Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-07-30
BY WALTER WELLS


ny WALTER WELLS.
II need not be repeated that the only
hope of Maine for general and widely diff
fused opulence and large increase of pop
ulatiop. rests upon the Development OF
hes grea, manufacturing resources.
1t is upon this assurance that the ex-
ploration of the water-power OF the State
has been entered upon and thus far pros
ecuted upon the assurance that when
manufacturers beyond the State become
acquainted with the extraordinary meas
ures of mechanical force now running TO
waste in our rivers, they will make haste
70 come in and use it,
But we, the people Of Maine. who ara
most deeply concerned, have not in pro-
potion to ouropportunities andneceSsitie'
laid our own hands To the work ofdevelop-
ing our manufactures. The word is con-
tinually on our tongues-We must manu-
facture, we must set our water-powers at
workout we do not do it. The work is
done To be sure to some extent, but main.
IN by extra-State capital and enterprise
and at best inadequately. There are
multitudes OF water-powers in the State.
situated amongst well-to-do communities,
that have not commanded single hours
effort ora single dollars outlay toward
their development. Each man waits for
his neighbor to move, and all wait for
oatside capitalists or operators to come in
and do the work.
By consequence the State, Us contrast
ell with our wishes and our hopes, is
laugui>hing. is impoverished, and drained
of it, population peculiar and specific
gift ofnature, vouchsaled to Us in n meas
ure without parallel. is TO so large an eX-
tent PRACTICALLY neglected and condemned.
II is idle. with Whatever emphasis and
repetition, torecite the propositiou-man-
uiacturing is TO be the grand business of
Maine-unless we take hold and make it
our business. II is not expected of course
and will not be required ofuS, to dcvolope
our great water-p power alone, but We are
expected TO DO what we can.
But il is complained that many OF the
attempts already made in various localities
have failed. have resulted disasIrously to
all concerned; that nobody knew how TO
manage the business, and that finally out
sidcrs came in and swallowed up all there
WAS left 10 swallow.
This has been in too many cases true,
and the cause Of il is not far 10 seek. Our
frst-class Young men. young men Of tai
eni, education. energy. especially of cap
ital. have addressed themselves 10 other
branches OF eNertioR 10 The neglect OF
manufacturing they have not, except
rarely, served apprenticeship to manulac-
turing as an occupation they have not
learned the trade Accordingly, as rule
and comparatively. our own people have
been but indifferently qualified TO manage
manufacturing enterprises
Mr.. Lockwood of Lewiston. OH one oc.
casion, speaking of a manufactory. said.
Il learned my trade there" He learned
he trade. learned il thoroughly; and SO,
ample fortune. and the conduct of great
manufacturing operations have fallen into
his hands. Ii a bundled thousand dollars
were wanted for investment upon the WA
ter-power at Lewiston, il could be pro-
cured i'm Boston in IN hour; simply be-
cause The rich men OF Boston know mas
ter of the trade is in charge, and every
thing will be managed TO the best account
80 then, would have our young men,
in particular young men Of brains and
money, 90 into manufactures, and learn
the art, learn il especially as conducted
by the use of water-power, in which our
resources are so great learn it AS they
would profession, and instead of pro
iession' There are plenty of commuui-
ties the wealthy men of which would
gladly unite in establishing manufactures
if only one whom they know TO be thor
oughly trained. and in every way reSpon-
sible. and in whom they have an interest,
stood ready TO guide and control the work.
But We need not only wider advertis-
ing of our resources, not only n more lib
eral appropriation OF our money and siren
uous education of our home talent TO the
development of those resources, but we
need also national policy, continued or
initiated, that shall make il possible for
the infant enterprises of our State to get
upon their feet and gather strength to
stand alone. We do not ask protection
to industries for which nature has made
better provision elsewhere, or for perma-
ncnt protection at all; but we do need
temporary bulwarks against the over
whelming odds of the concentrated capt
tai and paupcr labor Of the old countries.
until we have made good beginning.
What we want, then is-while inviting
others 10 come in and utilize and share
our advantages--to take hold of manu-
featuring ourselves, and as business for
all time, to train our youngmen to it; and
lastly 10 stand shoulder TO shoulder with
those who demand protection for home
industries in this earlier and feebler stage
Portland Press.