The Portland daily press., 1868-01-03

If this Report does not prove to be eAacIny
in form or completeness adapted Tor poPPulaff
distribution, would suggest las the oJunnHwn)
appropriation for this survey II p9' u Com.
that the able Secretary OF the boarud mt itin
missioners be authorized to revise AZ az conntrv
proper form for distribution IN M, No Mains IN
and in Europe We must spare ~ P a4;, ~ ~
preparing the way for the speeuS VI
our unequalled facilities !o 5 ny,
and must make our action to-day accord with
the manifest destiny Oh Willie us SreaV so''
of the Industrial arts.
DISTRACTIONS IN THE PENoBscoT.
Ihad occasion in my last NJ ssage to refer to
the distractions low forming in the bed OF
the PenObscot River. i regret to say the &C.
casion still exists, and deem the matter OF SO
great Importance that / must again urge y
upon your attention Lest there shouu po
any doubt in your mind as to the occasion io %
this soicitude have procured pH Az
General George Thorn of the U; o. FL c IL;
to whom the State is much indepteu ior ms
deem Interest and valuable cooperation IN
measures which look to its advantage, coIy
of a recent survey of the PenooScot, DIV MI.
Sullivan, which shall lay before you at an
early dav. From this IT appears mat De9 y.
obstructions from slabs, edgingS and saw dust
extends from Crosby's Narrows to Bangor, a
distance of some three and half miles, Gov
ering an area of about 800 acres, and OF an av-
erage depth of ten feet, being in some locall-
ties more than Is feet deep, forming an entan-
The Report proceeds: "from all these examl-
nations it has been ascertaned that this river,
instead of having, as formerly, WIDE, clear
and unobstructed channel of three fathoms IN
depth at low water all the way up to Bangor,
has now narrow, tOrtuouS and uncertain
channel with but eight or nine feet at lowest
water" The restoration of the old river bed
would cost millions, and is not to be thought
of, but a passable channel could be made at d
cost estimated at from 100000 to S5oo,ooo &C
eIx, f.hc
still accommodating, and it needs no argument
from me to show that we cannot AFFORD TO close
the Peuobscot river and make Bangor an in
land CITY, 1 cannot but regard it'as my duty
to urge upon you 10 put stop, by suitable
legislation, to the process of filling up the
river, and then we shall be in condition to
appeal to Congress to clear the channel. 1t is
easier for us to remove the cause than the con-
sequences, and unless we do so it Will be idle
to expect the General Government to render
US any aid. H3l f-1 -ti
SUPERIOR COURT
The constitution guarantees to every citizen
speedy justice. 1t is worthy OF inquiry wheth-
er this pledge has been faithfully kept
whether in some instances the administration
of justice has not been SO impeded as to
amount to practical denial of it. 1t is our
duty to give this subject the attention 1t de-
mands. The rapid increase of wealth and
population in Portland and the neighboring
towns has long tended to accumulate business
docket OF that court in Cumberland now con-
tains nearly 1000 actions, in nearly all of which
the defendants have filed specifications of de
fence and are entitled to trial. The great
hardship of the matter is that defcnces made
only for delay shelter themselves behind &C.
tons which are ready for trial where they lie
in safety, their hollowness not exposed until
reached in regular course of business. With
this accumulation no action can be reached
under at least two years, and adding the de-
Inv for hos rd Nv n
average delay is three years. 1t is easy to see
that the course of justice is impeded here, and
1t seems that the time has come for the redress
of this evil by the establishment of civil
court for Cumberland county intermediate be
tween the Municipal and the Supreme Judic-
ial courts. | would therefore respectfully
recommend to your careful consideration the
bill proposed by committee OF the Cumber-
land bar and unanimously adopted at full
meeting of that body. 1t is believed that the
creation of such a court, with its limited ex-
elusive and large concurrent jurisdiction, its
frequent terms for jury trials andi's improved
provisions for the speedy hearing of law ques-
tions, would afford prompt and effectual rem
edy for the present evil. i.1 -rs.,. ~
.c.f JAFFA CoLoNIsTs
1t is well known that respectable party of
citizens of this State Joined in the disastrous
enterprise known as the Jaffa Colony" The
most distressing accounts of their condition
reached me during the last summer with pite-
Gus appears 10r The interference OF Inc state on
their behalf. As however they were beyond
our jurisdiction and reach, Immediately ad-
dressed communication to the Hon. VIM H.
Seward, Secretary of State, asking the aid of
the General government, in rescuing these un-
fortunate people from their distresses. This
request was most kindly and promptly met on
the part of the government, and after some
correspondence the Secretary informed me
that be had provided for the return to this
country of such of these unhappy colonists
-x1I Al
ferings of the colonists prompted our Consul
General at Constantinople, Hon. John H.
GooGenow, to take action for their relief upon
his own responsibility, and in great part at
his own expense. He visited the colony and
conducted forty-two of them to Alexandria,
Egypt, where Mr.. Hale, Consul of the United
States, arranged for their further conveyance
home. In dispatch from Hon. Edward j.
Morris, u. S. Minister to Turkey, Mr.. Gooden-
owls services in the matter are mentioned with
great app, obation.
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF MAINE.
1t is proper to refer to the happy results of
the liberal spirit of the State towards the prop
osition for the publication of the early docu-
mentary history of Maine. Under this encour-
agement the Historical Society commissioned
Rev. DR.. Woods to examine the public archives
of England, France, Spain aud Venice for
original manuscript records pertaining to the
discovery and early occupation of this portion
of the New World. To facilitate this desira-
BILE work the commission of the State was Civ
en- to DR.. Woods. and he has met with every
courtesy and cooperation on the part of the
Custodians of these archives. Under these ia
vorable circumstances a large amount of valu-
able material has been brought to light. This
will be embraced in volume illustrating the
progress of discovery prior TO the year 1000,
and eliminating IN the occupation of this
ground under the first charter of Maine in
1906 which was the dawn of colonization and
civilization in North America. The editing
of the work falls to able hands and it is easy to
foresee that this volume will be more i'm
portant contribution to our early history than
has hitherto appeared. The appropriation Tor
subscription 10 this volume has not been ex-
pended the past year and respectfully rec
Ommend that it be renewed as the volume will
undoubtedly appear in the course of the ensu-
ing year.
THE FISHERIES.
The fish commissioners have given much at
tentoD to their investigations in connection
with similar agents of neighboring States
They deem it, understand, entirely practical
ble to restore the fish to our abundant waters
which formerly afforded no small item in the
productive resources of the State. The fisher
les. on the coast also are an important interest,
and should be properly protected. The COM
plant is still made that the mechanical opera
tons for the production of fish oil have been
reckless, and the slaughter thus occasoned has
caused dearth of small and even of large fish
along our shores. There is some doubt about
the facts and their causes, but it may be that
the matter deserves your attention.
SHIP BUILDING.
The depression IN SO important a branch OF
our industry as ship building has reached a
point where we must have relief or abandon
an interest which has heen our pride and stay.
Not only do we see our ship-yards idle, and
maritime towns stagnating, but the ship-build-
ers who are among our most intelligent and
valuable citizens are driven from the State to
seek employment elsewhere. The loss is one
we can i'll afford to bear. The State that has
for years furnished a third part of the tonnage
OF the United States may well demand to be
heard in the Congress of the Nation, and there
are few subjects more worthy of attention than
the restoration of the commercial interests of
the country. Maine means to be fraternal con :
cilidtory and generous. Prompt in her loyalty
to the Union, she is still willing to deny her
self something for each of the peculiar inter-
ests of her sister States. But she does not be-
lieve that they will deliberately persist in a
policy whic must destroy her marine reliance
cripple her industry, and degrade her from her
appropriate station. The country cannot afford
to abandon the sea- and leave to foreign ships
even our own extensive commerce. I am aware
that it is not in the power of Congress to lift
the whole burden from our shipping. 1t will
take time to change the current of trade, and
we must still be subject to the laws of supply
and demand. Other places also which exempt
their tonnage from local taxation will still
have some advantage of u.s. We cannot hope
for the old prosperity; we only ask to he re-
lieved from so unequal burden, and that, SO
far as legislation can effect it, the chances may
be restored to us of tair competition in the
world.
AGRICULTURE.
Agriculture is all interest in this State too
import ant to be overlooked. There is no lack
of industry in this department but L still doubt
whether our agriculturists have that courage
and enterprise which our facilities call for
mr. paff 10