Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-08

oil reserved IAbuNs cJuJfiV' buAA"b 6"'
same period 10000 G6 acres of land were
conveyed, 1870 IL acres were contracted
70 settlers, and serenty-seven islands sold 10
him. The number Of acres under contract
20 actual settlers At the close OF the year WAS
ll2 sos Ot. The number of acres Of settling
lands rem raining unsoli was l9,567.S9.
The original plans aud field notes OF early
surveys of various portions of the State, for
many of which the state is greatly indebted TO
Hon A.W. Paine, who obtained them from the
State officials of Mass, have been carefully
mounted and substantially bound in volumes
so in6exed as TO make their contents readily
accessible. These plans have great historical
value and interest, AID are Of permanent
practical use in determining questions of title
and preventing litigation. IL IS matter for
congratuiaiion that they have been rescued
from destruction and oblivion, and put in or
der for preserv alton and reference. The
Land Agent has employed no clerical aid the
past wear. BY direction OF the Governor and
Council he engaged gentleman, skilled IN
this spe cialty, % assist him in mounting AMI
preparing the plans and field NOTES iot
binding aud he had the services Of the mc--
senger of the Governor and Council from
time te time. The duties deyolying
upon the Land Agent are still many, null
hilarious and difficult, and will undoubtedly
remain 80 Tor some years. |. IS probable,
however, that they would continue 10 be well
discharged aud that \ saving OF expense %
the State would be secured in process OF
time. II not Immediately, 4 the Office shosld
be abolished a. 4 separate department and is
duties imposed on some constitutional officer
of the STATE. !, has been the object Of the
legislature for some years 70 effect this con-
summation AZ the earliest practicable mo-
ment aud tie efforts 81 the executive de
partment have bcel steadily directed towards
fastening it, III! be your pleasure 20 dis
continue this oili,e, | respectfully suggest
that the Secretary Of State appears 10 be the
proper officer to be Invested with authority
10 conduct its business. Tha. officer IS re-
quircl 10y the constitution 10 perform any
duty that may be imposed on him by law, and
he may therefore be required 70 perform that
duty. If the other business OF the land
agency could now be brought TO \ close, the
custody of the records would deyolve by
right IN the Secretary as the constituted
guardian Of the records of the State. His
appointment at the present time would there-
fore be in part bat the anticipation Of a re
suit which would be reached in the ordinary
course a Few years hence. II YOU should
adopt this suggestion and merge the land
agency in the Office of the Secretary OF State,
an additional clerk would be required hy that
Office for the present year \: least.
Il has been an impOr,an: part of the bust
ness Of the Lind OF! e for many years 10 at
tend . the obligations imposed upon the
State by the treaty of Washington, IN regard
10 settlers on the disputed territory. Tie
Legislature Of last year referred the question
Of the luW ot the state towards settlers
whose claims have not been queted - tn
Attorney General, for Investigation, with Ii
rcction % report - the present Legislature.
Savings Banks.
1: appea7s by the report Of tho Bank EN-
amiuor that the number OF savings banks !1
the State remains the same rs list vea-. O..
the s;x.y-f1ur banks in existence at Tie BE-
ginning of the year, four wccc then IN the
process Of closing their affairs, AMI are now
in the hands OF receivers; three others thlt
hal been reported insolyent have since been
reinsiatel by the court. Ba. one bark has
been discovered to be inso.yent the past year,
and 10 4 comparatively slight extent, 80 that
Il. will undoubtedly be authorized - reduce
Is credits q depositors 10 4 sufficient amount
10 b.,4a.c ,Ae sh5iukage in value OF its Ia
Nestmeais, aud continue business.
The deposits Of the sixty banks in opera
ton on the 9Th day OF November lI'i
amounted to $500, So Gj. The total de
crease Of their deposits the past year was
81. 635, a3S o., and was caused to large eN-
tent BY the withdrawal OF deposits Of over
81 600. 90, upon which the payment Of diyi-
dends il prohibited by the new law. Other
depositors of large sums were no doubt ia
duced, by the limitation of dividends TO two
and half per cent scmi-annsllly, 10 with
draw their deposits and seek more profitable
Investments elsewhere. These facts should
not be left out of sight in accounting for the
decrease. The law has virtually compelled
and induced the withdrawal of class Of
deposits which has no claim 20 the protection
OF the savings bank.
The year has been 80 uniAyOrable 10 the
depositors OF small amounts, the surplus earn
ings of their Labor that so far from adding %
their deposits they have been obliged, BY the
hardships Of the time. to consume the accu-
mutations of former years. The decrease of
deposits in periods of staguation in business,
and inactivity in those pursuits upon which
labor is dependent, indicates clearly that say
ings banks are confined to their legitimate