Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-08-03
Eastern Naine-Its Present and Future,

MIR. EDITOR As the columns OF your
paper are ALWAYS open TO encourage im.
provement among the people. | ask this
opportunity 10 offer a few thoughts in re-
laiion Ia the present and future Of eastern
Maine. For years the people Of eastern
Maine have gained an honest living by
numbering and fishing. aud a few hav.
made small fortune. while most OF them
plod on, having become so accustomed 10
this kind Of labor that they seem almost in
different 10 any thing else. while their west
ern brothers are advancing and improving
But this source for gaining livelihood
cannot always last. soon the last pine and
hemlock will have fallen upon our hill.
sides. and the fisheries may not ALWAYS
prove a lucrative business.
To what then shall the people of eastern
Maine devote their energies. Whether
farming pays here, Twill not attemp TO dis
cuss, but let those answer who have tried
II in earnest. The manufacturing interest.
are very limited in comparison TO the abun-
dant privileges which the country affords.
Hancock county with a population OF over
S6-Vohas but one wooden factory, (and that
Is the only one east of the Penobscot
river two or three granite quarries. one
rope factory. one or two carriage reposi-
tories. and lumber mills of various kinds.
the most extensive being at Ellsworth.
Washington Co. has an Iron Company at
Pembroke, and few minor factories for
carriages &c. These facts are noticeable
10 any one who gives attention TO them
and without saying any thing dimnutively
OF what has been done. we would ask what
Is the future of eastern Maine? We scarce
ly take up journal but we read of Young
men and women leaving the state. and the
saying that Maine is good state to en-
igrafe from is too true. and can IL not be
made good state to come to. They go
because superior advantages are offered
them in factories. schools and on farms.
But can nothing be done 10 obviate this
movement: Girls work in factories and
enrich Massachusetts employers and spend
their money in Massachusetts stores: now
why not have factories In Maine where
they can work at home and enrich their
own communities? Why not open avenues
OF trade and business to encourage young
men to stay at home. and build fortunes
oy their own firesides? In order to do this
We need capital. more money to build and
furnish. Hundreds Of persons visit our
shores annnaltv NJ all
professions. and can they not be invited to
spend their money to make our forests. wa
ter privileges and commercial facilities
useful by turning them to mans practical
advantage. Eastern Maine has not raised
her Voice in her own behalf as other sec
tons have done. no railroads or factories
built. in fact there is not that enthusiasm
In her interests to make young men feel
that il is the one place of all others on
which to remain. Build the proposed rail-
road and with the rivers dredged. means
OF navigation facilitated. we may expect a
brighter prospect. Erect wooden factories
and thus encourage sheep husbsndry
among the fsrmers. Manufacture our
boots and shoes. pals, barrels, agricultu.
raj implements, clothing, paper Of all
kinds, and in fact make every stream that
leaps into the ocean carry the connection
and stir of business in its foam, encourage
farmers BY facilities for getting to market
easier. and our hillsides will blossom like
TIE rose and our valleys be filled with
waving grsip, and our factories filed with
raw material Of all kinds. Business will
take on new impetus. our young men