Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-19
To Investigate Ownership
Of Malaga Island.
New Labor Legislation Which
Takes Effect on July |.
Timely instructions Regarding the
Rescue Of Drowning Persons.

State Land Agent Mace and Attor-
ney' General Pattangall, pursuant to
an order passed by the Governor and
Council have begun an investigation
to determine whether Malaga island
in New Meadows river is within the
jurisdiction of any municipality in the
State.
Malaga island is located off Phipps-
burg and at the mouth of New Mea-
dows river in the eastern part of
Casco bay Neither Phippsburg on
the one side of the island nor Harps-
well on the other will admit owner
ship of the island and it has been for
many years a source of much trouble
and perplexity to the State authori-
ties,
The inhabitants of the island are a
mixed race. who make their living by
clam digging and fishing. Because
they belonged to no town and were
illiterate and unkempt the inhabitants
were i'll treated when they left their
island home to visit other towns. 1t
was only a few years ago that the
children had no school privileges but
the visit six years ago to the island Of
Capt. and Mrs. George w. Lane of
Maiden. Mass. put an end to those
conditions. When they came the is
landers knew no Sabbath and only
three people among the $50 could tell
the time of day. If they went to the
mainland they were stoned and If to
a public meeting were required to set
by themselves and not mingle with
other people. During the first sum
mer that Mrs. Lane and her daughter
were at the island they gathered the
children in a small room of a two
roomed house and begun the almost
hopeless task of teaching them.
Mrs. Lane very soon saw the need
of suitable building and when State
Superintendent of Schools Payson
Smith agreed to equip the building
and pay the salary of a teacher Mrs
Lane set about securing funds for the
building which were raised by public
subscription among the people In
Maine and Massachusetts and in 1909
a school building was built costing
about $1,000. The parents are not as
Ashiftless as formerly since the coming
81 the Lanes to the island and Sun
asy services are held in the school
house. Several new houses have also
been built recently on the island.
The present teacher of the school
provided by the State is Miss Mary
L. Jordan. whose salary is paid by the
State and Miss Potter, who has
charge of a course in Domestic train
ing and whose salary is paid by Maine
Club women. mostly in the city of
Portland. The educational depart
ment of the State looks after the
school as if it were school in an UNI
organized township and Capt. Lane.
who made the first effort for the bet
terment of the islanders. is the school
agent.
Should the investigation now in
progress determine that the island
belongs either to the town of Harps
well or the town of Phippsburg. its
people will thus be definitely located
in. either Cumberland or Sagadahoc
county and one or the other of the
towns will be Obliged to furnish
schoollng.. for the children and aid for
:. thef6]6ex Inha bitants when in bad sea-
11 66y are unable to get a living
&x6lnn1ing or fishing. Such de-
{f0alid also relieve the State of
5i embarrassing situation and
H. @d6rab1e amount of expense from
N4 IL year The presence of the
scnopI on the island helps. however. to
better conditions and the generation
of young people now growing up on
the island will be better able to cope
with the world than are their parents
for in addition to what is learned from
IL L.
tials of good housekeeping and the
boys are given instruction in the use
of tools