The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-19

MdQlSOu duu T6epOfb DOdfuS, DuU SOID6
of the new Boards last named, am in
formed, will join at this session, and it
is hoped that others named may be inf1u-
enced to join the central Board at an
early day, and be represented at these
business councils.
I have received since my last report,
from
Augusta Board of Trade, $40. 80
Old Orchard Board of Trade, 500
Clinton Board of Tra1e, 270
Biddeford Board Of Trade, 1900
Bath Board of Trade, 1000
Being total of, $40. 90
which has been paid to the Treasurer.
The general certificates for collection of
annual dues have been supplied to all
Boards in mem bership as applied for,
amounting to over one Thousand the pres
emit year.
Tho same evidences of the steadily in
creasing prosperity and growth of the
State of Maine, noticed in our last report
in material wealth and permanent
healthful advancement throughout the
state still continues, and must continue
to gain strength and importance now
from year to year.
While it is true that the state, as
whole, has suffered considerable loss by
the recent destructive freshets along its
WoSUofu rlVerS, tuc aCtudl IudUorldl uHul-
age to the state is not nearly as large as
reported. in cash value, for, like disas-
trous fires, it will "olean up'' and repair
for much less expense than first impress
sions estimate, and it should be remem-
bered that the great bulk of loss was with
rich corporations that will furnish en-
ployment to large number Of our people
in rebuilding better bridges and improved
mills, factories, etc., SO that excepting a
few individual hardships, there is nothing
to discourage or retard our future growth
and prosperity in the recent and COM
paratively insignificant damage, when
compared with the great general growing
interests of the state, that will continue
right along unabated just SO long as our
people continue to plant their money
here, for the benefit of home Industries
and the upbuilding of our institutions
Convincing evidence of Names wonder
full increase in wealth and prosperity
since the attention of our people has been
turned towards investing their money at
hume, is found in the increase OF her
agricultural interests.
The U. 3. Department of Agriculture
in its last report says that:
"Maine raised during the last year
500, 904 bushels of corn on Ia, 212 acres,
the total value of the product being $322,
1898; So, 808 bushels of wheat on 4, 1856 acres
of land, the money value of the wheat
being S6S, 1898; 8, 551, 4S4 bushels of OATS
worth 81, 8S7. sos, on 1873. AL acres Of land !,
49, 5S bushels of rye, worth S16, 800, on
1,OO3 acres; 1853, 467 bushels Of barley,
bushels Of buckwheat, worth s492. 29S, on
28, $50 acres of land; TO- 139, 089 bushels of
potatoes worth 50, AT, 800, on 90. 2O3 acres
of land and /, 127, OBJ tons of hay, worth
$40, 900. $50 on /. 104, 952 acres. -
BY the tables given, Maine leads all the
New England States in the production of
oats and hay.
thousands of acres of minor crops were
cultivated, including farm and market
gardens, the root crops and peas and
beans aggregating many Thousands of
dollars value in products. Add to the
sums named the great dairy industry
the returns from other stock interests,
and for fruits both small !, and orchard
fruits, and we have figures of no mean
magnitude.
Yet Maine is not doing her best as the
contrast with her neighboring states
show.
The report OF State Bank Examiner,
for 1895, shows that there are 102 savings
institutions in Maine, gain of five over
1894 During the year the number of de-
position Increased 4, 512, and the amount
OF deposits, 81, S44, $4,000
The State Assessors report, for 1896,
the total valuation of real and personal
estate, not including wild lands, is as
follows: Real estate, 5000, 1897, SOC; per-
sonal estate S67, 1928, 918; total, $276, S56. 81
an increase of 81, 537, O54 above the amount
returned for 1894.
that Governor Cleaves in his address
"points with pride'' aG the beginning of
the new year 1896, to the finances of the
state Or that q Chicago paper should
remark at the same time "times are
never hard in the Pine Tree State,' aud
there is truth in the remark Habitual
thriftiness Is one of the good old New
England traits that has not died out, at
least in Maine.
Let us for a moment review come of
the present wonderful capacities of our
state.
About one-third the total area of Maine
is included in farms. The improved
farm lands consist of 1000, GOO acres Out
of the $50, 355 families in Maine, SO, 122
live on farms Aroostook county collapsed
all previous records in her potato crop for
1895. approximately 1900, 600 bushels.
The capacity of Maine starch factories is
q OOO tons annually. consuming 5000, 900
bushels. During the season of 1884, IS 95,
upwards of 900, 900 barrels of apples were
shipped to England, from Portland
Boston and New York
In view OF the great change in the de-
velopment of the waterpowers and pres
emit rapid pregresslof the state sin ce it's
last Typographical and hydrographical
survey, as evidenced in the statistics of
the labor bureau, it would seem to be an
opportune tins for the State Board to
consider this subject in earnest, and to
take effective measures to bring the mat
ter forcibly before our next legislature.
The State of Maine has been better and
more effectively advertised in the past
ten years than during all the previous
years put together. and | am gratified to
learn that 1T is to be continued to liber-
al extent the present year.
Next in Importance and value to our
resort and summer travel business, is in
1ustrial development, and here, it seems