The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-02-06

/
tecton of the people. They educate the peo-
| pie and should prepare them to well fill the Of
| fee of citizenship. Money raised for their
| support is appropriated for the advancement OF
| general knowledge. As we progress in civil
| lzation art and science advance and the mind
| of man reaches out to grasp the truths which
| make him more man, and the demands OF
| our common schools become greater under the
| immutable demands of progress. We are
yearly acquiring more fully a knowledge of the
| reasons of nferiority as well as Of superiority
| of citizenship, and are beginning to know that
the common schools through which the masses
move is the lever that may raise our State,
our nation to that perfection OF polltital exist
| ence where universal intelligence marks the
universal loyalty Of people. II there is any
fault in our school system it is that the district
schools do not meet more fully the wants OF
general education. They should furnish op-
portunities not only for primary and intermed-
late studies, but systematic course that Will
prepare the pupil for the business OF life so
that the poor mans child may have, without
extra expense, many OF the school advantages
now enjoyed only by those in more favored
circumstances. The common school system OF
our State is among the best in the Union. We
may we'll speak with pride of the intelligence
of our people, but as great improvements have
been made in the past in this particular so may
great progress be made in the future. - hlle
schools of a higher order call for your careful
consideration. l leave it for your good judg-
ment to prolS 1t and encourage the common
schools Of tie state.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
There are now in successful operation three
Normal schools, enough for all the wants Of
the state. All the expense incident to their
establishment has been paid. They are instr
tutions OF the state and were designed special
y for the education OF teachers. The good
results of their instructions are becoming
marked in our common schools. They are
institutions worthy the patronage and support
of the people, and while / would not advocate
the establishment of others, it appears to mo
that the interests Of the state are best subserv-
ed by carefully protecting those we have, by
making them what it was originally designed
they should be.
FREE HIGH SCHOOLS.
These schools were intended to meet de-
mand not supplied by the common schools,
academies or normal schools The best infor-
nation gathered from all parts OF the state
shows that this system of schools has not
proved all that was hoped for it. The law
appropriating money for their support was
suspended in 1879 for one year. The people
have considered the advantages and disadvan-
tages of the system, and / leave it for you,
their representatives, to carry out their wishes.
STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE.
The report for the year 1879 of the State Col
lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts shows a
careful and economical management OF this
institution in all its departments. 1t does not,
and should not, interfere with other colleges.
1t was designed by its special applications to
reach class who intend to follow the avoca-
tions of agriculture and mechanics, and to
furnish a practical education to many who
would not otherwise be reached. The college
has gone through the early years OF struggle
for existence, has passed through the depres-
sing period of hard times and now stands al
most self-supporting. An institution rep
resenting the leading interests OF the state,
owned and paid for by the state, and now de-
manding but little for its support, merits your
favorable consideration.
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
1t is a gratifying fact that mere interest is
felt in the discussion of all questions relating
to agriculture that ever before. General at
tention for the past six years has been turned
to the lands. Our soil is above the average in
fertility and our people are beginning to ap-
preciate the fact that farming can be made to
pay. While many other kinds OF business
have not been profitable during the depressed
times that have swept over the country farm
ing has proved a success, and while large
portion of our business men have failed or
been compelled to go out of business, the aver
age farmer in this state has found ample re-
muneration for his toll. The payment OF old
debts that accumulated in the days OF an IN
flated currency has been burdensome, but that
does not detract from the truth OF the PROPOSE
ton. A glance over the state shows more
good barns and more good houses, better fur
nished, than ever before. Much OF the low
land that was formerly considered worthless
is being taken up, and is found to be the very
best grass land in the state. The culture OF
fruit is becoming source of wealth; our live
stock is of excellent grade and our farm i'm
plements are among the best in use. Ihe
go, 900 farmers of Maine, upon whom largely
rests the future prosperity OF the state, are now
receiving more real value for their products
than when they sold them for high price In
on inflated currency, and they may well feel
encouraged in their present condition and
future prospects.
are not excelled and they are being utilized
not rapidly but surely. The numerous manu-
factories Of the State are nearly all in success
full operationn running on full time and on
solid basis. The lumber business looks better
than it has before since 1878. No business in
terest has suffered more than this and its
revival may we'll be hailed with Joy by all
classes The time is not far distant when the
timber lands of the State will possess value
heretofore unknown. Not only the soft woods
but all the hard woods will command ready
market When we take into consideration
the fact that nearly every farm taken up upon
the plains or prairies Of the great West must
be fenced and all the buildings constructed
from lumber not produced there, that railroads
in those localities must be furnished with
timber from outside and tho numerous other
wants of great nation we can account Tor the
enormous home demand tor lumber. When
we consider the mechanical and farm i'm
plements that fifty million of people must have,
the millions of carriages that are being manu-
factured in this country for home and foreign
use we can but realize that the supply OF hard
woods which are more abuudantly produced
in this than any other State will all in time be
proftaby utilized.
The granite, slate, iron and ice business oc-
cupy important places among our industries
The ice business alone this year employs some
five thousand men, while the granite industry
during the past year gave employment to
about the same number. The mineral re-
sources of the State are now attracting unusual
interest. That Maine possesses mineral de-
posits of great value there can be no doubt
The actual development of these newly dis
covered resources Of the State is matter in
which the people cannot fail to be deeply IN
terested. While we should earnestly depre-
cate all tendency toward unhealthy and
illegitimate speculation whish can only lead to
disastrous results every well directed effort to
develope our mineral treasure and give em-
ployment to labor and capital should be en-
couraged. AT the present time nearly all the
industries of the State are active and labor is
we'll employed.
Our wide extended sea coasts with its many
harbors. our forests of timber suitable for ship
building and our skilled mechanics make
Maine one of the most advantageous states for
this great industry in the Union. The revival
of business has increased our coast-wise carry
ing trade and capital is attracted to this State
to build vessels suited to this branch OF our
commerce. Our ships engaged in foreign trade
are acknowledged to be among the finest in
any country, and it is confidently expected that
this class of navigation will be remunerativo
and a fresh impetus be given to this great and
important branch of our industries.
BENEFICIARY INSTITUTIONS.
The beneficiary institutions of the State
have strong claims upon its protecting care.
The insane, the deaf and dumb, the inmates
of the general hospital and orphans of those
who died for a common country, have claims
which the State can ill afford to neglect. The
reports from these institutions will soon be
laid before you and while economy demands
the strictest scrutiny and the most careful in
vestigation into all the claims that draw upon
the treasury, the real wants of the wards OF
the State and all those who have claims upon
its fostering care should be fully supplied.
TEMPERANCE.
All agree that intemperance is one OF the
worst evils that can af1ict people. The way
to eradicate it is question that should address
itself to all classes. The women temperance
movement, the reform clubs and the other
temperance organizations have accomplished
great and lasting work. Like all other evils,
ntemperance will succumb at least in part, to
true moral force we'll directed. 1t is TO be re-
gretted, however, that there are those whom
moral forces will not reach. To restrain this
class prohibitory laws have been found neces-