Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-20
STATE HOUSE,
Maine Has Grown Wealthy
During the Last Decade.
Rumford Falls Shows People the
Greatest Gain.
School Of Instruction-New Corporations
Other Gossip Of Departments.

a comparison of returns made to the
State assessors show that the State has
grown wealthy in the past decade. The
most remarkable case, perhaps, is that
of Rumford Falls. There compara-
lively short time ago, nothing was in
evidence except an undeVeloped> water
power and a tract of forest. This land
was the poorest. from farmers stand
point. that could be found 1t was alb
solutely useless for farming. When the
movement was made to develop the
water power, then the value of the
land began to increase. Now on that
worthless land is the foundation for a
village that has increased from $2S2, 633
in 10 years to a town with Z valuation
of $l,666, $50. This is but one instance
of the increase in valuation.
Concerning this subject. George Pot
tie, chairman of the State board said.
yesterday, that the State has gained
great deal of wealth. He then went on
to cite instances, making comparisons
of the value now and 10 years ago. the
following gains being shown: Auburn.
81, 600 900; Lewiston. 81, go, 900: Caribou.
has more than doubled Fort Fairfield
has made a gain of 50 per cent. Houl-
ton has more than doubled. Pressure
Isle has doubled. Portland proper has
irc.cased S4.00O,O0O. Deering has
doubled. Jay has now three times as
much property. WinslOw has more
than doubled. Rockland has Increased
20 per cent Bangor has increased 81
600. 600. Old Town, 80 per cent. How
land has game five times the amount
Of property it had in 1890. Dover has
gained % per cent. Madison has
as have also Pittstield. San
ford and PASSPORT.
In the majority of cases of the small
pr towns the increase is due to the
building of paper ana pulp mills. There
are, of course, great many exceptions
But while the property in towns has
increased. yet on the other hand the
value of farming property has for the
most part fallen off. as many of the
young men on the farms have been go
ing to the cities and have sought situa-
tons there.
on account of the increase in the
number of industries there is but slight
reason why the State should not show
an increase in population. In the ma
jority of cases the people who go TO
work in the newly erected pulp and pa
per mills and cotton mills are not
taken from other towns in the State.
but come here. either from other cities
or from the Provinces.
While there is a big gain in the value
of manufacturing property. there is
also a gain in the amount Of railroad
property. During the past decade.
nearly $1,000, 600 has been invested in
electric railroads in the state. In adj
ditiOn to that the following steam
railroads have been built: Wiscasset
& Quebec. Washington County and
Bangor q Aroostook; also the Portland
& Rumford Falls Road has been ex-
tended.
1t will be thus seen that the growth
of Maine. during the past decade. has
been very large for moves have been
made to open up her vast resources.
The returns that will be made by the
census takers will give the growth in
detail ana will probably show that the
State has made most rapid strides in
the 10 years that have passed.