Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-05
CERTAIN FACTS WE OUGHT TO
KNOW

sage a0mon1SheS us and never was
one armed in a more worthy cause
than the truth. Trouble has arisen
in the past because what the de-
tenders occasionally armed them
selves for was mistaken for the
truth although In fact gross error.
In no way may this calamity be
avoided until those who are called
upon to arm are able to recognize
the truth, and in this country that
means all those who enjoy the privi-
lege of suffrage. In other words
people who vote should know what
they are about.
Something like this appears to
have suggested a need to the State
Chamber of Commerce and Agricul-
tural League. President Gulnac an
Aounces it's belief that the success
of our present system of government
depends upon the public taking an
intelligent interest in public affairs"
and he adds: eff our actions are
based upon suspicious and preju-
dices we cannot build permanently"
One might infer from this that he
thinks suspicious and prejudices are
interfering with constructive work
find those who will conclude that he
has grounds.
In furtherance of this project the
organization issues three pamphlets
- e
Land Grant to the European and
North American Railway Company
of 1865" History of the Public
School Lots" and History of Wild
Lands of Maine" Now while it can
not be expected all the story could
be told in detail in small pamphlet
of eleven pages such as is that in
which is compiled the History Of
the Land Grant, ETC., it is gratifying
ito note that it summarizes the
salient facts pertaining to this
transaction from which the obvious
conclusion is that some of the wild
assertions such as 'land steal' and
the, kind were made by those not
couversant with conditions or not
disposed to become informed.
Briefly the facts pertaining to the
effort to open up railroad communi-
cation between Bangor and the st.
John region are presented. The
enterprise was begun before
the Civil War. -he need was
apparent. Attempt was made to Sc
aura E,odoraJ oSc;ctapoo tho pronocad
road being in the nature of military
necessity in event of trouble be-
tween this country and Canada. This
being unsuccessful the matter
dragged along. Lands through which
the proposed road would run were of
little value neither enriching the
owners nor the State. Massachusetts
had claim on some of those lands but
declined to aid by relinquishing this
In favor of the railroad. Space does
not here permit review of all the
steps taken in bringing this effort to
will afford some idea of the situation
existing at that time and explain
why the State acting in good faith
and under the advice of intelligent
conscientious public spirited men
made the grant for which it is now
accused without evidence:
"The lands granted to the Euro
pean & North American Railway Co
and the Bangor e. Piscataquis Rail-
way Co. when sold brought about
S279,000.0O, an average per acre of &c
cents. The low price obtained was
because of the fact that the timber
on much of the land had already
been sold. So it can be seen that
the aid granted by the state on the
to Vanceboro and from Old Town tc
Katahdin Iron Works averaged pei
mile $2,416, very much less than the
$4,000 per mile as was intended by
the Act passed in 1864. A study OF
the increase in taxes (1s70 to 1SSO)
from the section of the state bene-
flied would show receipts greater
than the amount received from the
sale of the lands. .,
"This grant to the European and
North American Railway Company
has been referred to as the crown
ing calamity of the wild land
tragedy and called the State Steal.
in which millions of acres of the peo-
pies lands were decided away to- .
private COEpOIatioHs III ohS Sooo ~
statement has been maze that q
careful estimate shows that about
100000 acres were given away by
that deed, which the Governor Of the
state signed. The railroad as g
matter of fact, was constructed fol
a distance of about twelve miles
but the deed had been signed. sealed
and delivered and thus ended the
rights of the people in all that wal
left to them of great inheritance.
''The facts are that on May IL
1858, Governor Joshua L. Chamber.
lain, as authorized and directed BY
the legislature, signed deed calling
for 100000 acres more or less. This
deed mentioned 80 townships. In
many of which the state owned nc
land at all. The tot,l number Of
acres to which the state had title and
which were decided to the European
g. North American Railway Company
was about $4,000 and to the Ban.
gor & Piscataquis Railway about
$4,000 or a grand total OF about 1885,.
600 acres. On about 100000 acres Of
, this the timber had been sold by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,, Sc
only the soil was conveyed to the
railway company. On about 100000
acres more the timber had been sold
by the State of Maine for the bene.
fit OF the permanent school fund
In the case OF the former there was
no time limit in which to remove the
timber. in the case Of the latter the
purchasers had until 1884.
This grant was no hurried affair
as can be seen from Governor
Nt,nvS Nt,Ar1 lot -