Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-08

State, 1t seems to me prudent foresight
would determine that we should have n
small but effective military orga MIA tion
to form nucleus. to rally around in case
any emergency should arise and GER
tainly the present commendable activity
OF the national government in building
a navy and strengthening our coast de-.
fences--the possible complications that
may at any time arise from the struggle
now going on in Cuba for freedom and In
dependence. are Indications. and. perhaps.
tho coming shadows of future events
which we shall not wholly disregard.
The reports OF the adjutant general ard
other information which he will furnish
you from hts office, will advise you more
Iully as to what the necessities of the SER
vice demand: and l have no doubt you
will cheerfully grant them.
AGRICULTURE, LUMBER AND MAN
UFACTURES.
Maine is vitality interested in agricul-
cure. lumber and manufactures. Agri-
culture is the basis of the worlds pros
perity and wealth. Without it other vo-
cations would cease. 1t is emphatically
the leading and most important industry
our people are directly or indirectly inter
ested in it. But / am confident that our
agricultural possibilities for improving.
by better and more judicious farming, are
not as yet fully understood and appreci-
ated. even by our own citizens.
| Our soil yields larger returns per acre
than most of the land in the great farm
| ing States of the West In some sections
of Maine cultivation is more difficult and
expensive, but this is largely compen-
stated by our nearness to good markets.
and there are but few sections of other
| states where the great majority of the
farmers possess as good and substantial
buildings, are as free from debt, are so
prosperous and enjoy so many of the
| more can be accomplished by better and
| more intelligent methods of cultivation
and diversification and proper selection of
crops.
Our farmers institutes are doing excel
| lent work in this direction. They are fur
nishing much valuable information, and
awakening an interest which must pro-
duce beneficial results that will more
| than compensate for all their costs.
lmpurity in Seeds especially grass
| seeds, brought into the State, have done
| at times great damage by producing
| or grain.
1 am inclined to think that something
| should be done to prevent the sale in our
| seeds. 1t is not so easy for the average
| farmer to discover the impurities until
| 1t is too late.
b might be we'll to provide. by appro-
! pirate legislation, that there should be
some proper inspection and branding OF
| the various grass seeds, mill feeds etc,
! imported here. and that they should be
| marked distinctly what they. really are. so
| that no one can be deceived as to what he
| is purchasing.
In recommending that our farmers and
| these lines, I think I give expression TO
| the very general wish and desire of a
| class of men that are certainly entitled
| to consideration.
| good roads and reasonable freight rates.
| Our highways in some localities GER
tainly are not what they should be. There
are some towns that are not able to make
| them as desired without aid from the
county or State. In some others the
| money is often injudiciously and i'm
! properly expended.
| Under existing laws the burden of MAIN
| tanning roads and building bridges often
J bears very unequally upon towns and
townships. and is anything but proper
| Tomato to the benefits conferred.
Correct these inequalities and provide
| that all road money shall be raised and
wisely expended. as a prudent man would
| conduct his own business affairs, and you
have taken the first: and a very i'm
portant, step towa\s getting better
roads. and responding 10 a demand which
is quite general at present throughout our
| State.
| A careful study of our laws for building
and repairing roads will, | think, con-
| vince anyone that they need revision and
| some radical changes. til
| 1t is. however. for you. gentlemen. to
determine. after patient investigation,
what, if anything. shall be done.
Our railroad service is excellent. so FAR
| as safety comfort and convenience of the
| travelling public is concerned. Few
| states, if any, located and settled as ours.
can boast better accommodations than
/ we have. and we should indeed be CRATE
I full to the men who have the management
of our railroads, for their fidelity and con-
slant care and devotion to the public
| good. Yet ! am inclined to the opinion
| that some of the freight rates are high,
| compared with what is paid by our COM
petitors in New York and the West.
| where they have several trunk lines. The
| greater cost of building and operating
here doubtless accounts for part of
| this.
our farmers out of our immediate mar
| kets by flooding them with the products
| brought from distant states at much
| lower cost than we have been able TO OBJ
| railroads and our citizens. and which, l
| have no doubt, the railroads will effect
ualy remedy in the immediate future.
They fully realize that it would be a wise.
and in the end, the best paying policy.
to obviate this as far as possible so that
our manufactures by their increased out
put, and our farmers, by raising larger
crops. can compensate for the lower
traffic rates with the additional business
which would result, and at the same time
have the means to travel and more
largely patroniZe the roads.
Certainly the prosperity of the indus
tries and the people of our State and our
railroads are very largely and INSOFAR
ably connected.
Our numbering and manufacturing in
terestS are not in as prosperous condition
as could be desired. Thd unpreced entedly
low prices since we have been compelled
to met large foreign competition in our
own markets have pressed heavily upon
i them.
am not aware that any new cotton or
Woollen mills have been erected during
the past three years. while many of those
already built have been compelled to sus-
pend operation or run at a loss.
Under changed tariff conditions We
hope in the not far distant future. to
once more see their former prosperous
business return. There have been built.
however. within a few. years, several
large pulp and paper mills, and more are
in contemplation. These mills have Gre
ated a new and quite a large demand for
spruce and other woods suitable for pulp,
and opened a new market for certain
kinds/of lumber and wood with which our
forests abound. This industry, am con-,
fident, is destined to give to Maine very
largely the control of the paper produc-
ton of this country.
Our forests furnish employment for Ia
borers and home market for large
amount of the products Of our farms.
They are source of Names wealth, sec
ond only to agriculture. Fire is their
greatest scourge. All are interested in
their preservation.
Any request or recommendation of the
land agent or forestry commissioners,
which shall more effectually protect them
from destruction by fire, set through
carelessness or by design. is Of vital i'm