The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-04

pOLD Oboof'D ~
100 Ii 1912.
rho Commercial Prospect Of Portland,
To calculate the future of Portland from
the past with any degree of accuracy, it would
be necessary to make allowance for variety
Oh circumstances whose influence will only
begin to be felt at some future time. The
elect OF these circumstances can be indicated
only in a very general way. The growth q
Portland in the past has not been RAPID. III
1910 our population was in round numbers
$4,000. In 1866 it was 10000 In twenty-five
wears therefore, it had doubled, which is about
the rate of increase in the country at large.
This was much greater than the increase of
the State within the same period, which was
only about SO per cent. Our population at
the present time is estimated at not less than
$4,000. If within the next twenty-five years
it shall increase no faster than from 1910 to
1866 it would be in 1894 only $4,000. This
increase is hardly equal to the average in
crease of those American cities that pretend
to flourish. Between 1850 and 1860 the pop
ulation of Boston increased from 10000 to
177,00O; that of Brooklyn from 10000 to
$4,000; tina tof New York from 515, 900 to $685.
go; that of Cincinnati from lis 900 to 1G1 900:
that of Baltimore from 10000 to $4,000:
that of Mobile from 10000 to 10000; that of
Milwaukee from 10000 to $4,000; that of
Chicago from 10000 to 100000, while it now
numbers not less than 100000, and that of
Portland from 10000 to 10000.
While, as has been shown, the growth of
Portland has just kept pace with that of the
whole country, it is a law of our national
growth that the cities advance in population
much faster than the country. In the ten
years from 1870 to 1900 the country popula-
ton increased 80 1-2 per cent, the cities
q 3-4 per cent. In the next ten years the
country increased 81 10 per cent. the cities
6034. Between 1910 and 1920 the country
increased 80 1-3 per cent, the cities 81 IA.
The cities gain more and more upon the
country in every decennial period, the high
est ratio being in the period between 1910 and
1850, when the country increased 20 IS per
cent, and the cities S4 1-2 per cent In 1900
the city population amounted to one in every
eleven of our whole population; in 1860 it
had grown to one In every five. 1t is evident,
therefore, that if Portland is to become a
great commercial center, new conditions
must be introduced to accelerate the growth
of population. a -s -.r
The growth of Portland has hitherto heen
limited by surrounding circumstances. Cities
are acostyluxury and can rarely flourish where
there is not rich and populous inland coun-
try as the foundation for their greatness.
Chicago is great because that is the great dis
tributing point for a large section of the Mis-
sissppi valley. New York feeds upon our
foreign trade. Boston is the distributing point
for the manufacturers of New England. All
these cities have been developed just in pro-
portion as the country to which they minis
tered has prospered and grown populous. It
is commerce that builds up cities, and those
who live by buying and selling can thrive on
ly as those who produce and consume what
is bought and sold, increase In numbers and
wealth. A fine harbor cannot make city,
Commerce may be facilitated but not created
by it. ..
1t is the limited development of the sur
rounding country that has cramped the devel-
opment of Portland. Though Maine is rich
in undeveloped resources, her territory is far
from being fully peopled and her inhabitants
as general rule though well to do, are not
wealthy. Capital in this State accumulates
SO slowly and such vast accumulations will be
required to develop our resources to their full
capacity, that the time required for this pur-
pose will be counted in centuries. Emiprants
for the most part without any considerable
capital, go by us to the more tempting regions
of the West, where what they have will be
more Immediately available. 1t can only be
when these more promising sections are oc-
cupied, that the tide of emigration will flow
back over our territory.
AS it is impossible at present to build up an
extensive commerce with the products of
Maine, it is with instructive wisdom that
Portland stretches out herarms to the vast
granaries of the West, the North West and
British Provinces. 1t is to these localities
that Portland must look in the immediate
future. A large part of the agricultural pro-
duce Of the lake region ought to find its way
to foreign countries through this port and
will do so if proper facilities for Transports
ton are provided. The fact that the St. Law
renee is frozen part of the year will give
Portland an advantage over that route which
ought to be decisive.
The great grain growing regions of the North
west are as yet but partially developed. To
provide profitable outlet for their produce
would not only give them great impetus but
would enrich the channels through which
they passed. The city of Buffalo has profted
immensely by this trade, and her population
increased between 1850 and 1860 from $4,000
to 81 ,O00 This shows the splendid prize
which is within the reach of Portland, If she
can, by welldevised railway system, defect
the lake traffic in this direction. -. !