The Republican journal., 1908-11-05
WANT TO BE SET OFF.

WANT IO BE Sci OFE.
Two years ago, a petition was presen-
ted to the Legislature, signed by nearly
every voter in Isle au Haul, asking that
the islands Incorporated in that town be
set off from Hancock and annexed to
Knox. 1t was referred to the committee
on towns, which gave hearing, and the
arguments adduced were conceded to be
strong ones. But the proposition was a
new one to most of the members, and it
was deemed the wise and conservative
course to let the matter stand over till
the next session, but without prejudice.
Now the subject will be renewed, and an
equally strong petition will be presented
and pushed in concert with the move
ment in other towns Immediate action
will be urged. -Rockland Opinion.
The other towns are Stonington and
Swans Island. The people of Swans
Island are said to be united and earnest
in favor of the change, y while the people
of Deer Isle are reported as "rather in
different on the subject" The grounds
upon which the towns ask for the change
are briefly set forth in the Stonington
petition, which reads as follows:
To the Legislature of Maine: The I'M
dersigned, citizens of the town of Ston-
ington, respectfully represent that the
aforesaid town is situated so miles from
Ellsworth, the County seat of Hancock
County; that they have no regular means
of communication Herewith by land or
water; that their nearest railroad station
is in the city of Rockland, the county
seat of Knox county, with which they
are connected by daily boat in winter and
by boats making two trips per day in
summer; that Rockland is their distrib-
uting point and trading center, on and
through which all travel to and from
western towns must pass.
In view of these facts, and in order
that our legal and mercantile business
NAV be conducted with more expedition
and with less expense, your petitioners
hereby pray that the aforesaid town may
be set off from Hancock County and be
annexed to and become part of the
County of Knox.
Swans Island and Isle au Haut also
have communication by steamer with
Rockland, and the fishermen of Isle au
Haut can easily run across to Rockland
in their power boats, transact their bus
mess and return home the same day
All their business except legal and county
business is with Rockland, and if obliged
to go to Ellsworth the trip cannot be
made in less than three days and involves
considerable expense. We are not so
familiar with the conditions iii the other
island towns, but believe the request of
Isle au Haul a reasonable one and that it
should be granted.
The Ellsworth American comments ed
itorially on this proposition as follows:
Naturally the people of Hancock
county will be somewhat adverse to
losing any of its territory, and partic-
ularly such an important and hustling
town as Stonington, and may be depen-
ded upon to put up sharp argument IN
opposition to favorable action regarding
the movement.
With the result of the presidential cleo
ton practically assured there has been
a general and marked improvement in
business throughout the country. Since
the last reported month the national
banks have gained 1913, 1882, 900 in depos
it's; and not only has the number of idle
freight cars been greatly diminished ow-
ing to increasing business, but SO, 900 new
freight cars have just been ordered for
service in Pennsylvania and the iron mills
are receiving heavy orders for railroad
work. That the business depression in
cident to the Wall street panic did not
affect railroads that are not overcapital-
lied or mismanaged is shown by the fact
that in the last fiscal year the Chicago
and Northwestern railroad paid per
cent. on its preferred stock, per cent.
on the common and laid by surplus of
nearly seven million dollars. The Atchi-
son earned the regular per cent. on its
preferred stock, 5 1-2 on the common,
and had surplus of nearly two millions.
''P. S. May your old rooster be able
to crow after New Sd as he did after the
September election.
This is the postscript to letter from
Mr.. Henry J. Woods, which became sepa-
rated from its context in the makeup
of our local columns last week. This
week Mr.. Woods will have the pleasure
of seeing the bird in it's accustomed place
on the first page. This bird was drawn
by our local artist, Mr.. Percy A. Sanborn,
for the late William H. Simpson, and was
first engraved on wood, and later an cleo
trotype was made. 1t so pleased Demo-
cratic editor in Vermont that he wrote to
know if he could have duplicate, and
one was furnished him. 1t is bird of
good omen to city, county, State and
Nation.
A case in court in New York City has
brought out the information that the
Croo,, Col6 Si1vor Coppapv a coz 000 000