The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-01-13

rapid advance In Its wealth and various de.
partments Of labor. The valuation OF real
and personal estate In 1921 was taken at $50.
962.778, In 1880 at S2S. .s07.6S7, in 1910. at
S60, ,246.288. In 1850 az Sl00, ,969, and
in 1860 it will not fall short Of $4,000. 600.
The tunnage Of the several districts Of the
State in 1920 was 67,27i tuns, In 1880 70,5S5,
In l8i0 10000, In 1850 6i6.G00. and in 1856
was $4,000 tuns, an amount equal TO ono
sixth part of tho entire tunnagc Of the ma
ton. There were, In 1920, l4.2i7 tans of
vessels built in tho several districts, In 1910
there were 65,50s, in 1850 l49.907.
Tho estimated value Of capital invested in
the various branches Of manufactures In 1920
was Sl,459,450, in 1910 S7,l05,620. In 1850
Sli.7O0, 900. and $25,000.o00 in 1859.
The annual value Of manufactures Of all
descriptions in 1920 was S3.058.000. In 1850
1t was estimated at S2i,66i,l35, and at the
present time cannot be less than $4,000, 900.
In which estimate lumber Is not included. the
annual value Of which is not far from 81 .000.-
900.
The agricultural capital in 1898, irSluding
improved lands, buildings, cattle, farming
utensils, &c., was estimated at S30,7a7 ,255,
the number of acres Of improved lands being
753.O76. The capital invested in this pur-
suit in 1850 amounted to $66,S52,03l and
there were 2,039, ,596 acres Of land under i'm
proyement. The increase in the products OF
the soil, in quantity and quality, will be found
to be in proportion to the increase in the land
cultivated. In 1920 there were 1885 neat
cattle, in 1910 327,255, in 1860 3i3,339, and
for the same years respectively, the products
of corn, wheat. oats aud rye were 1881,
| 2,Sl3,O4i, and 4,230,26S bushels.
The aggregate average Bank circulation
from 1920 to 1925 was 5000. l05, while for
similar period from 1854 TO 1859 II was near
ly S5,0O0,O00. The amount of capital in
vested In works of internal improvement up
to 1910, was less than $l,L00,000 in 1850 1t
was between S5.O0O,0O0 and S6,0O0,000. and
at the present time there are estimated to be
| Sl7,8OO, 900 invested in railroads alone.
These estimates do not embrace large a.
mount Of capital, in the aggregate, employed
| in various small manufactures and mechanic
pursuits, which have sprung up in tie inte
rior and along our lines of railways and which
give profitable employment to the people who
conduct them on their own account.
This glance at some of the leading branches
of the productive industry Of the State, omit.
ting, for want of accurate statistics, many
| important interests which have recently grown
up among us, and others which have been
greatly Increased, all which contribute TO the
general wealth and prosperity, sufficiently in
dcates the rapid progress made in the various
departments OF agriculture, commerce, man
ulacturcs, mechanic arts aud in works OF in
ternal improvements; and that at TO equal
period in. our history has this advance Ueen
so marked as the ten years now closing. The
progress in agriculture, evidenced in better
til,age, improvements in stock, the va.
riety, qsantity and quality Of crops, the pro.
duct of the orchards, the dairy and the gen.
orally improved condition Of iarm buildings
and farm implements, within the last few
years, is especially noticeable, and evinces the
thrift Of that class Of the people engaged In
this pursuit. Our navigating and shipbuild-
ing interests have greatly increased, placing
the State at the head Of the class OF ship.
building States. Manufactures, under q
1 liberal policy held out to capital, have been
stimulated and greatly augmented, are In q
generally prosperous condition and may be
regarded as established upon sure footing.
and will, it is to be hoped, in time, stimulate
other branches OF industry,
Neither should the fact be overlooked here,
that beside these evidences of material pros
pcrity, this latter period has been character.
lied by efforts of the great body of the peo.
| pie for the Improvement OF their social and
| educat ational interests and that these efforts
| have been successful is seen by an obviously
elevated public standard Of sobriety and in.
tellgcnce.
Nor have the people Of the State been re.
miss in provident care for the future devel.
opment of its natural resources and adyanta.
Thar hav hae
constructed ana now in operation, something
more than FIVE hundred and fifty miles of rail.
way at an expenditure, almost entirely by our
own people. of moro than $ls, 900, 600.
Aware Of the important influence Of rail.
road facilities in conercial affairs, and Of the
natural commercial advantages Of our posi-.
ton, a State policy was early indicated by the
Legislature which should make Maine In
these respects, independent Of other commu-
mites upon the Atlantic coast; and which
should eventually afford II equal advantages
In securing the trade OF the interior-the
great producing region Of the nation. 1t was
perceived that in any plan for the accomplish.
ment of this object, there were obviously two
points of incalculable importance to the
growth and development Of its material inter
ests and its true commercial independence,
namely, the connection, by railway, Of the sea.
port towns with the interior Of the country, |
and the British Provinces, our neghbors, con-
tiyuo,s to us, whose natural intercommun. |
ica,ion is through our territory; and to afford
10 the trade and travel between Europe and
this country railroad facilities to an extreme
eastern port OH this side tho Atlantic, giving
the shortest possible sea voyage between the
two continents. The first point in this sys.
tenn has already been secured by the compile
ton of tho Atlantic aud ST. Lawrence Rail-
road, connecting, rs it docs. with continuous
line of railway, Of surprising excellence nna
capaci,y, which extends westward through
Canada to Detroit; thus making our seaboard
accessible TO that vast region, the "Great
West" and our principal seaport town the
Atlantic terminus Of q portion OF tho trade
and travel of the great lakes and their natu.
raj outlet.
The importance Of this enterprise Is al.
ready seen in the rapid growth OF our chief
commercial city, the facilities opened to our
interior towns for direct trade westward, and
the amount of transportation that already
finds its way from the remote interior. with.
out ,ranshipment, to the Atlantic. Its pro-
spectiyc Importance Is incalculable, an APP
proximate estimate of which can only be
made in connection with the prospective aid
probable development Of the resources, set.
Element and growth of tho vast regions OF
Canada West; of the great lakes and the
valley Of the Upper Mississippi. the great pro.
ducing region Of the nation and whose sapac-
lilies are sufficient for the habitation and sns'
,enancc of one hundred millions Of people.
whose outward market must be soush' Sue
Ailsnt;c seabo,rd. and who. following the
ns,nYsi channel, TO the ST. Lawrence river;
their shortest practicable route to their II',
,n.,. d.s,;,s,ion. When Il Is considered 'na'