Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-01
A Call to- DUTY.
BY request the Journal repeats the fol
lowing communications

"'Twixt optimist and pessmist
The difference is droll:
The optimist, the douShnut sees
The pessimist. the hole"
Il deplore the pessimism of the
East. Come West and see our Young
men setting forth to their life work
with hearts swelling with hope and
lofty ideals" said President Angel Of
the University of Michigan.
Possibly it may be not so much a
case of pessimism~ as of Indifference,
to which | call attention. Be this as
it may, there's call for action. If T
We're to impress one sentiment upon
our people, it would be the very COM
monplace. but y-considered one,
''There'S no place like home" We
who live in this most excellent city do
not fifty recognize do not fully an
preciate, its manifold advantages and
its manifest beauties. Its natural
giores. the lives of it's strong men liv-
ing and dead. its grand public institu-
lions, its fine commercial facilities. all
these are Il common heritage and are
common blessings, so common indeed.
that. like the pure air We breathe and
the pure water We drink, they pass
unnoticed and unappreciated This is
wrGng-all wrong. We need to cult
vate a more open mind, a more per-
ceptiNe and receptive spirit q more
loyal determination, if YOU please, to
boom our own town. In all the Sis
terhoOd of cities in this land ! know
of no one which in general environ
mentS, in the character of its homes,
in the quality of its citizenship, in the
stability of it's public and private in
stitutions and organizations, can excel
the good city of Augusta. And |
know of none whose Immediate future
holds better promise.
Within the next few months there
Will be expended for permanent public
Improvements close to three quarters
of Il million dollars. Three hundred
and fifty thousand dollars upon the
State House. making it not only the
architectural pride and glory OF the
State, but fixing the seat of govern
ment in this city forever Two hun
dred thousand more on the POstoffice
transforming this already beautiful
structure into one OF the finest Federal
buildings in the country A hundred
thousand to abolish our dangerous
grade crossing and as much more in
the State hospital for the insane-all
this money to be expended in perma-
nent improvements and to be put into
circulation. in large measure, among
our people.
We have already. expended a large
sum upon our roads, and today have
more miles of macadam ways than
can be found in any city in the East,
outside of metropolitan district We
have added to our High school not
only very fine building at a large
expense but we have included courses
of study which place our schools in
the very front rank. among the small
er educational institutions.
Naturally g trade center, our mer-
chants have caught the spirit of the
times, and today we have as fine stores,
as well stocked with attractive goods
at attractive prices, as can be found
east of Boston. The hundreds of peo-
pie that are daily pouring into our city
by carriages and steam and electric
lines, all testify to the excellence Of
our trade facilities and to the
courtesy and fair dealing that they
inland section. but from way down to
the coast. they are coming to Augusta
to do their trading and to make strong
and growing the ties of commercial
life. Our wholesale houses cover the
entire State. Our banking institutions
are among the strongest in the State.
indeed they are almost phenomenal:
for with a population of 10000 people,
we have a combined deposit of fifteen
millions of dollars. Our churches. of
all denominations are literally sup
ported. and number among them some
of the most substantial and beautiful
edIflces in New England.
Augusta. the Capital of the State.
the shire town Of the country. rich
IN traditions. strong in the quality of
It's manhood, the natural commercial
center of this great and PROSPEROUS
valley your home and my home, is
entitled to the loyalty and the devo-
tloh or all her people. 1t has long
pech time. it is emphatically now
time, to recognize these facts. to an
preclate the blessings that lie round
about us, and with loyal hearts and a
determined spirit to get together for
augusta. G.. S HICHBORN