The Portland daily press., 1885-01-09

pairing the value of the farms in the manufac-
turing counties with those in the0ther parts of
the State. The principal manufacturing coun-
ties are AndroscoggiD, Cumberland. Kennebec,
Penohscot and York. In the first named,
farms average So, 053 in value, while in Arooss
took county they only average 1888 in value.
So In kennebec county farms average 81 034 in
value, while in Oxford they only average ST.
300. The value per acre of farms in all the
manufacturing counties is S2212, and ia the
other counties, $12 IA. The above comparison
by counties has been chosen at random from
the several counties of the State, but will
serve to show how intimately farming and
manufacturing are connected.
From returns received by the Secretary of
State, .for his ANNUAL volume of statistics, l
derive The following information: There was
an increase of spindles in the cotton mills in
the State in 1888, as compared with 1880, of
9O26l, ADD of employees, $685. Daring the
past year 6.S52 spindles have heen Gdded At
the commencement 81 the present year, wooden
manntactdFa generally was in very depressed
condltion, but later in the season there was
marked Improvement, and the mills of
this State have done, on the whole,
starch manufactured this season is larger
taan ever before, the product being
1883 tons. Several new factories have
been erected. The granite business has boon
well sustained; the product of the State quar-
RES pas been increased over last year; and the
large product of 1882 The Inns manufactured
In Knox county Numbered ,495, $50 barrels in
1888, and 1,a98,996 barrels in 1884 The manu-
facture of leather still remains in a very un-
satisfa ctory condition, and that of lumber has
lailen eli somewhat; the cut of logs on the
principal waters being about II per cent less
in 1884 than in 1883. Boot and shoe tlanufsc-
turing made marked Improvement in 1888
and has msintained its prosperous condition
tne past year. am also able to state that
hoC hoor Il l.
spread depression in business throughout the
country, it has affected our own material in
terests only to limited extent.
coMNERcRs
International trade and Commerce, under
the sharp competition now existing among
civilized nations, have at no time in the his
tory of business relations between nationalities.
ever excited SO great interest az at the present
period. The commerce of foreign Countries
In comparison with our own has raaped great
advantages even in our own carrying tradel to
remedy which requires prompt action and wise
craftsmanship.
The tonnage of foreign vessels entered at
seaports Of tue United States the past wear
amounted II .668, 209 tons, or about so per cent
OF the whole amount, while that OF the United
States vessels was represented by only 1884,
681 tons, or 20 per cent We are having an
enormous tribute to England for transport stion
for which we receive bat little consideration or
recompense. The statistics of the past two de-
cades show steady decline of American ship-
ping, and the fact stares us in the face that
foreign shlpowneTs are practically doing our
carrying trade. This is not consistent with the
high position the United States holds as leader
OF the world, possessing as it does superior adj
vantagss in extent Of territory, variety of eli.
mate, fertility of soil, quantity OF production
uneqaalied hafbors, and supplemented by the
lneelilgence and the requirements of vast
population.
The remedy can be found only in the efic-
leEcy OF the American shipbuilder, aided by
proper national protection. We desire that
there may De created commercial navy to be
owned oy our own capital and differed byAmer=
lean captains. In question of such vital i'm
portsnce, the State OF Maine should take great
interest, for large portion of her former glory
and pride was her interest and triumph in
Commerce. Her national legislators should
continue foremost as they have been heretofore
instrumental in directing public sentiment to
this question, to the end that all unnecessary
burdens may be removed, go that portion of
our capital and labor may be devoted, as form.
erly, to the greater development of one of our
most natural industries.
In this interest Maine has been of late wears
more favored than most other States Accord,
ing to the census OF 1880 the number of vessels
OF all rigs, including steamers, owned in the
state was 1914, having capacity of sos, 2S4
tons; according to the returns received from
collectors OF customs at the Office Of our Secre-
tary OF State for the year ending Sept 80. 1883
the number of vessels was $685. having a Ca
pacity OF e26, 122 ions; and for the wear ending
Sept %, 1864, the number of vessels was 1868,
having capacity OF 628 954 tons. This shows
an increase OF capacity for 1888 over 1880 of
1851 tons; an increase for 1854 over 1888 of
So tons, and an increase for tire four wears of
1868 tons-whieh is an average of 4917 tons
per annun.
There appears to have besn gain of 3,145..
81 tons in vessels belonging in the State en-
ployed in the fisheries, in 1884 IS compared
mum.
Maine has also been greatly favored by the
enterprise exhibited by its ship builders. The
tonnage OF vessels of all rigs built In Maine an=
nually since and including the year 1880 ia as
follows: 1880, 80, 847 10; 1881, 5S,99293; 1882,
1o.oo4 VI; 1883, "a ,708 10; 1884, 46, 401.87.
sTATIsTICs
In 1873 resolve was passed by the Legisla-
ture authorizing the collection, arrangement
and printing, under the direction of the Sec
Rotary OF State, OF statistics relating to all the
departments OF labor, together with the vslua-
ton and appropriations of the eeveral cities
and towns OF the State. Under this resolve
volume was compiled in 1873, but no subse-
q1ent appropriation was made until 1888 " hen
the subject was revived in accordance with
suggestion in the Executive address. A vol
ume has been compiled and printed for 1883,
and one compiled for 1884, which is now in the
hands of the printer. From these volumes
F0i0uuAO AhlOluctlOu Is EdbQereQ, and / re-
specially recommend an appropropriation for
continuing the work
POLLS AND ESTATES
By returns received from nearly all the
cities, towns and plantations of the State it
appears that there was an increase of taxable
polls for the year ending March, 1888, of .. O36,
and for the year ending March, 1884, of / 495;
an increase of 1892 in population for the
former year, and 6,425 for thu latter year,
maklng total Increase of 10 1877 in population
Ior the TWO years or an average increase of T.
U95 per annum. There also appears to have
been an increase in taxable valuation of
estates for 1883 of So 1914, 1856, and for 1884 of
VI or 49,; total increase for the two years 81
9i7 ,337-an average of 80, 45S 668 per apnum
Comparatively few people in Maine, during
Tue past year, have unsuccessfully sought EN-.
ployment, and cases of suffering from enforced
idleness have been infrequent There has been
gradual reduction OF prices Of manufactured
articles, imports and farm products and
scaling down of wages has followed as a mat.
ter of course.
The State of Maine deserves better treat
ment ard more generous encomiums than it
often gets from many of its sons No equal
number OF population can boast of a large
number OF comfortable and happy homes. lu
no Stste in the Union is there less suffering
from poverty, and in none are there more
facilities for earning a livelihood. Large for
tunes are rare and cannot easily be secured in
Maine, but industry ana thrift are sure TO
bring the comforts of life We cannot too con-
stantiy impress these facts upon public atten
ton.
EDUCATION.
The steady progress Maine has made in its
sc hool system since she became an indepsn-
dent State, is one of our sources of pride and
power. There is not large town in the State,
but has adopted graded SYSTEM and every
where there there have been increased faoiIi-
ties for higher education. The untiring de.
votion and zeal Of the educators of the youth
OF our State, not only to perfect themselves,
but to develop progressive system OF instruc-
ton and school work, has added very much
to the efficiency ard results of popular educa-
ton. Normal school discipline has given us
more mature plans and methods of instruction
and teachers better able to instruct in an ad-
vanced and more liberal course of study. The
intelligence of nation is guarantee of its
perpetuity, and as a rule the higher the degree
OF intelligence the more progressive is the
State.
herewith submit a table of statistics pre-
pared with great care, which, better than