The Republican journal., 1903-01-15

benefited py wise ana liberal policy on
the part Of the state In no other employ
man to earn an honest living, and none so
quickly yields a reward to reasonable ef-
fort and gives support and an independent
existence to so many citizens who might
otherwise be dependent.
The capital required by the average fish.
erman who carries on business for himself
is small, while his opportunity to live at
home, supporting himself by his individual
exertions is only limited by the supply OF
the products of the sea. the abundance OF
which depends largely upon the vigilance
Of conscientious and competent officials in
the protection of our fisheries from avoid
able disaster and wilful destruction.
The commissioner in charge Of this de-
partmcnt fully appreciates the great impor-
tance of the interests entrusted to his care
and can be relied upon to protect and fos-
ter them.
The so-called Hay-Bond treaty now under
consideration in the Senate OF the United
States gives free entry into this country
Of the products Of the Newfoundland fish
cries. Its ratification would result in seri-
Gus injury to our fishing interests by open
ing to the markets Of this country the
products Of Newfoundland in competition
with our own.
The welfare of the coast of Maine re-
quires to do everything in our power
to prevent its acceptance.
Two thousand, two hundred and ninety
eight persons in 35s towns, cities and plan
tations receive state pensions. One thou
sand, two hundred and eighty-three are
paid $500 per month, and only Ia receive
over S4.o0 per month. One thousand, two
hundred and siXty-seven of these pension
, ers are invalids, and 926 are widows.
Though the amount paid to each is small,
, many home is relieved from want and
suffering thereby, and the recipients are
out other public aid. This is but slight
recognition of our obligation to those val
liant men who nohly fought for their coun-
try in its time of peril. ] know it is un..
necessary for me to urge the continuance OF
the appropriation required for their relief.
RAILROADS.
The total mileage of steam railroads in
the state is 2OoO.51. gain Of ST. miles
during the I9st year This I,l; gam Is que Is 10
from Ashland to Fort Kent, 80 miles, an
extension of the Bangor & Aroostook Rail
road from Van Buren two miles up the st.
John River; an extension of the Rumford
Fails 4 Rangeley Lakes Railroad north
from PENIS, 1866 miles: an extension of
the Wiscasset, Waterville & Pennington
Railroad from Weeks Mills to Winslow, IA
miles: the construction of "A branch OF the
York Harhor & Beach Railroad in Kittery,
"a of mile, and a change in remeasure-
ment Of .O3 Of a mile.
There are 342sS miles of street railways
In the state, all but three. miles being op.
Grated by electricity, gain of $500 miles
During the year ending June 80, 1902, the
gross earnings Of the steam railroads OF
Maine were $11, ,763, ,O6S.s6, a gain over the
, previous year of 1898. 3.0GG.00. and an increase
In the last ten years of $4,s41 s59.G2 1t
will thus be seen that the receipts of oul
steam railroads have nearly doubled since
! 1892.
The number of tons of freight carried IN
1909 was S.SiS.:03. a gain over the year
1892 of s. 5.173.369 TONS, or about $50 per cent.
The gross earnings of the street railways
for the year ending June 30. 1902
$1,573. 1880. Eight thousand four hundred
and seventy nine persons We're employed
upon both steam and street railroads. who
received during the year, wages amounting
to 81 ass, ;5S:i. 20.