Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-11-18
City or Town.
| wa,srrsIie semtinei.


Former Chief Justice Emery has written
! a letter to the editor of THE ELLSWORTH
| AMERICAN urging that Ellsworth absn-
den its city charter and return to the town
form OF government. Judge Emery says
that under the city charter Ellsworth has
had more Offices, more politics and more
Petty quarrels over the offices than it had
when it was a town. He asks IL, along
with these things, the poor have been
better cared for, the cost Of municipal
administration reduced and the public
debt lowered.
Formerly" says Judge Emery, 1--WE
assembled ourselves together in open
town meetings; inquired into matters;
asked our questions; in the words Of
Elihu to Job, said, 'Harken unto me,
also will shew mine opinion criticised
openly and effectively. Now we growi
and critcise on the street corners, in the
barber shops, stores, etc, where it has no
effect"
This view of the case raises anew that
| much discussed question as to when .
town becomes so large that it may be
said to have cutgrown government by
town meeting. There is no fixed rule for
guidance in the matter. There are towns
in Maine which are larger than some OF
the cities. The great county Of Aroostook
does not contain q city, but in 1910 it had
five towns each OF which had q greater
population than the city of Ellsworth. In
1910, Houlton had 5,ss5 inhabitants,
Caribou, 5,s77, Presque Isle, 5,17s, Fort
Fairfield, 4.3s1 and Fort Kent, 3,710. In
1910, the population OF Ellsworth was
3,549. But it should be said with refer
ence to these Aroostook towns that some
of them are considering the advisability
of asking the legislature for authority to
turn themselves into cities.
The census of 1910 showed other towns
with population in excess Of 5000. Thus
Brunswick had 6,621 inhabitants, Rum
ford, 6,777 and Skowhegsn, 5.341. Names
largest town ia Sanford in York county.
Sanford is larger than either of the cities OF
South Portland, West brook, Ellsworth,
Gardiner, Haliowell, Rocklsnd, Brewer,
Old Town, Calais, Eastport and Saco.
That is to say, Sanford is larger than any
one of more than half the cities in the
State. In 1910 the population of Sanford
was 9,0i9. 1t is claimed that it is now
10000. And Sanford has gotten along
with its town government, although 1t is
perhaps a fair statement that il it con-
tinues to grow Sanford will soon join the
cities unless it is cut into two towns.
1t is thus shown by the figures that
there has been no hard and fast rule in
Maine as to when town should become
city. 1t is q matter which is wisely left
to the people of the town itself. The
legislature almost invariably, when asked
to grant city charter, has added to it
referendum provision. There is force in
the argument made by Judge Emery with
reference to Ellsworth. That munich
pality clearly is not too large to be sue
cessfully managed under town form of
government. fhe neighboring town of
Eden is larger. Ellsworth is smaller than
any one of large number OF towns in the
State. On the other hand. there are cities
in Maine not much larger than Ellsworth
which are apparently perfectly satisfied
with their present form of government,
and would not think Of surrendering
their charter.
| bar Harbor Tiuses.l
| Houlton wants city charter, but for
mer Chief Justice Emery says that Els
worth should adopt the town form of
government. Local pride may make
Houlton q city and may prevent Ellis