Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-26

or New Harbor and nearer than Schol.
ars from any other part of the town
But there is another point which tn,
proponents did not bring up, which
appeared in evidence, Notwithstanding
the fact that there are less than II
towns and cities in the State of Maine
that maintain two High schools, the
voters of the northern part of the towr
of Bristol, which had been so abus'
ing those of South Bristol, which has
driven them to this Legislature ask
ing for Il divorce. appropriated at its
last March meeting $500 to erect an
addition to their school building and
to establish and maintain Il. grade
of High school for the special personal
benefit of the inhabitants of South
Bristol. They charge that this building
had not been erected and that the Off
GERS were remiss in their duties, when
as a matter of fact, the educational de-
partment in this building only o. KID.
the specifications and authorized its
construction, late in December. so that
it was physically impossible to have
the building erected ready for use at
this time. In the light of these facts,
granting the separation or division of
this town?
Now. we are down to the question
as TO who is asking for a separation.
Bristol's population is 2400, and right
here. gentlemen. | want to let this sink
in, 141, or but six per cent of the popu-
lation of the town of Bristol, asks for
this division. and do not let the fol-
lowing escape Your notice. "a, or over
one third of these petitioners pay only
poll tax. And remember this, that
one-half of the real estate owned and
represented on that petition is nom
resident owners. Now there is but one
logical conclusion to be reached. Any
member present is aware of the fact
that q. eoterie of wealthy men from
the great metropoiises oftthe East have
their eyes fixed upon Names fairest
Summer resorts and these parties, with
their stupendous wealth and mighty
influence, like a great octopus are
reaching out their tentae1es and lay
ing hold upon our most valuable assets
in this line. And one of these tenta-
cles, gentlemen. has been wound
around this little island mentioned.
one man. owning one-third of Ruther-
fords Island has had ii fenced in and
not one foot of it can he purchased
by any except those of his class. And
| have it from reliable authority that
he and his friends own mortgages on
a large percentage of the rest of that
island.
Now. we do not want to exclude these
do want to be excluded by them and
crowded off the earth, as it We're. They
come to this Legislature by this bill
asking you to give them this island
that they may fence ii about that they
may establish here a miniature Eden,
and by that | do not mean Paradise.
in Heaven or upon EARTH but a little
Bar Harbor, where they can congre
gate and hibernate, as it We're, several
in the year, excluding all 9TH
ers. where they will not be molested
by the sordid pursuits of life and or
binary pleasures, and where they will
be exempt from the tax necessary to
maintain the municipality of which
they are a part. for support of its
construction and up-keep of
its highways, over which they must
pass to get to their little personal par
adise. We freely admit that they are
the island, that they are ere
ating property, increasing its values,
hut do they create the island and ma
ture? Rutherford Island, with its lit
tie bluffs, beautiful wood-covered
knobs, charming little bays and eddies,
enchanting coy spots and the peninsu-
lar of South Bristol so happily situated
was the work of the Great Architect.
1t was, and is and should forever re-
main a part of the town of Bristol.
which rocked the cradle of it's infancy,
not stand alone, and if the influx of
summer visitors to this summer place
bring values to it, and if there be any
benefits to accrue to anyone. to whom
should it so fifty go as to the old town
of Bristol to reimburse it in part for
the loss of it's great ship building in
dustries, through the failure of a gov
eminent to foster and protect it. This
Legislature owes a duty TO its munich
palities and you will not deliberately
or gcarelessly, in defiance of the com
mand of the people of this State to
refrain from the division of townships.
divide. No, it is not a division but a
robbery of the town of Bristol of one
of its best assets, it's fairest child, to
feed the Unsuitable greed of non
resident plutocraey. I wish to second
the motion of the gentleman from Van
Buren, in the adoption of the majority
report. (Applause).
Mr.. ROLF of Portland Mr.. Speak
er, IN tabling this bill, as / remember
1t, | made a motion that it should be
assigned for Wednesday of this week
instead of Tuesday and | supposed that
it was assigned for tomorrow. For
that reason, l move that the bill lay
upon the table and be assigned for
Thursday next.
Mr. SCATES of Westbrook: Mr..
Speaker. l understand that the gen.
tleman from Boothbay Harbor Mr..
Maxwell, who represents the town of
Bristol is not here, today, and that
he will not be here. For that reason
l think it is only fair towards the
gentleman who represents that town,
that the motion of the gentleman
from Portland CHR. Rolfe) should pre-
vail, and that the matter should be
ASSIGNED for Thursday