The Portland daily press., 1870-09-28
A Lesson 10 Maine.

Mr.. EDITOR:-The following incidents In the
legislation, of Massachusetts, are not without
instruction to Maine in the present crisis of ito
industrial history.
On the 18th of October, 1885, before the adon-
ton of the Constitution of the United States J..
wilsbe observed, Messrs. Crancb, Clarke and
Bowdoin of the Massachusetts Legislature
were appointed committee ''to view apy new
invented machines that are making within this
commonwealth for the purpose of manufacture
ing sleeps and cotton wool, and report what
measures are proper for the Legislature to take
to encourage the same.' In accordance with
the report of this committee resolve was
passed, 10th November, 1885, granting the sum
of e2OO, "to enable them (the builders of ma
chines) to complete the said three machines.
and also roping machine, and to construct
such other machines as are necessary for the
purpose of carding, roping, and spinning of
sleeps wool as we'll as of cotton wool"
Again, in March, 1887, on the petition of
Thomas Somers for aid in building machines
for carding and spinning cotton, it was order
ed, with a view to encourage the aforesaid
| manufacturers, and to give the said Somers an
opportunity to give specimens of his abilities
| said petition, that there be paid out of the
| public treasury, by warrant from the governor
and council, EGO. to be applied to the purpose
| aforesaid"
Again, with a view to encouraging the cotton
mandatory then getting into operation at
Beverly, the following resolve was passed, Feb
II, 1889: "Whereas it is essential to the inter
ests OF this commonwealth to encourage with
| in the same the introduction and establish
ment of such manufactures as will give the
most extensive and profitable employment to
its citizens, and thereby instead of those emit
grations that are ruiaous to the State, increase
the number of manufacturers, who by consum-
ing the productions of the soil will add to the
value of it, !" therefore be it resolved
that there be granted and there hereby is grant.
ed the sum Of $500 lawful money in specie, to
the corporators and in aid of their enterprise.
The conditions affixed to this grant were that
the corporation should manufacture during the
ensuing seven years the amount of fifty thou
sand yards of cotton cloth, or falling of that
should repay $500 to the commonwealth at the
expiration of eight years from the date of
grant.
In 1870 the Beverly company appeared before
the Legislature asking for further aid. 1t was
granted to the amount of $1,000 on condition
that bonds be given that the money be actual
ly appropriated SO as to promote. etc.
The Beverly enterprise was the first under
taken and carried into execution in this coun
try for manufacturing cotton. The failure o
that undertaking would have been ATTENDED
with great disadvantage, not to Massachusetts,
alone, but to the country at large. The legis.
latare Of Massach usetts had craftsmanship
enough in it at the time, MT to insist upor
the principe|that it is not tn business of Sta to
to experiment with machinery, or to run cot
ton mills. The question was then and there
just as it now is here, what can the State de
to stop ''ruinous emigrations," to make bust
ness for its unemployed citizens, to develop 1T
resources and add to its wealth and population
In the attempt to do something they did no
hesitate to take money from the public treas
ury to help even private individuals and singl,
corporations. The State OF Maine, which nov
brings people across the ocean to till its lands
gives them farms for nothing, and supports
them until they are able to support themselves
has not yet done for manufactures any.
thing proportionate to what she is thu
doing for agriculture. The parallel of tina
would be placing manufacturing priv
leges free Of cost in the hands of Sim
provers, and giving them direct aid in the ear
ly stages of their efforts. When, then, the
next Legislature get together to consult fol
the public oncerns-manufacturing with the
rest-they will doubtless not forget what the
State is doing for other interests and what
Massachusetts did in the days of her poverty
WALTER WELLS