The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-09-03


In the II years from 1920 to 1897
the total appropriations for public
buildings in Maine were $2,158, 055.5O.
In the eleven years that Governor
Burleigh has been on the committee
on public buildings the appropriations
for Maine have amounted to $685.
10000.
Another matter in which it is gen.
orally conceded that Mr.. Burleigh per-
formed a signal service for his State
was the
Securing of the U. s. Arsenal Property
at Augusta for the State of Maine.
When Mr.. Burleigh received a favor
able report on the project from the
war department, the committee had
adjourned for the session, and 1t was
said that 1t was an impossibility for
any action to be secured. However,
Mr.. Burleigh got them together, and
secured unanimous report in favor
of the transfer of the property. The
superintendent of the Maine insane
hospital has said that the property 10
worth $500000.00 to the State.
In the seth Congress Mr.. Burleigh
secured an appropriation of $14,400.00
for a lighthouse and fog signal at Isle
au Haut.
Governor Burleigh was one of the
Earliest and Most Active Supporters
of the Rural Free Delivery Service
He was one of the most active men
in Congress in securing the benefits
of this service for his constituents,
with the result that no district in the
country Is better covered with these
Id toe, TIT NJ
Maine. He has received many hun
dreds of letters from people who live
along these routes. both Republicans
and Democrats, expressing their per
sonal appreciation of his prompt and
ef1icient work in looking after their
interests in this direction.
Mr. Burleigh has been an indefa-
tigable worker in looking after
The interests of the Union Veterans
of whom he has large number in his
district. More than 5000 of them Tin
Guiding widows of veterans), both Re-
publicans and Democrats. will bear
testimony to his good work in this
direction. At the very beginning OF
his work In Congress he started set
of record books upon which every
case was entered as 1t came to him.
Upon these books are recorded all the
facts relating to each case, including
copies of the communications relating
to 1t received from the pension de-
partment. When we consider the
fact that these cases and the com
munications relating to them run into
the many thousands, the enormous
amount of work involved will at once
be appreciated. Mr.. Burleigh felt
that only by keeping such complete
and systematic record Of this great
work could he hope to accomplish the
best possible results In handling 1t.
The fact that he has been able since
he has been a member Of Congress
to assist In the adjustment of more
than 5000 of these cases is the best
possible proof of the soundness OF
this judgment.
Since he has been in Congress Mr..
Burleigh has secured
Fish from the Government Hatcheries
for important waters in all the coun-
ties In his district. II is a matter OF
record that he has In every instance
been able to meet all the requests OF
this character from his district and
not once has any application of his
been turned down by the United
States fish commission.
After the death of Hon. Charles A.
Boutelle, Mr.. Burleigh was unanimous
" chosen to represent Maine on the
National Republican Congressional
committee, which position he still
retains.
We have touched upon some Of the
more notable results Of Mr.. Burleigh's
work in Congress-results that need
not fear comparison with those at
tanned by any other member OF that
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