Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-22
NO. 277.
Miseellaneuus.
WORD UPON MANUFACTURING INTER.
ESTS.

u
are beginning to be alive to the golden
opportunities that lie before them. The
recent movement in our place towards
starting up new manufactures we hope
will be fully carried out. Maine is no less
destined to became manufacturing State
than any other State in New England, and
whoever is shrewd enough to occupy the
ground for that purpose in advance, will
reap an abundant harvest.
We have for a long time furnished a
great part Of the material for manufactur-
ing purposes to other States, seeming to
overlook the fact that if, instead of send
ing this material out of our State, we
should manufacture it ourselves, we might
thereby, derive a much larger profit.
There are a few examples from which
we might learn lesson. The State of
Vermont once turned all its energies to
fell its mighty forests and transport its
timber to Massachusetts for manufacturing
purposes. This policy was carried on till
the State was nearly shorn of its valuable
timber This done, enterprising men
found that when they would invest their
capital in paving business, they must
either leave the State to do it, or buy back
some of the very material that they had
sent out OF it; and to-day they are doing
that very thing in many instances, thereby
paying two tariffs where they need not
have paid any. Such policy is about as
sensible as it would be for the farmer to
keep no stock and sell all his hay. But
Vermont never begun to have the manu-
featuring facilities, to say nothing about
material, that Maine possesses. and yet in
| its last extremity, aside from the farming
interests, it is now beginning to bend all
its energies towards the manufacturing in
terests, with the disadvantages to hold it
back, that we have named above.
1t is now beginning to be know abroad
that Maine possesses wonderful facilities
| for manufactures, AMI foreign capitalists
are directing their attention here as the
place to invest their capital Witness the
movement of the Spragues of fRhode Island
who represent millions of property, put
ting in their capital at Augusta where they
say that they intend to have more spindles
running than are in both Lowell and Law
renee.
The greater part of the capital invested
at Lewiston came from foreign quarters.
Mr.. Bates, one of the leading capitalists
and the principal donor of Bates College
(Which bears his name) is a Boston man.
Thus we see, while Ue have been asleep
as to this matter, others from abroad have
come in and are beginning TO occupy the
ground, build our cities and reap the gold
en- harvest. Better that foreigners should
come and develop our resources than that
they should remain latent; but there is no
need Of capital coming from abroad; we
have enough here, if it only be concentrat-
ed, and we can do the work better our
selves than any body can do it for us. In
time we shall have market right here, if
it is not aircady ample enough. Maine is
just beginning to show her sister States
her boundless resources. Down East
is beginning to suggest something more
than freezing winters, sterile fields, and
rocky shores.
We would ask every candid man what
need there is of our traders, either in the
country or in our cities sending out of the
State tor Il large class of articles, such as
boots and shoes, household furniture of
every kind. and many other things in daily
use unless it be because We lack the en-
terprise to manufacture them here. Can
we not compete successfully with foreign
manufacturers who are obliged to procure
their material from abroad, when we can
procure ours at home, having at the same
time good home market?
Not many years hence, the State of
Maine can be as closely intersected with
railroads as New York or Pennsylvania.
Foxcrott and Dover are in the centre of
the State, possessed OF tirst-class water
power, and have abundant facilities for
carrying on all kinds of manufactures.
Concentration is the giant of the age; it
builds all our railroads, tunnels our noun
tains, and spans the ocean with the cleo
tric wire-then let the business and monied
men of these places concentrate their
forces, to improve these manufacturing OPP
portunities, and they will not only realize
a two fold profit themselves, but they will
also give IL new impetus to all other
branches of business and thereby prove n
blessing to all -PiScotaquts Observer.