Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-09

Der as a source of industry and wealth
The ocean, river, and lake fisheries c
Maine are becoming an increasing indus
try. The industrious and hardy popula
ton of fishermen on the banks Of on
rivers, and especially those who gain
livelihood amid the dangers incident t
the high seas, add much to the produc
tive wealth of the State, aud are entitled
to the grateful consideration Of every cit
izen. Maine leads the column and stand
at the head of the great fishing iudustr.
Of the country. In 1880, the number o
persons employed in the industry was L.,
co. the number Of vessels engaged wa
600 the capital invested was s3. 454,
500 !; value Of fishing products in market
able condition was $685., 224. Tit
value of the same products in 1870 wa
only s979,6l0.
II is estimated that the number Of oul
population who are largely dependent up.
on the fishing industry for livelihood
will not fall short of $4,000 men, wo'
men and children, which is equal &c
about y per cent Of our population, and
when. to the result Of this labor are add
ed the expense Of transportation and pro-
fits Of handling, and the product is In
the hands of the consumer, 1t represents
an industry of nearly S7,o00,O00.
The gathering and storing of ice il
comparatively a new industry in Maine,
but is a profitable one, and gives employ
ment to many. The ice harvest on the
Kennebec river and vicinity in the year
1850, amounted to 1000, 900 tons, an
increase Of 100000 tons over 1870.
The quarryiug, cutting, and shipping
Of granite in the hands of our en,erpris-
ing citizens has become one OF the most
important industries and sources OF
wealth in the State. In this industry
Maine leads. There is scarcely large
city in the Union whose finest public
buildings and most costly monuments do
not display the richness Of our stone, and
the skill of our artisans.
MANUFACTURES.
The statistics Of manufacturers, which
are furnished by the Census Bulletin,
show a marvellous increase in this indus
try. The increase in the production OF
agricultural implements surpassess every
other branch. There are now two thous'
and establishments, employing forty
thousand mechanics, with capital OF
S62 100. COS. and turning out imple-
men,s for our farms valued at S6S, $780,
1856. The number of manufacturing cs-
adjustments in the United States, 253,-
$40; capital. s2,7eO, 223, 500; persons
employed. 2,737,950; wages paid,
S9i7.9l9,674 value Of products over
FIVE billions. Maine stands well in the
list, and is becoming leading manufac-
turing State, her relative position being
about the fifteenth in the Union. The
number of manufacturing establishments
in Maine are 4,iSl; capital, $685.
57l; number of persons employed, ST.
GAS; amount of wages paid yearly,
Sl3,62l,53S; value of materials, $751;
1926: value of products, $685.
393. This army Of mechanics and Ia
borers, and the capital invested, form an
interest which calls for more than ordi-
nary care and judgment, in order that
the rights of labor and capital should be
regulated with regard to security and
Justice. That the great interests OF the
country be properly protected, aud the
wages Of the laborer made remunerai've
to himself, should be the true end ol
legislation.
The manufactures of our State art
constantly increasing, and statistics sho"
that every branch of mechanical industry
is making satisfactory progress. The
beautiful cities of Lewiston, Auburn
Biddeford, and the towns of Waterville
and Westbrook may sooa have their II
walls in other portions Of the State. The
manufacture Of cotton takes the lead
There are but three States in the lnior
that use more bales OF cotton, but foul
work more spindles, and but four EN-
ploy more persons in the cotton mills
than the State of Maine. The growth
of this department of industry is shown
by the following statistics: In 1870 tn
number of looms in the State was 1902
the number of spindles, 459, l72; tn
number of bales Of cotton used was 46,
600; the number Of persons employed
9,439. In 1880 the number Of loom
was 1898; spindles, 695,924; bale
of cotton, 1881 /; employees. 1864
AGRICULTURE.
A great statesman once said "Agrl
culture feeds US, it clothes us, without
we could not have manufactures, W
should not have commerce these a
stand together like pillars in cluster
the largest in the centre, that largest
Agriculture" The State Of Maine ful
nishes all the natural requisites and ad
vantages for successful agriculture, uu
limited commerce and extensive manu-
features. 1t has an area Of $500
square mile. or 22,400,000 acres il
settled area covers only one-half of ii
territory, and measures 1885 squal
miles. A large part of this territory
sparsely settled, 5000 square miles
its inhabited area having only from tw
to six inhabitants to a square mile. w
admit there are many square miles
land which would require extensi'
drainage and costly cultivation for a lv'
lihood, but there is little land so barre
that intelligent labor cannot make 1t va
liable, and there are thousands OF acr'
:..o,ad land in the State