The Portland daily press., 1883-01-05

1t is gratifying fact that ship building has
been revived ia Maine, and that the enterprise
and ability OF the shipbuilders of our State are
commanding nearly the entire business of the
country in building wooden vessels. But one
ship has been built outside of Maine during
the past year on the entire Atlantic coast. The
energy and business capacity of the citizens of
Bath have restored to that city its former i'm
portance. Their ship yards furnish over two
thirds OF the ship tonnage of the State and ma
tiOn. Important questions affecting ship
building aud ship owners are before Congress,
which will receive the careful consideration of
our delegation. The result will deeply affect
our future prosperity. The merchant marine
OF foreign countries, under less restriction and
more liberal laws than our own, have an easy
competition with American vessels. We are
the greatest exporting nation IN the world.
Our treaties with foreign nations should be
modified, burdens removed, and such protec-
tion afforded as will restore our commerce and
protect us in all the advantages that legi-
timately belong to great and powerful ma
ton.
Z l have noted thus far the general statistics
OF the census showing the solid growth of the
State, in order to refute a somewhat prevalent
impression that Maine is not prosperous and
vigorous commonwealth. / repel the hippant
lnslnuation that Maine is good State to emil
CRATE from. Its prosperity demonstrates that
1t is one of the best of States in which to live
congratulate you, gentlemen, that all her in
terests were never more prosperous and her fu-
ture was never more promising than it is to-
day.
EDUCATION.
We find by a recent tabulation of the ma
t1ons llliteracY that our own State occupies an
advance position in the matter of public intel
lgence. While New Mexico shows a ponula-
ton in which co., per cent cannot read, and
several States furnish deplorable record,
Maine shows an inability to read of only 3.5
per cent, there being but four States that show
a less number. Intelligence is an essential ell
ement of public prosperity, and if it does not
secure, promotes industry, economy and mo-
rality. Where these are wanting long contin-
ued prosperity is impossible. Intelligence
then, must be made universal. If it is partial
class distinctions will arise, the equality of
man before the law will be endangered and
the fundamental idea of free institutions will
be made impossible To secure this intelli-
gence of our citizens, the State has instituted
directly system OF public schools, and indi-
rectly, by its encouragement and aid, system
OF private instruction for higher education.
This system received in substance from the
parent Commonwealth of Massachusetts has
been somewhat modified in form to meet the
exlgencies of changing circumstances. 1t com
prises the Common Schools" the "Free
High Schools" the Normal Schools" and
the Agricultural College; these constitute the
public part of the system. The State expend-
ed for the support of this system of public edu-
cation, during the year ending April /, 1881,
$965,697. An interest which demands so large
yearly expenditure, is worthy of the careful
legislation of the representatives of this State.
That the expenditure is not unduly large is
shown by the following facts: First, that
Maine is the twenty-frst in rank according to
the length of schools; while it is the thirty
third State in regard to wages paid, only five
paying less. May it not be we'll to inquire
whether more liberal expenditure even,
would not promote the material prosperity of
the State? If it be true that industry and econ
| omy rest on intelligence, and that skilled la
Dor, the most potent factor in producing
wealth, also ests on intelligence, is it not ap-
parent that to secure the advance of the State
IN prosperity, it must be advanced in educa-
tion. To carry on this school system employs
$500 teachers, whose fitness for their work de-
termines largely, whether the annual expendi-
| ture for schools does or does not yield the
greatest possible returns to the State. One
third of these teachers enter the schools with
out experience or special training Like un-
skilled workers in every other department of
labor, they waste time and materials, and
prove improbable. To prevent this loss, the
state has established three normal schools.
That special normal and training schools for the
professional preparation of teachers, are recog-
nized by all civilized States as an essential
element of sound educational progress, is
shown by the fact that in the various countries
of Europe, there are seven hundred and elgh-
teen such schools with over eighty thousand
pupils, and in the United States there are two
hundred and twenty such schools with more
than thirty thousand pupils. That these
schools in our State may fulfil the purposes for
which they we're established, they must be lib
orally supported and furnished with appli-
ances to do work of the highest excellence.
While the schools in the cities and manufac-
turing villages are increasing more complete
in organi alton, and more affective in educa-
ting their pupils by employing better teachers,
the reverse is the case in the agricultural dis
trcts. This acceleIates an evil already great;
the dimiaution of population in the agrioutu-
raj districts, and the increase in the cities.
That State may be truly prosperous, cities
may grow, but the country mast grow. 1t is
worthy object of consideration, to see whether
better facilities for education in the rural dis
triets would not have some influence in check
Ing TINS evil and If a radical change in the
school district system would not give the adj
vantage sought. l would respectfully refer to
the forthcoming report of the Superintendent
of Common Schools for correct statistical in
formation. Its tabulations indicate more
careful and economical management of the
schools, with, at the same time, decided i'm
provement in their character aS disclosed in
better school rooms more efficient teachings,
and more vigilant supervision. Looking to
further and more radical Improvement in
these directions the superintendent will rec
ommend legislation to secure a uniform and
more careful examination of teachers, and !.
stronger, more permanent and more econom-
cal supervision. The measures he will pro-
pose, seem to me, practical and worthy of your
favorable consideration.
The law regulating the course of study to be
pursued in our public schools and the text
books to be used, has, from time to time, been
changed to meet the growing necessities of our
progressive system. 1t may not have escaped
the notice OF many that several of the States
have added to the course of prescribed study,
treatise on the elementary principles of agri-
culture. The principles therein discussed are
OF universal application and are interesting and
profitable for all classes, especially SO to our
va fopp, xyho ono0 in,
ture must depend largely upon correct knowl-
edge of its principles as a science This mat
ter deserves the attention of those interested in
education, and l Recommend the introduction
OF such treatise to our list of scommon school
text books.
FINANCES.
1t is customary en- an occasion like this to
give summary of the condition of onr hnan-
cial affairs and the situation and wants of the
several institutions of the State. / would re-
specfully call your attention to The several
official reports of the State officers, for more
detailed information thaa l am able to give.
Ihe following financial statement covers the
period that has elapsed since the inaugural ad
dress OF my predecessor, the years 1881 and
1882:
The cash in Treasury January l.,
nm 1881, was. :........... ...$ 16o,338 Ga
Total, ........ ......,.si ,577, ,se6 Al
The expenditures during the year
The cash in Treasury December 81,
1901, was. '..-,..,s. IA, 400 70
Total............. ......,.....S1. .577, 1856 At
The receipts for the year 1881 we're from the
following sources:
State taxes ,1o4 ,145 II
county taxes .....-.......... 9,404 80
taxes on savings Banks ..... -. l77,9S7 Sc
Tax ON Railroad, Telegraph and In
surance Companies ..:......... 1892 SO
Sale OF bonds issued by the State
ical srts . ...................... 10000 90
Interest on deposits and taxes. 1857 81
Miscellaneous sources. .......,....,. 1928 so
s1,417,52e ss
The expenditures for the year 1881 may be
conveniently grouped as follows;
Public Debt.. ...............s $4,000 Oe
Interest on Public Debt. 336,681 90
Sinking Fund.-. .....,.. ....... 80,479 95
resentatives. ....-......,.... -. 3s,5e3 65
Educational purposes. ...... 35S639 26
Bounty on Beet Sugar.. .......... 1900 90
Agricultural purposes. -. -. ...,.. 12,415 46
chancal Arts ts.................. $500 90
Penal and Refo rmatory Institutions, 81, I46 56
Sundry other institutions. i. 80. ). IL $40 90
Insane and other State paupers...... 1884 II
Military Purposes. ....... ...... 17,4SO 13
Pensions ............ 1866 80
Railroad and Telegraph taxes paid
to The towns and cities . ........, a,o4s 68
Indian tribes ....,...... :. ........ 5,166 20
Temporary loan and interest ..... 2O2 46A ~