The Republican journal., 1874-01-15

developed home markets, are as prosperous as
those Of States which have more genial eli
mate and more fertile soil, but are further
moved from the consumer. The State Indus
trial Commissioner estimates that the hay crop
of Maine for 1873, was about two million tons,
worth twenty-five millions of dollars-seyeral
times the value of the wheat crop Of any State
OF the fertile west, with an equal population.
The value of our dairy products, which are
rapidly increasing, was over two millions of
dollars; and of all productions of the farm, in
GLIDING live stock, nearly tifty-seyen millions of
dollars. Yet the territory i'll Maine thus far
reached by the filler Of the SOIL is much smaller
than that which is still a wilderness. Not to
speak of the great body of unsettled productive
land lying between the Androscoggin and Pen
obscot, there still remain unimproved, nearly
three millions OF acres III the Aroostook region,
which surpasSes in size the territory of MaSsa-
chusetts has soil equal in depth and fertility
to that of any portion of the Union, and Is capa-
BILE of supporting population of a million per-
sons. The fact that immigration from this
State to the great west, has practically ceased
and that the tide has to some extent turned
eastward. Enthusiastically indicates that even as
an agricultural State. Maine has a promising
future. Whatever policy will give needed en-
enlargement to those rural pursuits which ell
gross the energies of majority OF our citizens,
should be purSued-not simply because it will
promote the interests Of so MANY citizens, but
also and especially because thereby will be laid
the most enduring foundations for the material
till moral prosperity Oh tnc Wl1Oic STATE.
1t is to such development of our natural re-
sources as will create home markets. that those
engaged III agricultural pursuits must look tor
a permanent promotion of their interests In
| these resources Maine occupies a pre-eminent
position. Within few wears, indeed, our
manufacturing commercial, mechanical and
mining Industries have wonderfully expanded
The value of the cotton manufactures of the
state, for the past year, was nearly twelve and
Il half millions of dollars; of the manufactures
md shn
| industry that has developed with remarkable
rapldtv-nearly nine millions; leather. four
millions; paper three millions flour and erSt
mil products, two and a quarter millions iron,
east ami forged, two and Il half millions; ma
chinery, two and half millions; edge tools,
nearly three-iourths OF million; oil cloths.
million and Il half; bricks. half II Million ferti-
| llzers, nearly eight thousand: menhaden and
kerosene oils, half Il million; fisheries, more
than three-tourths of a million; and canned
products OF the soil and sea. million and three
tourths. The value of the ice cut from our
rivers. Was over half Il million dollars. Of the
granite quarried from our rock-bound shores
and nils, four and half millions; OF the lime
burned from the abundant materials at hand,
one million eight hundred Thousand dollars
and ii the lumber cut from the immense for
est, which, with proper care, may be handed
down to future generations, nearly ten millions
OF dollars.
But, If possible. more encouraging still. not
only on account of the immediate value of the
industry itself, hut also because of its great in
1luence on national prosperity, is the revival Of
bodybuilding along our coast and rivers,
evidenced by returns showing that during the
past year there have been built in Maine 21G
vessels, with Il tonnage of s9,s1l tons, valued
At nearly five and Il half millions of dollars
more than double the tonnage Of 1872, and
larger even than any one of the prosperous
Years OF this industry before the rebellion And
what is more hopeful yet, the indications are
that if Congress shall continue, and if possible
extend the wise policy adopted to promote the
development of American commerce, and the
consequent growth CT American power and in
tuence on the ocean and in foreign lands. we
may reasonably look for such prosperity Of our
ship-bniiding interests as has never before been
known.
The Governor enlarges upon this subject set
ting forth in eloquent language the resources
and capabilities of our State and proph9Syi
for her uagniiiceut flture.