Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-11-09

| 49, ~ SN''''sN'N'estt wv - \
BY way Of illustrating that affirmative
force which chsracterizes the "plus man,
and distinguishes him from bis fellows In
every race and in every cline Emerson,
himself typical New Engiander OF his
day, once said OF his people: airport
into any stationary districts into an
old Dutch population In New York or
Pennsylvania or among the planters OF
Virginia--a colony OF hardy Yankees,
with seething brains, heads full OF steam
hammer, pulley, crank and toothed wheel
and everything begins to shine with
vsluesi"
That sort OF thing has been going ON so
long that 1t Is sometimes source OF
wonder how, with this constant drain OF
New England by the great army of GU
goirg YANKEE colonizers, that section
the country has made such remarkat
and substantial progress. 1t is said that
there are 20 900 Maine people in California
alone.
That is California's distinct gain-but
Maine does not appear to have lost any
thing by that or any other OF her vast
contributions to the upbuilding OF the
West and the South. On the contrary,
the development OF her resources has been
little short of marvellous, all things con.
sidered.
"PLUs MAN..
The Maine man Is essentially a "pIus
mau". For generations the race has been
distinguished ty a surcharge OF physical
and mental energy-the sort that has good
red blood In LIS veins and in any troop OF
workers and thinkers may generally be
found at the head and in the best places.
1t was these characteristics that for a
quarter Of century and more kept
Maine the most potent among the states
In her influence In the national legislator.
Through this same spirit she is alto
gether likely, In the near future, to get
the credit OF hosting the stars and strip
on the north pole. No other state in the
Union has exhibited such energy, enter
prise and persisteney in keeping American
ships in the cross seas trade.
And no other people on the globe are
more aIertly loyal to their home institu-
lions or have warmer affection for each
other, no matter in what corner of the
world they may chance to be found.
Still Maine energy and enterprise are
not OF the sort that must have sctioD,
action, always and everyw here, as Is the
case with the typical westerner-not the
sort whose possessor pines for adventure,
must go to Pixies Peak, had rather die by
the Ratchet of a Pawnee than sit all day
at counting room desk. Maine energy
is balanced by rare conservatism and
caution.
| INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
Thus Names industrial development
and com merciai progress have been slower
than those of many western states, but
always steady, substantial, lasting. This
feature stands out prominently In every
story OF her urban growth. While her
own population has been steadily increas-
ing she has been contributing constantly
and conspicuously TO the growth Of other
commonwealths, both near and remote.
From 1890 to 1900 her people grew in
mum bers from 661 ,0s6 to 694, 466-but had
all her outgoing colonizers of the decade
remained at home, that recorded increase
might easily have been nearly doubled
A STATE OF HOMES.
Maine Is a great community OF homes
perhaps chief among the New England
states In this respect. The first ambition
| of the average wage worker there is to
call his own the roof that shelters him,
and in consequence the people there are
] top
degree, but are marked In the main by a
spirit of Independence and thrift that
never fails to impress the stranger within
their gates.
The house of the mechanic stands hard
by the "piace" CT the rich merchant
or manufacturer, and the two touch
elbows on better terms perhaps than Is
the case anywhere else in the country.
Your Maine folks, anywhere and every
where from Calais to Kittery, are
thoroughly democratic.
A superb public-school system made
attractive for scholars In every walk and
condition in life has helped materially
to breed a strong fraternsl feeling among
them, and the Jacks and the Madges Of
| fifteen are still Jacks and Madges at
seventy, no matter how fortune has
favored or frowned on them-a delight
fully free, independent, original people.
| VARIED INDUSTRIES.
Years ago they began to chain their
water courses and to apply the pent-up
| power to manufacturing. To-day Maine
lumber, cottons, woolens, leather goods,
paper, building stone, lime and numerous
other products are known the world over;
her tonnage is the most conspicuous in
the coastwise carrying trade and as
never been quite forced out of the foreign.
While building up all these industries
she has never forfeited her position in
agriculture or the fisheries; and, mean
time, she has achieved a reputation as e
summer-resort section unequalled by any