Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-30

earlier records. In 1901, the record day
at Bangor was November II, when 1S5
deer and Z moose were received. The
record day in 1902 was also November
II, when 1871 deer and 8 moose We're re-
ceived. The record day thus far this
season was November 13, when POP deer
and Il moose We're received at Bangor.
OF these i'll deer and moose were
shipped outside the state by II licensed
hunters. These figures
shows the great amount of bushes
which the hunters, resident and nom
resident have been doing in the north
ern WOODS this fall, and when the full
returns are received, it will be seen
that the season has been fully up to
earlier years in all respects.
The cotton mill situation in New
England is decidedly interesting to
me-" remarked State House official
to 4 Journal reporter, Saturday. Il
have had a strong feeling for some
time that the day was coming when
conditions at the South would put the
Northern mills into a most difficult
position. The South raises the cotton,
raises the coal and raises the iron. To
transport all these things to the North
for manufacture is really an unnatural
process, when one comes to think of
it, The reason for it has been two
fold. The North has had a monopoly
of water power, inasmuch as the rivers
of the South furnish practically none.
And thes North has also had a monop-
oily of industrial enterprise. At the
time of the Civil war. the South was
ally, and the causes of Southern defeat
We're at bottom economic. But a great
change vhas come over the South, and
out of her very defeat, she seems likely
to win victory. Industrial enterprise
has been carried thither, transplanted
and thrives so vigorously as to threat
en- its Northern relative seriously. The
monopoly of water power is becoming
less and less important, as steam and
electric machinery are developed, and
the time is coming when the two sec
tions of the country will be on equal
footing, SO far as this is concerned.
When that time comes the South will
have practically every advantage but
one. skilled labor. 1t is claimed on
good authority that it is practically
impossible to obtain laborers of such
capacity and intelligence in the South
as Northern mills have. The blacks
and poor whites constitute the labor
ing class. and are far inferior to the
New England imam in oVeralls." The
hope of the North, then, is in her
skilled labor to operate the most deli
cate machinery, and so monopolize the
finer grades of cotton manufacture.
This is the situation at present, as the
coarser grades of cotton goods have
already been given up, here. But this,
after all. looks like a last hope, and as
the people of the two sections come
nearer to the same level of education
and skilled industry, the Southern
mills must drive the Northern out of
the cotton business. This is the rea-
son, perhaps. that even now mills
which declare dividends of per cent
on their stock, are finding their stock
quoted at 95, below par value. There
are mills could name. however, which
seem likely to hold their own, almost
indefinitely, as they have won Their
way to u practical monopoly of for
eign markets. and their goods are il
demand there at profitable prices
when other mills are obliged to reduce
wages or close down. Their trade
mark and reputation ensure their safe
ty. The facts of the case are that the
North has taught the South how to
conquer her.
mo. l do not anticipate that it will
49,, Int
evolution, rather. The Yankee was
never kept down. Northern industry
will spy out something new, and there
will be another step in the worlds
progress. Then he can claim that Tho
South has only taken what he was
ready to leave.
"Of course the high price of cottor
has much to do with the present cu'
in wages, but it is a forecast, as well
Cotton now costs almost as much as
wool, and wool keeps settling continu-
ally at lower levels. 1t would be in
teresting to know the causes. Once
it could be attributed to the Wilson
bill, but there is no such convenien
Scapegoat now, and to be frank, th'
wool growing industry is dying GU
rapidly in the State of Maine. Ihi
valuation of sheep decreases by thou
sands, yearly, and the chief sheeI
growing region is now confined tf
small sections of the coast where con
ditions are most favorable. / take TINS
however for another evidence OF IN
dustrial evolution. 1t cannot be O.
disaster, for the State assessors have
given out figures, this fall. which De
lieve you published in the journal
showing that Maine had never enlONeG