The Portland daily press., 1868-11-06
rms $500 per 0sanuas, Ia. adroDce.
Eight Wears Progress im ,.,i,.
The Augusta correspondent OF the Bostc ~
Journal writes as follows:

The Augusta correspondent OF the Boston
Journal writes as follows:
A circular iron, he DEPARTMENT Of the Ipte
ror TO the G"Vein@i Il Maine, issued last sum
mer, equeste.. b. nation 10 The Commission
OF the Land y q S 20 The progress of Maine
% !rou 1850 to 1868, in population, wealth, maDu-
ddctuIlng Industry, and OtleV kindred topics.
IN, me Governor placed this communication in
me tne hands OF Hon. John A. Poer OF Portland
bns answer, whose report to His Excclltucy
@S ranil lust been made Mr. Porr's report covers
RE; 70 SIX distinct interrogatories
rIst-Popuiation.
EgecohdoNaluation of propertv
u ~ t-Gapital .Iptal Invested in manufactures
tn9 the talualon Of manufactures for tbe wear
Fourth Railroads finished In .-..
projected. -
Fifth-Commereia facilities, embroc;re b,r.
burs, rivers, canals, railway connections. &c.
Sxth-City and town population.
He regards the condition OF Maine rs more
hopeful than at any pesio1 since 1896. when
Tue ant-improvement policy was established
IN the State through unfliendly legislation 10
Tall Dads and manufactures.
Name is fast becoming independent in her
commercial policy, and is enabled 10 supply
herseI win w eStern produce and foreign lnl-
potts without any dependence on BOSlo on or
New York. She has aiteadv the b st eonnec.
ton with the West lkeiy to be soon ilnproyed
with additional lines already in nconteoInlatipu
she has now IN operation 577 miles OF railroad
3l4 additional III les OF railroad Ia PROGRESS. ihs
cost OF which will exceed S9,000000. with some
200 miles more Of lines in Contemplation, but
NOT III actual progress or under contract
Ihere are in Maine fOrty-twO towns and
GlueS, whose population at this time exceeds
'VOO lnhaDltants. Mr.. Poor estimates the pop
nlatlon OF Portland, July l. 1868 at 20 S57 /:
Bangor, 1884; Lewiston, IL O52; BddsE,rd
9lOo; Augusta, 9JS2; Baih 9275; Rock land
oAVv; Oaiais, ooIl; Westbropk, 6i73; Saco, $685.
Auburn, $40; Belfast, 5727; and the pDpula-
ton OF the whole State at 6SSO71 or a gam of
nine per cent. since 1850, the principal portion
OF which is due to new railroad undertakings
ana increases attention to manufactures.
In 1850, Portland, Cape Elizlh and West
brook had population OF 34374. MIR. Poor
estimates their present population az 40 500,
an increase OF 6135 from 1860 to 1868 Saco
and Biddeiord had a population OF 10 576 in
looo-estlmaled ed population in 1868, l6 39l
gam OF S25 since 1860. Lewiston and Auburn
nsc nad III 1870 population OF 1882; in 1853 H..
326. gain of 4.734 These estimates of bIr
Poor are less than the popular impression.-
The population of Lewiston and Auburn is es-
tlmated as high as 10000 by many Of their own
citizens. There is no doubt that their popnla-
ton IS rapidly on the Increase. The capital
already invested in manufactures in Lewiston
Is adequate TO support population OF 80 000
on the same basis as Lawrence or Lowell
There are many who believe the united pOpu-
latlon OF Lewiston aud Auburn is greater than
the population of Bangor, and those san.uine
enough to believe that Lewiston and Auburn
VIII IN 1880 contain more population than the
city of Portland
Mr.. Poor estimates the value of the products
of industry for the year ending July /, 1868, at
Sol ,2S7 ,695. as against S38 1913 234 IN 1860.
Inc most interesting portion OF Mr.. PoOr's
report, however, relates TO the commercial fa-
cllties OF Maine growing out of the long line
OF sea-coast with its one hundred harbors the
nearness OF access to the West, and its adj
vantages for receiving large share of the Eu-
ropean trade ON the completion of her roil-
road system, reaching eastward 70 Halifax
northward to Montreal, and westward to Chi
cagO.
These are some of the most important facts
set forth in the report, and its publication will
be received with interest. 1t IS replete with
valuable suggestions, though many of Mr..
Poors estimates are evidently in the rear rath-
er than ahead of actual results. There is no
doubt that the sentiment of Maine strongly
sympathizes in Mr.. Poor's hopeful views, aud
the Governor has been foremost among those
regarded as enthusiastic in the belief of
Names future greatness.