The Portland daily press., 1868-04-21


geographic Survey last year, led us to hope for
an early publication of the report of the Com
missio lers. We learn however that the re-
port with its accompanying documents, incud-
ing local statistics from the several towns in
the State will make so large volume, that it
will not probably come from the printers
hands until midsummer, or later. The size of
the work was found TO be so good, that the
State printers were unable to get it out during
the session of the legislature. When publish
ed under the present arrangement, it will en-
body information from all the towns of the
State having water power, including much
matter not returned in season to be embraced
in the statistics submitted to the Governor I'M
der date of January 20, 1868.
In their report, the Commissioners say:
The climate of Maine though not so moist as
chat OF England, produces annually greater
amount OF rainfall, and is equally as healthy,
enabling operatives to continue labor through
out the year with less dimnution of strength
than in any warmer latitude, and there is no
reason to doubt that with full employment of
her water power in the most productive forms
| of industry, she could maintain population
| as dense as that now found in the manufactur-
| iLg districts of England. The cotton manu-
| features of Maine might compete with those Of
| Lancashire, as soon as the supply OF capital
could be as cheaply afforded to our manufac-
!. lures as to hers.
The Ordnance surveys of Great Britain so
| many years in progress and still INCOMPLETE
| give at a glance an accurate view OF every
| physical feature of the country. Every road,
| every house, every hedge-row, almost every
Tree in the kingdom, is delineated in a style
that enables the traveller, or proprietor of real
| estate to see at glance, not only its noun
tains, rivers, plains and valleys, but the exact
| position of each, and the character of the pro.
| auctions OF the SOL. By this means, the re-
| hottest district from the capital is made famil-
| lar to every one, and the value of landed prop
| erty comprehendea at glance throughout the
| entire realm.
| In such a work as this, our State would form
a most striking picture, from the number and
| beauty of the lakes of the Interior as compared
| with those of other countries; and when the
interior of our State shall be reached by rail-
| ways, he lands and forests upon the waters OF
| the PenobScot and st. John. now of trifling
| value in the market, would command prices
nearly equal to those in convenient proximity
| to the open sea.
| In vi, w of the importance of more exact
| knowledge of the physical character of our
| STATE, and a better acquaintance with districts
| hitherto inaccessible 10 market, the Commits
| soners deemed it advisable before making
minute surveys of particular districts, TO OBJ
| tain some general knowledge of the water
| power Of the whole State. Printed circular
| letters were sent 10 every city, town and
| from the municipal officers thereof in the be-
| lief that vast expenditure might be saved,
| in the labors of engineers by obtaining ali
known facts touching the " alter power of diff
| ferent localities in the possession of the munic-
| ipal officers of each Two engineers were ap-
point d, as will be seen by o,r records, in the
| expectation that returns from the several
| cities, towns aud plantations would be made
| ir such season, that surveys might be advan-
mgeously made the present year-the Board
hater a pn mi hat xr..1,11 1,o
pedient 10 send engineers into any town, until
| returns had been made therefrom. Many of
| the cities and towns delayed their returns un-
| i'll 50 late day, that any considerable expen-
| diture for uveys on the part of engineers
seemed mprac.icable during the past season
| Such results as have been obtained, will APP
| pear in The report OF the Secretary, IN which the
| water power OF the different towns in the State,
| as received, will appear In their regular al.
| phabetcal order. A large portion OF the ap-
| preparation placed at the disposal of the Gem
| mssionerS, still remains undrawn IN the
hands of the Treasurer of State, and will be
| applicable to future surveys.
The plan adopted by the Commissioners en-
abled them to present such mass of inform
alton as to surprise, if not overwhelm, the
| Legislature, ard it was thought best in full
consultation to perfect as far as possible the
| returns of last year, with such additional in
formation as was within reach OF the Secreta-
| ry and to suspend for the present the active
| work Of the survey. A resolve in accordance
with this view was passed, authorizing tie
Governor and Council TO appoint some suita-
BILE person to perfect as far as possible and
complete the returns from the different towns
in the State, and prepare them for publication.
To this place the accomplished Secretary of
the Board, Mr.. Walter Wells, was appointed.
The following correspondence between the
Commissioners and the Governor will be read
| with interest as explaining the present condi-
| ton of the matter. s
PORTLAND, March IS, 1868.
To HIS Eaceuency, j. L. Chamberlain, Governor
Sir The undersigned had tae honor to
| transmit to you on the Goth CT January last
! their report ON the photographic Surve, with
| a copy OF the 1ecords of their proceedings dur
| ing the year 1867, and they have to-day exam
ined with care your reference to the commits
| sion in your message to The Legislature, and
the several acts and resolves OF the Legisla-
ture in relation thereto.
In the inie rview with your Excellencv by
| Mr. Ha Min and Mr. Poor in the month of
| January, you expressed a desire that all these
| matters should be brought to the attention OF
| the committee on manufactures. TO whom that
/ portion CT your message was referred, and at
| the meeting OF said committee you were pres
| ent by invitation, and understood the opinion
| of the committee and other members of the
Legislature present. You were pleased to say
| to Mr.. Poor on the day after said hearing that
you should place the report in the hands of
| the State printers on the Monday 70 lowing,
| and advised as 10 the CORE ction OF the proof
| But as the mat ,er was not put into the print
ers' hands, or il SO placed there, was not car
| RED out by them, we are left without any in
| formation except what is derived f.om the ac-
ton of the Legislature. The resolve provld-
| ing for the publication of certain documents
| re.ating to the photographic survey of the
State, says "the Photographic Survey having
| terminated" the Governor and Council are
| authorized to appoint some suitable person to
| properly arrange and prepare for publication
the statistics submitted by the commissioners
| with their report. ~
1t appears by the act to provide in part for
the expenditures of the government. approx
ed March z, 1865 that the sum of eighteen
| hundred dollars WIS appropriated for the Hy-
| droGi aphic Survey, whIch was undoubtedly
| intended as a renewal OF the undrawn appro-
| priation of 1867. ~
| Under all these circumstances the commits
| sioners are left in doubt as to their duty.
| We are not informed what vaw your Ex-
| cellency takes of this. subject and we have
| carefully abstalned from any act or thing
| that should show desire on our part for the
continuance of the commission. We have,
however, deemed it proper before any final ac-
ton on The subject, TO lay the matter before
| you for instruction. 3t Fl ia 4tif
| We have the honor to be, very respectfully,
| your obedient servants, pls
JOHN A. Poor