The Portland daily press., 1873-01-01
How 1t Has Fared with Maine During
the Year 1879.
STORY OF TRIUMPHs AND FAILURES.

STORY OF TRIUMPHs AND FAILURES.
Ii is said that the population of Maine has
suffered another marked decline during the
year 1872, but this is ra her M tier of spec
ulation founded on observations of the con-
stantly flowing tide of emigration, than of
exact statistical information. If it be true it
matters little, provided the people who are
left have increased their store of virtue, in
telligence and happiness while those who
have gone have also bettered their condition.
PROGRESS.
In some respects Maine has Jared well dur
ing the year. So far as moral progress is
concerned we have to report first the great
Washingtonian temperance reform move
ment which began in tho city of Gardihef'
early in the year, and spreading thence 10
Augusta and other Kennebec towns nhally
reached all parts of the State, anu resulted
in the signing of the pledge by $4,000 per-
sons. The sheriff enforcement act went in
to operation on the Both of March, and the
vigorous repressive measures adopted by the
sheriffs of m st of the counties, united with
men of both parties, gave Maine out five
months Of quite palpable relief from the
tyrrany of rum. In May it seemed as if the
temperance millennium had at last really
come. There were only 26 arrests for drunk
enness in Portland during that month, where
there were 153 in May 1871, and only 30 ar
rests for other crimes against SO in 1871.
Warden Rice of the State Prison reported
that his bnarders were decreasing at the rate
OF 30 per dnnuna IN consequence of the law
I'd voluntary reform. In Kennebec county
jail the inmates were reduced from 13 to one.
Similar reports came from all parts of the
State. If at that time Mr.. Justin Mccarthy
had happened to come to Maine he could not
have failed to feel the benefcent influence of
prohibition. ThHse results, however did not
prove to be permanent in all parts of the
State. The partial cessation of special effort
by the temperance refo mers deprived the
law of that firm basis of popular support
without which it is comparatively futile
But the reform movement of 1872 will do
much good as an evidence of what legal and
moral suasion combined can do.
Education has met with small encourage
ment. The mill tx and a tax of quarter
of one per cent. on the deposits of saving
banks constitute new fund for its support,
but this is a mere trfle for a State where only
fifty per cent. of the young attend school
The repeal of the law establishing county su-
pervisorships is felt by some of the most
prominent educators in the State to be loss
for which the mill tax and the bank tax are
no equivalert The Legislature of last win
ter refused to endow sectaran schools, max
ing only one exception to its memorable rule,
and this we count dec ded step in advance.
The introduction of militarf training at
Bowdoin College as a part of the academic
course and the admission of women to the
Agricultural College are all the noteworthy
facts in regard to the higher institutions of
learning which are deserving of specia' note.
The corporators of the Maine Industrial
School for Girls met and organized at Port
land on the 18th of Noven ber. If the Leg
islature furnishes a sufficient endowmens
this will be one of the noblest charities in the
State.
At Machias, Oct. Sth, Clara Hapgood Nash,
wife of F. G. Nah, Esq, was admitted to
practice in the courts of Maine. She is the
first woman attorney in the State. At Houl-
ton Judge Dickerson naturaized a woman
who came from the Provinces. This case is
also unique, if we are not mistaken.
RAILROADS.
The progress of railroads within the State
has not been at all comparable with that in
some recent years. In the year 1871, ia
miles of ne road were opened, but last year
there was no new line of any consider
abe length built within the limits of the
State. The Boston & Maine road has
been graded from South Berwick to Portland |
md the unfortunate Somerset road has at
ength reached unfortunate Norridgewock
out regular trains are not yet run over either.
But some progress has been made in New
Ham shire and Veamont on lines of road
hat are as intimately connected with the
of Maine as any within its limits. |
Thus the Portland & Ogdensburg Company (
which no " has a line open to North Con Jay /
has put unde. contract the gap between that |
own and the Connecticut river, the people
If Portland having voted on the 9th of July |
% loan the cty's credit to the road for ST.
$4,000. The Vermont division of tn. road !
las also made good progress, so that there is
good probability that the opening of the
inc through to Swanton on Lake Champlain,
where connection with the Ogdensburg
=. a. l.ox ooh 10
aged. Swanton was to be the terminus of
he Ogdensburg road but road is now pro-
ected to the town of Ogdensburg ITSELF The
prospects of the Portland & Rochester road
re still more fattering. Its Western con-
ections are now assured. The opening of
be Sugar River road in September leaves on
Y 32 miles between Concord and Rochester
nd 16 miles between Caremont and Gas
ett's Station to be built in order to give it
onnection with Rutland and the West.
he Nashua and Rochester road which will
pen new direct route to New York over
le Rochester road is already under contract,
nd in a little over year will be completed.
he Concord connection is promised
II next July. The greatest effect
the prosperity of Portland and
lie whole State is predicted from the
,mpleton of these roads. Portland loaned
) credit for $450,000 to the Portland &
ochester road on the 29th of July. Per-
IDS the most important railroad enterprise
the year is the consolidation of the Maine
Portland G. Kennebee and Andro-
,s SIS railroads, thus placing over 300 miles
NO 80 -. property worth perhaps $13,0OO,-
W. rhe two n,r, control of one corporation.
American road road Is the European & North
hat the line betweeao ie'en''y un, 81
,o5 miles, is now undsslpgo and St. John,
'''i0'
The towns on the line Q.
road between Bangor and Eae proJected
known as the ''Shore Line" have sNachlas, :
i've per cent. of their valuation to aGErlbed IL
Bangor is celebrating whe9e
It viii vote money enough to make up the a
S250, 900 required to enable the company to
avail itself of proffered contract by the
.erms of which the road is to be in running