Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-07
SAYINGS RANKS.


year. The deposits therein for the year ending
November 80, 1875, amounted to S32 ,0S3, 3l4.28,
increase of 81 ,02l ,350.55 in 1885, S414 0S9.34
less than the increase in 1874. The non-interest
paving securities owned by the banks amount to
81, 100, ,3S0.23, q sum greater than the amount of
such securities held by them the previous year by
Sl64, 1854. The excess of the deposits in saw
ings banks shove the capital, circulstion and de-
posit of Natona. Banks, is about S7,50O,O 600. The
Examiner makes suggestions and recommends
tions which will no doubt receive from Won the
attention which their importance demands.
The subject Of reducing the rate Of tax upon
the deposits in savings banks has already been
referred to. The course which has been pursued
by some savings banks in drawing upon their
reserved earnings for the purpose Of completing
dividends, presents q reason for prohibiting by
law the division among depositors of other profits
than those earned within the period for which o
dividend is declared, and the excess above the pre-
scribed reserve.
The robbing of the Winthrop Savings Bank
forcibly suggests the propriety Of clothing the Ex-
aminer with power to compel banks to provide
safeguards adequate to secure their funds from
the various forms Of danger which menace them,
and especially from the daring ingenuity Of crime
If the present limitation of the rate Of dividends
reference to the Understanding value Of money
at the time the law was passed, as it probably was,
adherence to that principle of conformity to the
ruling rate Of interest, manifestly requires fur
ther limitation Of the allowable rate Of dividends.
The good OF the whole people demands that the
State should not exert any influence tending to
maintain high rate of interest.
THE LAND AGENT.
TIE Land Agent reports as the result Of the
sales Of land during the year, that the only re-
naming State lands not finally disposed Of, are
81 7Sl acres of settling lands unsold, and 1920
acres for which certificates have been given to set
tiers who will be entitled to deeds upon the fulfil
Al I.ts~
on general account, on account of the permanent
school funds and reserved lands, to the amount Of
S62 ,S0S.72 have been paid into the treasury.
commission, composed of the Governor, State
Treasurer and Land Agent, was created by the
last Legislature, to inquire what further steps
might be necessary in order to finally close up the
affairs of the land Office, and TO place the settling
lands in such custody a should be for the best in
erest Of the State and hasten their settlement and
directed to report to this Legislature. Your ac-
ton will doubtless be guided by their report made
from q full investigation and knowledge Of the
subject.
The Office of Land Agen. has been abolished as
o constitutional Office, BY an amendment to the
constitution which took effect the first dag Of the
present month. Its revival by law and continu-
ance as separate department of the State, would
seem to entail unnecessary expense. For pruden'
ta reasons it is advisable that the title be retained
and conferred upon the Treasurer or other officer
to whom you shall assign the duties Of the Office.
Tue RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The railroads OF the State are said by the Com
missoners to be in an improved and excellent
condition. They express well-iounded gratitica-
ton at the comparative freedom from casualties
which mas attended the running Of trains, as de-
noting intelligent and careful management, and
proper sense of responsibility.
The year has not been prolific in new roads or
extensions. The Aroostook River Railroad Com
pany, chartered in 1873, has completed and opened
for traffic, three miles of its road-from Fort Fair
field to the State line, where it forms connection
with the New Brunswick railroad. The Somerset
railroad has recently finished an extension Of five
miles, from Madison.to North Anson. The Port
land & Ogdensburg road has perfected through
and another important line Of commu-
nication is thus added to the convergng routes of
which cannot fail to make Portland
one Of the principal distributing points for the
products of the West.
The railroad communications which are being
established between -troostook and our neighbors
across the line, must arrest attention.
The New Brunswick & Canada railroad has
branch extending to Houton, eight miles in length,
three of which are in this State and the road just
completed to Fort Fairfield from junction with
the New Brunswick railroad, is destined TO be ex-
tended up the fertile valley Of the Aroostook river.
1t is clearly necessary to the welfare of the State,
and of our own railroad system, that the latter
should embrace that extensive and important
county. A railroad from some point on the Euro
pean and North American railroad, parallel with
the State line and not far from it, is consumma-
ton for which we may confidently look IN the near
future. The Somerset railroad is regarded as an
important link in projected line from the port Of
Wiscassct to n connection with the ST. Lawrence.
The Insurance COMMISSIONERS.
The Commissioner of Insurance gives the nior-
nation that one hundred and seventy-ive foreign
and dome estic insurance companies had authority
to do business in the State the past year. and that
twenty or more were excluded. The salary of
this officer and the expenses of his office are paid
from fees for licenses 10 insurance companies and
agents.
TIE COMMISSIONERS or FISHERIES.
The Commissioners of Fisheries report marked
increase OF interest the part of the public in all
the concerns of their commission, and give state
ment in detail Of their abors in the work of stock
ing our lakes and rivers with valuable fish of
va ious kinds. They make several suggestions
leading to the inference that your duty to provide
by general laws for matters appertaining TO special
or private legislation. may be proftaby exercised
in matters relating TO the fisheries.
So many Of our citizens dwelling upon our long
line of coast, are dependent upon the products OF
the sea so great portion of the Of the State
is water surface which can he utilized in no other
way; SO many benefits TO the people at large will
evidently accrue from making our widely dlstrb-
uted waters the favorte haunts of food and game
fish, that it is the duty of the State 10 perfect the
policy 1t has already entered upon, OF promoting
fsh-culture.
Legislation upon this subject should not, how
ever overlook other and conflicting interests, but
aim 10 harmonic all with justice as far possible.
The INSANE HosrIrAL.
The Trustees of this institution advert with sat
isfaction to the improvements made the past year
for the permanent benefit OF the hospital and the
furtherance of the comfor. Of the untortuna,es 1t
cares for
The new building, containing hall TO be used
as chapel and an assembly room for amusement,
and also apartments for ether purposes, is nearly
if not quite completed and ready for occupancy. 4
park OF three acres has been enclosed with high
fence and affords safe and pleasant exercise
ground where patients may, in suitable seasons,
enjoy the curative influences of the sun, air, and
scenery of natures sanitalium. Valuable perma-
nent Improvements to the farm-roads, drains,
new vats for the utilization of sewage-have been
made and the trustees believe that il is in the way
to reach high state Of productiveness.
The crowded and i'll ventilated state of the
wards has somewhat impaired the usefulness OF
the hospital. Four hundred and three inmates
now share accommodations sufficient for but $50
The average number for the year is 39S. The oc-
cupation Of the chapel rooms will reduce the aver
age number in the man building to 313, twenty
three more than can be suitably cared for with re-
gard to convenience and comfort. 1t is thought
by the trustees that the operation of the law o
1874, excluding ''idiots and incurable imbeces'
from the hospital, may effect such reduction a.
L