Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-04

! erty. and are potent factors in The doye,on1
ment of every commnnity. Although 'n'e theI,
portation facilities durin. the M .. nraus
years. through the building of now smens
mileage there has been little jmn.d,a,t''l'
In our highways. along Which there VII ri
v1ys be ~ large amount of traffic. ord :,
would seem that the time has come when
We should adopt some definite and r,fectivr
plan for the Improvement OF our main
thoroughfares.
do not regard with favor State bicl,.
way commission, or any similar plan which
| would take from the towns any nart of Ibp
, control which they exercise over their
| roads. and cost an undue proportion of the
sum which would be likely TO be devoted
10 road Improvement but 1t has seemed to
devised which would be effective arG nrar-
teal in its operation. and would gradna IIy
result in greatly improved highways
The cost OF really coed roads is beyond
| the means of most towns improved high.
| ways must come first, and in nv udrment
they can only come through State and per-
| haps county aid. Such u dist tribntion Of
the cost would make the municipal burden
small when compared with the i'm
mense benefits which would be derived
| from it.
The National Guard.
There is still a balance due the State
| from the General Government on claims for
! ACCOMPLISHMENTS ol eApeuSeS incurred in
equipping troops for the war with Spain,
amounting to $62.500.IS The ori:-jna /
amount OF t.ese claims was SST. 434 sU. on
| which has been received S.51343a
| OF the regular military appropriatjon for
| the year 1s9S. S21.221U1 was applied to
war expenses, and is included in tie claims
| against the United States, having been ex-
| pended under orders from the War Depart
ment.
a supplementary claim for reimburse
ment of the State for property DESTROYED
by order of the Secretary of War. that had
been condemned by a Board Of Survey CON
S331O.65, has been filed with the War De
partment.
The Legislature of 1899 provided for the
payment OF DilIS Tor medical attendance,
medical supplies and nursing of sick sol
diers, who served in the States quota aud
were treated outside of authorized hospi-
tals during the period preceding their mus
ter out, and whose expenses were NOT pro-
vided for by Act of Congress There has
been 10 Congressional action on these
claims as yet. and many of them are held
III the Sur@eon-Generals Office pending
ancn action. II seems only just tha. some
provision should be made for thelr pay-
ment.
No annual encampment was held In the
year 1879, the regular military appropria-
tion ior that year being used in reuniform-
ing aud re-equipping the State troops This
was iully accomplished, and the militia OF
thls state IS now in excellent condition,
All Of the organizations that make I'D
our National Guard should be maintained
ON practical footing. they should be
armed, equipped and organized in accord
ahce with the requirements of the yolun-
teer army, that the State may be ready
when called upon. TO place an Efficient
force OF well.disciplined men in the field
Since the last session of the Lpgisia-
ture, one division of Naval Reserves mas
been organized. 1t fully maintains the cred
II OF the National Guard, and ON It's first
cruise taken on the L. :. $. Prairie last
September, the reports Of the officer in
command of that ship indicate that it
made record seldom. If ever. equalled by
a Naval Reserve organization during its
first year.
The experiment of regimental camps was
tried ut the last annual encampment with
very gratifying results. The health alb
sence of intemperance, and conduct of the
men IN camp were mosI satisfactory. The
organizations now authorized seem ample
for The service, and to fully meet the re-
quirements OF the State. Maine does not
require a large force but her troops should
be Of the best. While we earnestly pray
that their services will not again be neces-
sary. we should always he 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 valor, preserved the Union and
perpetuated the greatest and grandest gov
ernment that the world has ever known
can nevet be fully discharged The small
pensions paid by the State to those veter-
ans of the Civil War requiring aid and as
sistance. or to their widows and orphans,
Is 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
cssary for this purpose. that no one of
them shall suffer from privation.
Bath Military and Naval Orphan
Asylum.
There are at the present time seventy
children in the Bath Military sn1 Naval
Orphan Asylum. the largest number for
many years. Twenty-four have been adj
mitted during the past year. This is a
well-managed institution, and merits the
support which IL has received from the
State.
inland Fisheries and Game.
The constant increase in the number of
srortsmen who come to Maine each wear 10
spend their vacations in hunting and fish
ing, conclusively demonstrates the wisdom
of protecting and preserving the fish and
game of our State. and is Il sufficient war
rant for the large sums of money which
have been expended for this purpose.
The past season has been the most sIlc-
cessful one in the history of our fish and
game interests. Including the amount paid
companies, it is estimated
that during the year 1900 at least five mil
lions of dollars was expended by more than |
fifty thousand visitors to our forests and
inland lakes.
The report of the Commissioners of In /
land Fisheries and Game. which will short
ly be presented to you, contains much in |
and valuable Information and de- |
serves your careful consideration.
Sea and Shore Fisheries.
The sea and shore fisheries directly and |
give employment to about TWEEN |
ty thousand people and have an invested |
capital of nearly S3.OOo.oo0.00. The total |
value of the various products when ready |
for market is about $4,000 10000 annually
The great Importance If this industry has |
not been fully appreciated. ANY measures |
ca lculated 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 JS;' patients but on November
30 1900, it had III. or lSS more than the
number for which 1T has proper accommo-
iations This is an Increase of 3S 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 il was originally designed
iOr.
The hospital has been in existence for
sixty years, and the oldest departments are
much out of repair. They should be thor
1ughly reconstructed and put in good con
lition. TO enable the institution to show the
BEST results and maintain proper stand |
lri OF efficiency.
AS the hospital is soon to be relieved of |
is overcrowded condition by the removal |
If some of its patients to Bangor this |
would seem to be favorable opportunity