Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-10-07
address bu Senator Hamlin.

address by Senator HGmlin,
At the Cattle show and Fair at Lewiston.
At 10: so A. NJ, Thursday, the address
was delivered by Senator Hamlin, who
was introduced by Nelson Ham, Esq,
President of the Society. Mr.. IIamlin
proceeded to speak at length OF the init
mate relations of Agriculture, Maauiac'
lures and Commerce; and to show that
Maine has greater resources in these
three directions combined, than any other
State. There are other States better
adapted 10 agriculture alone, but those
States are destitute of facilities for COM
merce and manufactures. Now nothing
is better established than that diversity OF
pursuits makes any community prosper.
Yet we find many of our young men
leaving Maine, 10 better their condition,
forgetting the moral of the old epitaph :
Il was well; wanted to be BETTER |
took physic; and here | am"
Mr.. Hamlin presented most interesting
statistics of the Importance of Maine rs
a commercial and ship-building State.
One third OF all the tonnage of the United
States is built in Maine. The war pros
traled our commerce and ship-building,
but il is rapidly reviving. For time
iron ships were the rage. but experience
has shown that wooden ships are better
adapted to commerce. 1t is clear that
Maine Is TO become the banner State OF
the Union, in the matter of ship building;
and her ship carpenters and wOrkmen
will require The products Of Maine farms.
Again, manufactures are intimately
connected with agriculture. They Turn
ish home markets for our farmers. What
manufactures will do for community is
most admirably shown by Lewiston and
Auburn; and we mean 10 have more
towns OF this kind in the stale. There
is to- day water power enough running to
waste in Maine. applied rs thoroughly as
il il 10 Rhode Island. 10 support popu
lation Of i've millions OF people. With
such multiplication OF home markets,
our farmers would be greatly prospered.
expect in the progress of events 10 see
Maine the great manufacturing State OF
the Union. She not only has the water
power and the building materials. but n
climate well adapted to manufacturing.
Your former worthy citizen, Mr.. Lock
wood. once told me that he considered
the Climate of Maine. in it. influence on
operatives, worth ten per cent. over that
OF any other State in the Union. Already
Maine is rapidly developing her manu-
featuring industries. as the census slrik-
ingly shows. Thus. Us our manufactures
and commerce are developed, our agri
culture is improved.
Mr.. Hamlin proceeded to show by an
array OF statistics not TO DC questioned,
that after all Maine is equal 20 any other
State, agriculturally Iowa is produc-
tive State, but she is so far from the
markets that sine finds corn cheaper than
wood. for fuel. Her farmers realize only
Y cents per bushel Tor their corn. Sue
has no commerce and few manufactures.
The grass crop of Maine is worth three
times as much rs the wheat crop of any
State Of equal population. In 1870 our
grass crop was I,Q53,0O tons, and this
year it is estimated at 100000 tons;
worth at least thirty millions OF dollars;
and the grazing is worth a third as much
more. Now the wheat crop OF the mag.
mfcent wheat growing State of Califor-
MIA. was in 1870 sixteen millions of bush
els, and WAS not worth near so many dol
lars. And by retaining our swamp
lands, we may extend indefinitely our
capacity for producing hay, which can
be proitably used in growing stock, pro-
ducing butter and tor sale in other States.
Mr.. Hamlin proceeded TO speak OF
Names capacity rs tuit growing Stale.
We may produce apples equal in value
to the cereals of any other State. Refer
ring to the orchards OF Dir. Nelson OF
MinOt. which he had recently visited, he
said that Mr.. n. this year would raise
$1,000 worth of apples-simply because
he fed his trees. Look at Maine care
fully. and we shall find the profit OF farm
Ing here as great rs in the West; and it
may be greatly increased. Let our
young men be content with we'll enough,
and not take physic by going West. No
State in the Union is better adapted to
raise noble men and women. lie (Sena-
tor Hamlin) had visited thirty States of
the Union, and he WAS able to sincerely
say that he thanked God he was born and
had lived in Maine, and he desired thst
his ashes should repose here. Let US
stand by Maine, aud We shall find her
one OF The fairest States of the Union.
Senator Hamiin was frequently cheered
during his address. which was of great
practical value and Of deep interest.
!
he Mair pnarI ~