Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-30


rounds among our exchanges outside
Of the Stats to the effect that Maine will
Be the only State In the Union to lose a
Congressman by the apportionment
based upon the coming census. just
where this item originated or what
authority there Ia for it does not appear.
In our opinion II il incorrect. IL APP
pears to be based upon the assumption
that Maine il the only state la the
CniOa that has not grown any 10 the
last decade, and that representation In
the next apportloument will De- bnsed
upOn q population OF 5000. The first
assumption We know to be false. Maine
has experienced a rnost substantial
growth since the iast census. both AS
regards Its industrial life and the number
Of ita citizens. The Lewiston Journal
which has Just completed = canvass OF
the State to ascertain lts business growth
for the single year 1889, reports that
during that time two hundred new indus
tries, giving employment to 1000 people
have been started. This Ia only the re-
cord OF single year, but 1t shows con
clusiveiy that the good State Of Maine is
travelling the path Of progress at a very
good rate Of speed An average OF the
estimates recently made by state OIL
cers, on the increase Of population ia
Asine since 1850 placed the figure at
1900. In the light of recent uyestiga-
tlons however, We are Inclined to be.
lleve this estimate altogether too low.
The growth of Maine In the past few
years has been far more rapid than most
people have thought.
Within that time distinct spirit OF
Maine enterprise has been developed
among our citizens largely, through the
untiring aud united efforts of the Maine
press. The dow Of capital from the
btate 10 search Of outside investments
has been to "A large extent, checked.
Our citizens have found that good re-
turns could be secured from investments
made 10 their own state. New indus
tries have multiplied with increasing
rapldity. The vast and varied resources
Of our state have become more
and more appreciated. and more
men and money than ever are engaged
In their development. Under such con
Aitions there has been by no means
Uncomfortable gain In our population
10 10 not at all improbable that the total
increase since 1850 may come well up to
<O,GOO.
The second inference, of our outside
contemporaries, that population of i75,
000 will be the basis for the next appor.
uonment Is largely a matter of opinion.
IL 10 argued that because the basis of
representation increased from i3i l25 in
1870 to 1854, 1915 In 1850 it must necessari-
~ make an equally large advance in
the next apportionmeut. This does
not by any means follow. The
period between 1870 and 1880 WAS
marked by volume Of immigration that
cas scarcely have been equxlled In the
ouences that stimulated European emil
grafton between 1870 and 1850 have not
existed to such an extent. Our national
growth has been steady. but not abnor-
NAL. An increase Of $1,000 in the basis Of
representation will, In all probability be
fully large enough to meet the require
ments Of the apportionment. With tht.
increase, taking our estimate OF gain In
Maine population, aud assuming that no
additions will be made to the present
number Of Congressmen, Maine would
still retain her present representation
with over ll.ooo population TO spare
OF course all discussion Of this subject
now 10 purely matter Of estimate.
Nothing deAuite can be known until the
census IL completed aud Congress de-
sides whether or not the needs Of the
country require any increase In its men,
bership. We have brough, forward
these facts, and pointed out the evil
dsnces Of Increase In our Maine popula-
ton, however, to show our outside con-
tempraries who talk so confidently about
. decrease In our Maine representation.
that this 10 by no means as certain As
they assume 1t to be, and thst even IL
he membership OF Congress should not
b increased, Maine has much more than
~ even chance OF maintaining its pres
A>law~et.,