The Portland daily press., 1891-09-30
Cen. CIeaves's Speech.

Gen. CleaveS'S Speech.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
| The great interest that is being manifested
| by the people of the state in relation to its
industrial interests, requires and demands of
| this board comprehensive and thorough
| discussion of the question. 1t is not my pur-
pose, in presenting this topic. to enter into
an elaborate and detailed discussion of the
/ different methods to be employed by the
various cities and towns in increasing and
| developing the manufacturing interests of
| our state, but to submit some general obser-
| vations intimately connected with the sub
| ject and important in its consideration.
LII we are to advance as state, II we are to
increase in population, in wealth and in gen.
eral prosperity, we must encourage and stim-
ulate, as people, not only our great agri-
cultural interests, but our manufacturing
Interests, our commercial Industries, and all
industrial enterprises; inviting others from
beyond our borders to come and join hands
with US in our onward progress and develop
the great natural resources aud waterways
OF the state.
Maine possesses to an unlimited degree the
natural resources for growth and advance
ment. One has only to glance upon the Off
cial map of the state OF Maine, and he VIII
discover several thousand streams OIL water
within our limits, capable of moving the
wheels Of industry; he will discover that we
have nearly fifteen hundred large ponds con-
nected with our rivers and streams, furnish
| ing magnificent and never falling water
| tent, and which can be brought into actual
use; and the situation of our lakes and
| streams is such that much of this vast power
| can be utilized by manufactures, over and
| over again, in its onward course to the sea.
And our cities and towns along
the coast are also most favora-
| bly, situated and adapted to the intro
| ductlon of manufactures, having superior
| facilities for furnishing power, and direct
| and speedy communication with the busi-
M ha M0fnQ with her
| grand harbors, with her great rivers, with
| her excellent system of railways, with her
| superior means of water communication,
| with her vast water power. offers. greater
| Inducements for the establishment of addi-
tional mechanical industries, large and
small, than any other state in the Union.
The people Of Maine may well look with
pride upon the grand progress they have al
ready made; but with proper efforts, by
united action. by judicious encouragement
to the investor of capital, instead of repel-
ling him, Maine may largely increase her
i productive power in manufactured articles
and goods. The beneficial effects will be felt
| all over the state. Maine is distinctively an
| cultural and manufactures go hand in hand,
| and walk side by side, in bring
ing prosperity. Manufactures furnish en-
ployment to labor; manufactures build up
| communities, and communities furnish a
market for the products Of agriculture; /;
manufactures create the demand, agricul-
| ture stands ready to meet it. Every mill
built at home, every shoe shop established,
| every mandatory erected, every industry
| started, contributes to make towns advance,
the people industrious, gives self reliance
/ and independence, and adds to the great ag-
gregate that:makes up powerful and pros
porous state. Maine during the last decade
/ increased her taxable property more than
/ fifty millions. With our advantages utilized,
with proper inducements to our own people
| to engage in business at home, with reasona-
BILE encouragement to those without to come
within our borders, Maine may within the
| next decade increase her permanent popula-
tion more than one hundred thousand. and
| create additional taxable property in the
state of more than hundred and fifty mil
| lion.
Maine in the past has contributed more
| than her quota to the industrial enterprises
Of other states. Many enterprising and ac-
| tive young men and women, born and reared
and educated on the soil of Maine. have been
Obliged to go forth to seek employment be-
| yond the limits of the state. This condition
| of affairs is not only wrong in principle, but
detrimental to the best interests and welfare
/ of the state; and / believe there is energy,
and life, and enterprise, aud progress, and
| capital sufficient in the State of Maine, If
slightly quickened, to reverse this order Of
| things and put ourselves in position to OIL
fer employment to labor, rather than compel
| 1t TO seek other fields and thereby diminish
our own prosperity.
| Ana L am pleased to notice the great ana
powerful influence that is being exerted by
the united press of Maine in the develop.
| meDt OF our resources, encouraging with un
abated zeal and sound logic the investment
OF capital at home, the building up OF home
| enterprises in our cities and towns and dis
couragiDg the flow of Maine capital to en-
| rich the fields of the West and the South
| west. We have already seen the beneficial
i effects of this good influence; capital is
more generally remaining and seeking in
| vestment at home, and Is being used more
| literally to build up and promote the pros
| perity OF the state. Eastern capital, in bulk
i has ceased to flow westward through those
| alluripg avenues of investment that were
| opened up to the eastern investor few
| years ago, promising great returns, but many
/ Of them speedily ending in barren results or
/ disaster. This example Is not without ms in
| fiuence. 1t demonstrates that here, In our
| own state, where our associations are, and
/ where our efforts and interest for
| advancement and prosperity should
/ be- within the protection of our
| own laws and within sight of our own eyes,
| capital may be invested in the development
| of Maine's resources and industrial enter
prises more securely AID WIN greater ad'
| vantage to the investor and the people. This
state, as a whole, is entering upon an era of
prosperity never before known in its history !;
| we see evidence of IL on every hand and
| from all sources An increase of its manu-
| featuring and industrial interests Will have
| a marked and beneficial influence upon its
future growth and upon the value Oh liked
property.
The various boards of trade of the state,
the citizens of The various cities and towns
will not overlook nOr will they fail to APP
preciate, the Importance of this question to
the welfare and wellbeing Of the state.
The thoughts suggested by Gen. Cleaves