Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-07-23
agricultural
0cine as She Is and Is to Be. No. 2.

cess of Maine. Our first settlers were
without much means, and had to struggle
hard and long against the many incon-
veniences incident to the first settlement
of a country. Forests were to be felled;
fields were 10 be cleared and fences built;
dwelling houses. barns. school houses,
churches and mills were to be erected,
and roads and bridges were TO be built
1t is not rational to suppose that our
pioneers could in year or even in half
century, overcome the distractions in
terposed in their path and become sud
denly rich.
Only few years ago many Of our
farmers. as well as other classes, were in
debt, our few small capitalists found 1t
more profitable to place monkeys on the
poor mans chimney to watch his estate
at IS per CT. inveStment-than to invest
his money in manufactures.
Our former legislatures pursued
parsimonious and ruinous process OF
legislation or raihera want OF legislation,
towards the Investment of capital in our
State. Ii would give no encouragement
TO invest capital among US. Ii would
not even exempt manufacturers from
taxation for term of years. Had il not
been for this parsimonious legislation we
might have had our Lowells in Maine.
Our population might number 1000. Zoo
instead Of zoe, 900. We might now have
$50, 200. 900 more taxable property. A
shame on such legislation.
Water power owners were frightened
at generous offers. They had not the
capital to improve them. and feared that
others might become rich, and, perhaps,
that the State might flourish. But Tor
these Gardiner might have been one OF
the greatest manufacturing cities in The
United States. II Wa only by staying
the mighty rush OF the kennebec at
Augusta, and by ARE ing the precipitous
course of the AndroScoggin AT Lewiston
and turning it inland, that suitable manu-
featuring powers could there be obtained.
neag transportation. ., lair rates.
These adverse conditions have barred
progress in this State. 1t has driven our
young men and women, the pride and
dependence of Maine, abroad TO seek
employment. II has made agriculture
di>reputable lthaS left our surplus lands
unimproved IL has Suh>tr,cted 10000
from our population. 1t has wrought
injury to our interests.
\ vision of hope has dawned for Maine.
Coming events cast their shadows before
and foreShadow future for Maine.
Farmers have thrown oil their incubus
debts, and are not now subject to the
grinning mortgage There is not that
draft on farmers aS formerly. Many
farms are under good improvement.
Farm buildings have been rebuilt aud
repaired, and have improved so per cent.
in 2O-yearS. SchoolhOuses andchurckcS,
y
are already built Our roads and bridges
are built and are in good repair. Capital
Is accommodating in the hands o(the farmer
which is seeking profitable investment.
Foreign capitalists have attentively list
ened to each word that has dropped from
our Commissions whom the wisdom of
our Legislators has sent forth 70 seek out
the hidden treasures OF our State. Their
suspicious are excited that the facilities
Tor investment will give balance on the
cash page of the ledger. Native and for
eign capital is being invested. The iron
horse with his brazen lungs is suorting
far up our rivers and valleys; and the
mountains are giving back the echo of
Improvement.
Our railroads, threading our whole
state, are Offering facilities for the trans
pOrtation OF slate. iron. wood, lumber,
ship timber and farm produce. They say
20 the money owner. 1--WE Will transport
your raw material 10 the foot of the water
falls, and return Your manufactured arti-
Giles to market Maine has 9O1 miles of
railroads finished. anc under contracts;
and 25S miles in prospective. Weare On
railroad race with "a abroad speed We
have all built, contract, 4 tor and in prys-
pect that our present wants require, AID
,,,, p,-apa Warrant
Our mines and 9uarries have been prof
tally worked, considering the amount Of
capital invested. They can in the future,
with the facilities which our railroads Of
fer, be more proftably wrought.
Our wood and tin. er in the interior
viii remain in quaint u srtfcit, for the
purposes oi smelling, manufacturing and
building.
Our State Legislature by its acts. AMI
some OF our towns by their votes, are now
offering inducements ior investment in
manufactures. They are unbending from
the ruiuous policy formerly pursued.
They plainly foresee that $4,000 added
TO the valuation of their town. or $50, 900,
600 added to the States, in ten years, is
not 70 be overlooked.
Again, it is foreshadowed on their WIS.,
ion tnat these investments VIII add hun
dreds tothe population oftheir towns, and
hundreds OF thousands in the population
OF our State. And sgain, that this influx
OF capital and population will create de
mand for trades and farm products. that
will infuse new life through all the de-