Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-02-26

AMERICAN, goes BACK 70 the original
the previous republican
made to the power
He would give the impress
zion that this was the result of quiet
deal negotiated between the repre-
of the power company and
the previous republican adminis.ra-
ton. As matter of fact, it was the
of meeting which as
sumed the proportions Of a mass
meeting. The aldermen's room was
too small to accommodate the people
who attended, and adjournment was
taken to Hancock hall.
This meeting was held Saturday
evening, Sept. 80, 1905. The object of
the meeting had been widely adver-
tised, and the meeting was large one,
from 200 to 800 being present.
It was a representative gathering Of
citizens and tax payers of Ellsworth.
The proposition for the discontinue
ance of certain roads and bridges and
the relocation OF certain roads and
bridges was laid before the meeting
in detail. Several of the citizens
spoke in favor Of the proposition.
The meeting was entirely harmo-
nious; there was not . dissenting
voice.
As result OF this meeting, and
having secured the sense Of the peo-
pie as expressed at this meeting, the
aldermen granted the petitions and
passed the necessary vote authoriz-
ing the changes. The following vote
was also passed:
Resofred, That it is the sense Of this board
that in view OF the probable advantages to
accrue to the city OF Ellsworth from the in
vestment Of the large amount Of capital neces-
sary to improve and develop the water power
on Union river at Ellsworth, and the probable
lapse Of time necessary before such invest
ment will prove profitable, the board Of asses
sors for the year 1906 and the succeeding nine
years thereafter should place valuation of
not exceeding 100000 upon all the present
property Of the Bar Harbo& Union River
Power Co., in Ellsworth, and any dams, power
plants, pole lines, real property and equip
ments which said company may acquire in
Ellsworth in such developments.
II is this action of the previous
board that Alderman Stuart now criti-
cises. II he had been in power, it
wouldn't have happened. Fortunately
for Ellsworth, Alderman Stuart was
not in power, or We would not now
have the dam. We have positive
knowledge that il it had not been for
the friendly attitude Of the people as
expressed at that meeting, it would
have been impossible to interest the
capital necessary for the building Of
the dam.
In considering this subject which is
of so much Importance to Ellsworth,
the people must take into account the
difference in the situation from what
it was when that meeting was held in
September, 1905, and what it was the
past year. When that meeting was
held, the dam was simply a thing
hoped for, and it behooved the city to
give every encouragement possible.
During the past year, the dam was in
process OF building; it was too late
for the power company to throw up
the whole proposition, and they had
to submit to demands made by the
city government, even though some
of those demands were virtual abro-
cations of the acts of the previous
board endorsed by mass meeting OF
the citizens.
Alderman Stuart, the committee OF
one appointed by the last city gov
eminent to formulate an agreement
between the city and the power COM
pany, says that "after one or two
meetings contract acceptable to all
parties" Yves presented. Those zone
or two meetings., passed over so
lightly by Aid. Stuart, cover a multi
tude of chickering's between AID.
Stuart and Representatives OF the
company, not always creditable to the
dignity of municipal corporation.
If the spirit shown by Mr.. Stuart in
these negotiations had been mani
tested by the people of Ellsworth at
that mass meeting in September, 1905,
the action of which he 30 severely
criticises, the big dam would not be
standing to-day. The promoters
would have thrown up the whole
proposition in disgust.
The issue which now confronts the
people of Ellsworth is not so much
the dam as what the dam, may bring
us-new propositions, new industries.
Shall they be encouraged by the same
attitude as expressed by that mass
meeting two years ago, which resulted
in the building of the dam, or shall
we risk our future prosperity by adopt
ing the pettifogging methods of AL