
Hill to Cushnoc Heights and See our
business blocks. Where will YOU find
another city Of our size in which such
another street Of such buildings car be
| found, everyone of Which is an eVi-
den"e of our growth in matcria! well
! being. And our educational, intellcc-
| tua. and moral growth has kept pace
with that N population and wealth
| Visit our school buildings and GU
sChools-lrc we not proud of them:
! Aigit
| show, fine us it is in housing, in ar
rangcment and in the contents of its
shelves, but something that our peo-
pie use and grow better for the using.
Visit our churches of a Sunday and OBJ
| serve our people as you will find them
/ there. In all these you will find evil
dcnccs of our growth and of or
strength today. and promises and
prophecies of our future. Indeed Au-
gusta is Il good city in which to dwell.
| And we arc the capital of our goodly
State and are going to he for all time.
/ That grand old granite State House Oh
| the hill rooted i'm the solid granite bo-
SON of the Kcnnebcc valley is there 10
stay. All the forces of the west cannot
avail to draw ii to the shores of Clsco
| i;ay. There is no force in all the east
to drag it from its foundations and
transplant to tho Penobscot valley. For
all future time our law makers will meet
here. We shall feed them and Civ,
! them to drink-of the pure waters
! which we are going to have.
Verify. verify I say unto you. gentle
men, Augusta is Il goodly city wherein
to dwell. and l am glad and proud 10
speak her praise.