The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-01-16

healthful and prosperous condition OF tue
community Is also seen in the fact that de-
posts have increased by more than million
and half Of dollars, while individual indebt.
edness to the banks has decreased by still
larger sum. The Savings Banks of the State
exhibit an aggregate increase in deposits OF
more than two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, while the total amount Of their de-
posts is well nigh two millions. These facts,
together with many Others which will be pre-
sented in faithful detail in Report OF the
Bank Commissioners, are highly gratifying
and encouraging. They assure us that our
financial institutions are conducted with pru-
dence and honesty and they prove that not
wi.hstanding the many fears and predictions
to the contrary, our State has rarely had
year of sounder prosperity in business affairs
than the one which he's just closed.
PUBLIC LANDs-MILIrARY DEPENsEs-MILirIA.
The Report of the Land Agent will present
to you the condition Of that Department.
The proceeds in cash paid into the Treasury,
the past year amount to S25.777.27.
The State owns at the present time about
two million acres of land, OF which only
about one. fourth at the most, can with any
propriety be called timber lands.-The other
threeifourths pass under the name OF "set-
Ting lands" though a considerable portion
thereof is rocky. sterile and uninviting. The
best portion of the public lands, including
those sections in the counties Penobscot and
Aroostook, were with certain specified reser-
vations, granted to aid the construction OF
the Aroostook Railroad. by act of the Legis-
lature of March Sth, 1861. The grant was
l,., 81 nf ha aaf n
"take effect and be in force after the city OF
Bangor shall have voted to loan the credit OF
said city, in conformity with the act OF March
20. 1860, and not before"
On the 9th of March last, the question OF
loaning the city credit in aid Of the enter
prise was submitted to the voters OF Bangor.
according to the terms Of the act referred
to, and it was decided adversely to the loan.
AS the act ceased to be operative by its own
terms, on the succeeding day, the lands inn
mediately reverted to the State, and are now
in the same condition as to ownership that
they were before the Aroostook Railroad bill
was passed.
1t is greatly to be hoped that the effort
to construct this important line OF Railroad
will not be permanently abandoned. The
enterprise has not yet had fair trial. for con-
with its inception came our
unhappy civil troubles, deranging most Sc.
rously our channels of business, and putting
an efFectual check upon all enterprises that
involved time, labor and the outlay OF money.
But while the disturbed condition OF the
country has postponed the effort to construct
the railroad, il has developed and demon
strated necessity for it in larger sense
than was claimed when II secured the favor
able countenance Of our State Government.
For il cannot be denied that the experience
Of the past year has shown that while the
road may be highly desirable and advanta.
yeous to Maine, rs an avenue OF business, u
IS absolutely essential to the nation rs great
line of military defense. With the road tin-
shed to the eastern line Of the State, tapping
the valley of the st. John. our Government
could easily and effectually prevent the hos.
tile and dangerous movement OF troops by
the only nation that possesses any special
power 10 menace or injure us. Distant be
the day when we shall be at open war with
Great Britain and distant Il will be. If We
have the safeguards which the exisencies of
the times and the nature of our position ad.
nonish us so urgently to provide. shall
esteem it a privilege to cooperate with you
IN all measures that shall tend to bring this
very important subject to the attention and
The appreciation of the General Government.
In the last annual address of my honorable
he presented with eloquence and
[orce the great national advantages to be de-
rived from the establishment of naval and
military station at Portland, on scale pro-
portioned to the possible requirements of the
ruture. l can add nothing to what was so
we'll said on that occasion, and beg only to
repeat the suggestion, and to urge upon You
he propriety Of exerting whatever influence
the State may bring to bear. morally and ma
erially, to accomplish an object 80 desirable.
rhe commanding position Of Portland. the
and still more, the menaces OF the
past, to say nothing of the possible II not
probable dangers of the future, conspire to
lrse this measure upon our State and upon
,ur nation with the most impressive earnest
less.
Whatever may have been the differing
opinions among us prior to the present war,
n regard to the necessity Of an efficient mill
ia system, il may be safely affirmed that our
ate experience has produced very general
ceiling in its favor.
A movement in the right direction for re-
in the passage Of 'an act to enrol
he militia of the Sta,e.'-How far and how
perfectly the details Of that act have been
carried out, you will learn from the Report
# the Adjutant General. How far beyond
he provisions Of that act II may be expedient
% go at this time, I do not myself feel pre-
,ared to say, but respectfully leave the sub.
ect to your discretion. 1t may be worth
,our while, however, to consider whether. IL
you should complete the organization of tho
militia at this time. you will not lose the
raluable counsel of those who are acquiring
military knowledge in the best Of oil schools.
md at the same time ignore the claims OF
hose who have the highest title to whatever
military honors the State may have the power
10 bestow. How far considerations Of public
prudence and personal justice may strengthen
hese suggestions, irave to your unbiased
Judgment.
SCIENTIFIC suRvEY-AGRicULrURAL COLLEGE.
The Legislature of 1861 passed. y resolve pro-
riding for scientific survey of the State, and
1000 in aid Of the object. A
similar amount was appropriated by the last
legislature for the continuance OF the work.
The practical value of what has been done can
,c Judged by you from the Reports Of those
vho conduct the survey, shortly to be laid be-
ore you. II is understood that another years
work will complete the undertaking rs origi: |
,ally designed, and respectfully recommend
hat the amount be granted for the purpose.
Whatever tends to develop knowledge Of
he capacities of the State, is certainly worthy |
II our highest encouragement. With our i'm |
nensc area, our varied resources, cur unparal-
e,ed advantages for commerce, and our bound
ess facilities for manufacturing OF all kinds, |
,ur State should take rank for wealth and pros |
,erity with the foremost Of the Union. But
se are as yet comparatively In our infancy
)f our % 900 900 acres Of land, not more than
has been brought under even nominal
Our mineral resources remain al |