Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-01-14

mate It's capacity TOT mtEIiut ptVSP0stsJ
and may learn that while Providence has
not ade it attractive by an exuberani
fruitfuness and blandness Of climate. il
has not on the other hand been subjected
to those extremes of cold and heat which
are prejudicial to life, but that u''de :
serene and invigorating skies, with pro-
vident amplitude, BY its external forms,
its relative situation, and by the variety
, and nature of its internal resources, it
has been ftly designed for the habitation
of a people of complex civilization; and
that that will be found to be. the true
policy which recognizes these natural
aptitudcs and ees in the development Of
each the essential progress of tho State.
Agriculture is undoubtedly our prime
interest; first in rank, first in magni-
tude, first in excellence; in it the great
body Of the people are employed; 10 It
mainly the States owes Its progress in
population and those improvements
which contribute 50 largely to its. wealth.
An agricultural class seems to be in.
dispensible to the constitution and pro
servation ola republican Commonwealth.
Without regard to the mere produce
ton Of wealth, suppose the agricultYral.
class produces only as much as sufhcssa
for the plentiful support Of all its mem,
bers, and no superabundance, as accumu..
lated profit; still they have attained the
highest end they have cultivated and
made productive their land. maintained
their families and reared them in indus
try, honesty, and those manly qualities
which are the reliance of society and
States. That occupation which produ-
ces man in his best cond ition, 10 incom-
parably better for society than any sys-
TEN however profitable.
How shall this important interest be
advanced: 1t has essentially two needs
"a better cultivation Of the settled. and
settlement Of the wilderness portions Of
our territory. .---
Of the twenty millions acres contained
within our limits, four. and one half mil
lions only are in farms, and one half Of
these only what are denominated i'm
proved. These farms are cultivated by
about $4,000 farmers and 10000 labor
ers. They are generally fruitful and
we'll adapted to the various purposes Of
agriculture and favorable to the growth
of most Of the vegetable productions Of
the northern States With reasonable
Improvements and better cultivation
they would afford profitable employment.
and support 20 many times the number.
now engaged, furnish occupation at home
for the surplus population that now goes
abroad, and greatly swell the aggregate
agriculture Of the s. ate. OF the unset.
tied lands there are perhaps 100000
acres in the valley Of the Aroostook.
and as much more in the counties Of
Piscataquis. Somerset and Franklia.7-
These lands will compare favorably with
any in the settled portions. The Aroos-
took region has been described as "a we'll
wooded region, equains in fertility the
famed regions of the western States. and
capable even under less congenial cline
Of producing wheat and other grain fully.
equal in abundance with any soils Of
which we have any record The i'm
provement Of one portion and the set
t.ement Of the other, it is obvious would
have most important bearing upon our
growth and prosperity, and would rendei
the State capable Of sustaining o vast
population. Provision has been made
for the formation Of societies under the
patronage Of the State. for the promo.
ton of general agriculture, and also for
State Board of Agriculture for similar
purposes. and which, doubtless, will
prove useful in disseminating informa-
tion and stimulating aSriculturists to
greater efforts for Improvement.
During the past year an active emf
grafton has been going on into the coun.
ty of Aroostook, giving earnest of the
speedy settlement Of tnat region, and as
the same time inviting the aid and CO.
OPERATION of the State.
A need Of more accurate information
to aid the immigrant has been much felt,
to supply which, in part, as we'll a. fer
the use of the legislature to facilitate in-
telligent legislation upon the subject Of
the wilderness portion Of our territory,A
map has been prepared under the direc-
ton Of the Land Agent. to be placed in
the capitol, giving on a large scale the
topography Of these sections. Other
State. are constantly making efforts to
bring their respective sections to tho
favorable notice of the public, at home
and abroad. Geographical surveys have
been made, and statistical reports pub
lished and circulated. pointing out the
advantages and resources of their respec-
tive count les, with view TO invite inn
migration thither. There would seem
to be occasion for a. similar effort by
this State. 1t is to this kind of ilfor-
nation, l am informed by the Land
agent. mere than to any other, that the
State is indebted for the immigration
now setting towards the Aroostook.
What additional legislation is requit,
ed and what methods need to be adopted
to facilitate objects so important, arc
questions wholly within your provinces
to dcte rhine. 1t should be observed;
however, that in any measure designed
to promote general agriculture, the fact
that it may never be expected to COM
pete with more favored regions in tho
markets of the ccuu ry, should net bs
overlooked. 1t will always require tho
hig or and better prices Of local or homo
demand, and hence will need to be de.
veloped with the general growth Of man.
ufactures and mechanic arts. No mere
adventurous aids would be desirable-
would do more than excite temporary
a.