The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-04

plan for the improvement OF our main
do not regard with favor e state high
way commission. or any similar plan WILL h,ssn
would take from the towns any part o, ~.
control which they exercise lenoS 1y Of The
to road improvement but Il has seemed %
s %s ss' wss gsn Il !. seeVs s and
teal in is Operation, and would greanaiy
result IN greatly improved highways
The coat Oh really good roads IL beyond
fhe means OF most towns improved high.
ways must come first, and In my Juasnent
they can only come through state anu per,
haps county aid. Such a distribution o.
the cost would make the municipal burden
small when compared with the I'M.
mense benefits which would be derived
The National Guard.
There Is still a balance due the state
from the General Government, on claims for
reimbursement Of expenses incurred IN
equipplng troops for the war with SPAR;
amount u ts 70 Gains was ss74ssso. on
which has been received S25,l34.32
tho o. ss r 1sS. s Tss sPpsa 20
war expensss and Il Included in the claims
against the United States, having been ex-
pended under orders from the war depart
ment.
A supplementary claim for reimburse.
ment OF ths State for property aea.s9Sy eS
by order OF the Secretary OF War, tnat haa
been condemned by Board OF survey eo ~
$531o.65, has been died with the war be-
The Legislature Of 1899 provided for the
payment Of bills for medical attendanes'
medical supplies and nursing OF sick sol,
diers, who served 10 the states quota ana
were treated outside Of aufhorizea hospt
ter out and whose expenses were not pro-
vided for By Act OF Congress. Ihere mas
been no Congressional action on 49, 49,
In the ss,rseon Generals once pending
such action. II seems only Just that SOME
provision shpuld be made for theh pay
ment
No annual encampmeut was held In the
year 1899, the regular military approprla-
tion foT that year being used In reunit2 ,,,l9-
ing and re equpping the state troops, ,, ms ~
this State IL now In excellent condition,
and well equipped for State service.
All Of the organizations that a MAKE s4
on practical footing. They should %
armed, equipped and organized In accord
ance With the requirements OF the yolnn-
teer army, that the State may be ready,
when called upon. to place an efneient
force OF Well-dlscipllned men In the held.
Since the last session OF the Leeisla.
ture, one division of~Naval Reserves mas
been organized. 1t fully maintains the cred
1t OF the National Guard, and on Its nrst
cruise taken on the u. =. s., Prairie last
command of that ship indicate that II
made a record seldom. IL ever. equalled Dy
a Naval Reserve organization during Its
first year.
The experiment of regimentsI camps was
tried at the last annual encampment with
very gratifying results. The health, an
sence Of infeInperance, and conduct OF the
men in camp were most satisfactory. Inc
organizations now authorized seem ample
for the service, and to fully meet the re
quirements OF the State. Maine does not
lap fnr.o hat
be Of the best. While we earnestly pray
that their services will not again be neces-
sary, we should always be prepared for any
possible emergency that may arise.
State Pensions.
The obligation which we owe TO those
brave and patriotic men, who, by their
courage and yalor, preserved the Union and
perpetuated the greatest and grandest gov
eminent that the world has ever known,
can never Be fully dischsfged. ,s me small small
ans OF the Civil War requiring aid and as
sistance. or to their widows and orphans,
is a fitting recognition OF their devotion
and sacrifice. and relieves many homes
from suffering and want. You Will cheer
fully appropriate such sum as may be nee.
essary for this purpose, that no one OF
them shall suffer from privation.
Bath Military and Naval Orphan
Asylum.
There are at the present time neventy
children in the Bath Military and Naval
Orpbau ASYLUM. the largest number for
many years. Twenty-four have been ad-
mitted during the past year. This Is a
well managed institution. and merits the
support which 1t has received from the
State.
INLAND Fisheries and Game.
The constant increase in the number of
sportsmen who come TO Maine each year, to
spend their vacations in hunting aud fish
ing conclusively demonstrates the wisdom
OF protecting and preserving the fish and
game OF our State, and is a sufficient war
rant for the large sums of money which
have been expended for this purpose.
The past season has been the most sue
cessful one in the history of our fish and
game interests. Including the amount paid
transportation companies. 1t Is estimated
that during the year 1900 at least 1--we mil
nfty thousand visitors to our forests and
The report of the Commissioners Of In
land Fisheries and Game, which will short
feresting and valuable information and de
serves your careful consideration.
Sea and Shore Fisheries.
The sea and shore fisheries directly and
Indirectly give employment to about TWEEN
ps q aeSRs sGPs: 5000 an rbs 'tssd
ioarr u market is about $1,000 900 90 snnusliy
The great Importance II this industry has
E
calculated to promote its interests should
have special attention.
The Maine Insane Hospital.
For many years there has been a grad
ual Increase In the number of patients In
the Maine insane Hospital. Its Legitimate
capacity is 5S3 patients but on November
so. 1900, it had III, Or 1ss more than the
dations This Is an increase of SO In the
past two years. II will thus be seen that
the management OF this Institution has
long been obliged to care for many more
patients than it was originally designed
for
sixty years, and the oldest departments are
| much out OF repair. They should be thor
oughly reconstructed and put in good con,
difion to enable the Institution to show the
best results and maintain a proper stand
ard OF efficiency.
As the hospital Is soon to be relieved OF
its oyercrowded condition by the removal
/ of some of Its patients TO Bangor this
would seem to be a favorable opportunity
for making such repairs and Improvement
as YOU may deem necessary.
The trustees earnestly recommend some
action and Will ask for an appropria tlon
I for this purpose.
The Eastern Maine Insane Hosnitat