Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-18
Misee1lame-o n g..
Governors Address.
Gentleman Of the Senate,
and House of R.nre spnfotirps.

Gentleman OF the Senate,
aud House Of Representation:
g. The crisis is now favorable. The high
duties laid upon foreign productions as a
necessity of revenue for the payment OF
the interest ON our National debt will tend
directly and for years to come, to encOur-
age home industry and the developement
of our natural resources. The Interna!
! Revenue System will be forced to such a
modification as to tax profits only and not
to cripple capital, and give new impulse
to enterprise. In comparison with the ad
vantages which will ultimately accrue from
this state Of things, even so enormous a
public debt as ours will be scarcely worth
a thought. And now is the moment, when
surplus capital abroad is seeking locations
for profitable investment, when thousands
of our young men have come home aud
are considering the subject of business
and settlement for life, and when the
friends of Maine must take large views,
and spare no pains nor reasonable expense
to bring before the minds of enterprising
and far seeing men the superior and ex-
traotdlnary advantages she present, and
inaugurate, if possible, a new era for the
State
The numbering operations Of this State
constitute an important feature of its ac-
tiy,ties. This busines. during the past
year, has been exceedingly large and has
yielded unusual returns.
The branch Of industry for which Maine
has been hitherto most distinguished is
that of ship building. With population
of half million she has for years furnished
a third part of the tonnage Of the United
States. At the present moment this busi-
ness is not profitable. but still many Of our
staunchest citizens, trustful Of the future,
are keeping up the prestige of their yards.
Commerce is not active, and our fisheries
have fallen of from ventures Of former
years.
Agriculture, under all its disadvantages,
has still been our chief resource as means
of revenue. But it has scarcely yet reach
ed with us the dignity Of a science. nor
have we even made it successful art
The knowledge requisite to supply the de-
fcient elements Of the soil or to restore
exhausted ones, and the skill to develope
its latent powers have had but little charm
for those whose minds are busy with dreams
Of easy fortunes abroad. Our young men
accustomed to work hard for meager re-
turns, and ignorant Of our own rich soils
as vet undeveloped, and easily won by
glowing accounts Of soils where nature
has forestaled the labor or skill Of man,
and of harvest vast and fruitful beyond the
highest rewards of toll at home Ac.
knowledsing with pride the richness Of
those regions in whose prosperity we all
claim a share, we must still remember that
mere fertility of soil is not the only thing
to be considered as means Of prosperity
Nor to speak of other drawbacks, the dis
tance from market makes the farmer de-
pendent on transportation mOn0pOies. So
that our exuberant West has, OF late, wit
messed the spectacle of her thrifty farmers
reduced to the desperate economy Ofburn-
ing their grain for fael while all tho civil.
ized world was crying for bread. The
advantage Of near market, il and will be
more and more, ours. This avails in ways
which might not be obvious at once. Oar
farmers. for example, may not be able in
this climate 10 produce from their sheep
the fine woods of the Western States, but
they have the counterbalancing advantage
of ready sale for every part OF the animals
which makes the profits of sheep raising
equal to those of regions where the wool
is everything and the meat nothing. Our
rich pasturage affords peculiar facilities
for the raising of stock. and this has be
come an important item of our Agricuitur-
al inter, ST. great attention being now gwen
to the rearing of animals OF choice blood.
There is now therefore encouragement Tor
our farmers. and for agriculture as a pur-
suit The liberal policy of the State to-
wards actual settlers on her new lands is
inviting many; the explorations and sur
yeys have done something in this direction
the distinguished ability and zeal of our
Board of Agriculture whose Reports are
among the most interesting and valuable
documents the State has produced, cannot
fail of a wide and beneficial influence, and
the College of Industrial Arts when IN
operation will be the means OF bringing OF
NJ line the best appliances which science
and skill have mastered.
But il is manufactures that Maine must
look for her future glory. Such remark
allie facilities as she presents for enter
prise in this direction plainly indicate the
hart she is vet to take in the productive
industry of the world. 1t is manufactures
she must look for the discovery aud deve'
lopment OF her resources; for the cncour-
arement Of her Commerce and Agriculture
fnr the retention Of her best energies st
home. and for the inflow Of skilled and
nscful citizens from abroad. and finally for
the payment of her debt and the means OF
future revenue.
1t cannot be expected of me to present
an exhaustive argument on this important
subject. an | shall be pardoned however, if
| venture to urge that this great ln.eies'
receive at your hands emphatic encouf-