The Portland daily press., 1895-01-04

were five thousand four hundred books and
pamphlets Many educational and public in
situations are soliciting an exchange of publl-
cations and the National government is sup
plying US with valuable works on special top
les The law department Of the library has
received large additions The reports of the
decisions of the highest courts of all the states,
with three exceptions, and the English Equity
Reports, are now complete. Full reports of
the decisions of the Circuit and District courts
of the United States have been secured, and
also the codes and statutes of many of the
states.
Law Department.
The result of the prosecutions instituted in
behalf of the State in the different counties fol
violation of our laws, and the condition of the
civil business of the State under the charge of
this important department. will be found in
the report of the Attorney General.
Savings Banks
The report of the State Bank Examiner
shows gratifying condition on the part of our
savings banks, trust companies, loan and
building associations. The entire resources OF
the iifty-one savings institutions on the
twenty fourth day of November, 1894, were
$57,761, 9l8 49, The increase of deposits during
the past year was s1,269 914.3S. fhe gain in
number of depositers was seventeen hun dred
and eighty-two
Labor Bureau.
ness of the State was made by the Commits.
sioner of the Bureau of Industrial and Labor
Statistics in 1893, by direction of the Legisla-
ture; and the results are most interesting and
satisfactory. The report for 1894, has reference
to our various industrial interests and con-
tains statistics and information of great value
Railroads.
The report of the Board of Railroad Commits
sioners will inform you of the superb condition
of our railroad system.
Fish and Came
The State has expended during the past ten
years more than one hundred and twenty
seven Thousand dollars in the restoration, en-.
couragement and protection of its fish and
game. The time is approaching when more
protective legislation must be enacted, and
greater vigilance exercised, if this great pub
lie interest is to be properly cared for in thu
future Numerous and well grounded com
plants have come to me during the past year.
of the wanton slaughter of our large game,
and the illegal taking and destruction of food
fish in our waters. The remedy will not be
found in more stringent legislation, unless
proper provision is made for its enforcement
The sea and shore fisheries of the State are
an important industry, giving employment to
more than fifteen thousand people. With neces-
sary legal restrictions, constantly enforced,
they may be preserved for the future 1t is
claimed by many that the amount appropri-
ated by the Legislature for the protection of
this branch of our fishing interests, is dispro-
portionate to the amount appropriated for the
protection of our inland fisheries. Evidently
the sum is inadequate to enforce, along our
extended line Of sea coast, the provisions Of
law guarding this industry. The entire sub
ject of properly protecting our fisheries and
game is worthy the earnest efforts of the Leg
islature.
Improved Highways.
Some well considered policy should be
adopted for the improvement of our high
ways. Our excellent railroads furnish rapid
and easy methotss of transportation for pas
sengers and freight, and improved carriage
roads would afford additional facilities and
rurtner aid i'll the development OF the State
There seems to be earnest sentiment for
some recognition by the Legislature of the
growing demand for improved highways. II
is a subject in which many people are taking 8
great interest 1t is claimed that under well
regulated and uniform method of expendina
the money now appropriated, with the adj
vance already wade in road construction, our
highways could largely be improved without
any material increase Of taxation. Ii the
State is to inaugurate permanent system OF
road improvement, the subject should have
thorough and careful investigation by men OF
experience, in order that the wisest course
RAY be determined upon; otherwise we may
involve ourselves in system OF internal I'm
provements more burdensome than the people
would care to bear. The subject should re
ceive your careful consideration.
Fire Insurance.
Our people are largely dependent upor
foreign fire insurance companies to do then
fire underwriting, and the average annual ta1
paid by these companies to the State amounts
to sixteen thousand dollars. 1t appears by thu
last report issued by the Insurance Depart
ment of Maine, that the entire amount OF r1ski
written in the State for the year 1893 was $l09,
8s1 ,59l, and more than ninety-eight per centun
was written by foreign companies.
The Legislature has continued to pass laws
upon this subject until our statutes have be
come mass Of seeming contradictions, diff
cult of interpratati or comprehension; rate:
to the people for fire insurance have contlnu
ally increased, fire losses are multiplying, and
during the past two years, fourteen nre IN
surance companies representing capital OF
more than five million dollars, have dlscon
tinued their business in Maine and Withdrawn
from the State. 1t is estimated that the annual
fire waste to our State is two million dollars
This destruction of values is of serious conse
quence to the material interests OF the State
Numerous measui es have been adopted by sew
eral states, with good results tending to re
duce this vast and unnatural destruction Of
property, and securing to the assured cheaper
rates and absolute indemnity for loss. The
time has arrived when sufficient PROTECTOR
against fire cannot be obtained by our people
in sound insurance companies authorized to dt
business in our State.
The subject requires the careful attention
and thought of the Legislature; and call YOU
consideration to the suggestions OF the Insur
rance Commissioner, who has given the matter
much Investigation, and trust you will ap
proach the questions involved with the great
est fairness, recognizing the Importance to ou1
people of sufficient and sound insurance at fail
rates.
Shipping.
American ships for the American merchant
marine will aid our ship building industry
give announcement to American ingenuity
and skill, employment to our labor, and pre-
serve our independence as nation. We should
neither be dependent upon foreign nations fol
our navy nor for the ships comprising our mer
chant marine. Maine has occupied con
spicuous position in the building OF the Aner1
can navy, and the first steel sailing ship built
in America was launched the past year, from
Maine ship yard bearing the proud motto Of
our State 1t is confidently asserted by many
of our leading ship builders and ship owners
that if our Government shall retain for this
industry the protection accorded by our wlst
navigation laws, Maine in the near future viii
be producing as much iron and steel tonnage
as she has heretofore of wood.