Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-01-14

may be safely said that no more remark
able docamcnt relating to the colonization
of this continent has appeared The SO
ciety and the State are to be congratulated
upon affording the auspices under which
this work is to be made public.
PRACTICAL INTEREST.
My attention has been called to the i'm
perfect manner in which orr land survey,
are made. which leads IL much o
the litigation brought before our courts
The recommendation OF the Commissioned
GU the variation Of the magnetic needl,
tina, meridian lines marked ~ stone mon
uments he established in each county ID
fix a standard for the true cardinal points
by which each surveyor shall be required
to correct his compass. appears to me a
valuable suggestion.
Scarcely any measure We have entered
on promises better results than the proyis-
ion for the Report upon the Water Power
OF Maine. A preliminary report wa. Is
sued last year to meet the urgent demand
but the edition was exahuste d mmediatel,
and the expectation is more earnest still
for the final report now in hand. There
is available Water Power in this State to
The amount of a million horse-power-a
power eqnal TO that of 5000 600 of men.
No one can failto see that the seat OF mann.
features of New England is vet TO be with
in The limits of this State. When we
consider that in Massachusetts, and Ri ode
Island. water power is worth from 30 TO
to : 400 per horsepower. and rents in some
places for so per anum for each horse
power. we see low immediate and great a
source OF wealth lies IN this single item of
our natural resources. And 1t requires
only a little foresight and breadth OF Wis
ion to comprehend all the benefit. that
will flow from the full occupation OF this
TO every branch of native industry. 9th
er States are moving in this matter anx-
ious 10 make the most Of what they have.
our work should not ssop short Of aiiording
the practical advantages TOE which i, was de
signed. Ii must be born in mind that the
active interest OF the several localities has
spared us the expense Of photographic
Survey proper. aud the work hitherto has
been carried on with great econemy. We
NAV with the more freedom make the
moderate appropriation necessary To- sat
isfactory completion Of the Report which
the accomplished .>uperlntend ut now has
in preparation.
The Railroad enterprises IN the State
are now pnshing on with all vlgor. but It'll
under disadvantage. | have before VEN
tured the opinion that the burdens which
the towns were taking upon themselves To
secure the building OF railroads might bed
found too much for them. Consider too
that while these loans drain - heavily up
on the home capital. the bonds are sold at
a ruinons sacrifice When Town pledges
all its available means. and then is dis
counted By 20 per ceut.. 1t seems 10 me
not an advantageous way to carry on n
public enterprise. Pardon me If ! weary
YOU repeating that it would seem better
that the State should give her endorsement
10 such enterprise. she deems vital 10
her advancement, providing 10y ample re-
against the abuse Of the coEccs-
son. and securing herself by lien or mort
gage agains, the actual payment q del
ar on either interest or principal. There
: no railroad 10 this State which would
DOT pay wcll upon $4,000 mile. sup
pose the State should endorse the bonds "
road to that extent. taking proper sccur-
tv for tho payment Of both inicScst and
principal from the earnings Of the road
The result would be. think. that the
bonds would be negotiated al par or nearly
10. and outside the State. which j. lie
as bringing capital Ia. Home
,apital would beleii for investment IN
lctI,e enterprise Instead 81 adding
burden to the people it would actually
-elieve them. Ia my opinion this would
ne safer. less expensive. and more effective
han our present system, and better than
grant. Of public lands.
What shall We do ior our Arnortaok road
or example. where We cannot expect nor
allow towns TO take the burden On ihcml
How can We Justly leave Washington and
Hancock counties to cut thvir way through
4 difficult country by their uNn unaIdcd
strength, Or why should single city
and lis neighboring towns assume i
ask which il really for the benefit OF the .
whole STATED
DO not pretend TO be able 10 present
plan sufficiently guarded and effective. but
submit the matter TO your Judgment and
skill
Since our shipping interests have -
much declined We are not reaping tile foil
advantages from ogr wonderful coast: but
here is one way in which We NAV partly
repair the evil /; that is by opening rail
roads to the sea. Bring hither the prod /
nets of our rich fields and busy factones-
he treasure. of the North aud bosndless
larvesis of the West-make our deep har-
,ors the business outlets OF he great lakes
the ocean terminus Of ihr ishiy path
way which traverse half the continent:
,ring hiiher also foreign ship. 70 exchange
acre the products of distant lands. and You
viii thus make Us not only more PROSPER
rus in wealth. but IN that higher culture
. hlcb comes from contact with older CIV
liza,ions. and the broad recognition of
,ther interests. and other men than those
within our own borders. There may be
40 more than single port upon our shore
II which all this eau be achieved. but this B
= i'll he vital centre which will send life I
through all the State.
There is great need of revision OF the
statutes and | su- gest that YOU make pro
vision for this a, tic present session.
Nv attention has been drawn TO resO-
ution introduced at the last sessions pro-
sding for biennial election. Of State OF
tcers and sessions Of the Legislature. II
strikes me as worthy Of consideration = 4
The people are overtaxed aud overburden
I'd with elections. This weight is felt more
as business interests are more active. aud
the demands for fhe products Of industry
are multiplied. The respect for law and
its officer. is lessened by frequent changes
The excitement and disorder of political
campaigns il demoraIiziDg in its sifrcts-
A change to bienniel system would be a
vast saving directly and indirectly. We
should be more prudent in our legislation
aud in our expenditure The financial
is a stroug one. The year
1870 would be a favorable time to inaugu-
rate new system. commend the mat