New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-12
MAINE USREPRESENTED.

Material injustice seems to be done to the
State of Maine by regarding 1t and treating 1t
as chiefly 4 wilderness region, given up TO hunt
Ing trapping and fishing. Thus at the st. Louis
fair this year the Maine State Building is TO
lie log cabin, filed with hunters and fisher
mems trophies. 1t is also complained that the
laws for the protection of game, chiefly in the
interest of nonresident sportsmen, ere so I'M
just and oppressive to farmers that the agri-
cultural development OF the State is seriously
retarded and In some parts Of the State growth
of population has entirely ceased. There can
be no doubt that the forests, mountains and
lakes of Maine present to the sportsman one OF
the most attractive hunting grounds in the
world; and the spoliaton OF them would be
q monstrous shame Yet, on the other hand,
the superb agricultural and manufacturing re-
sources OF the State deserve recognition and
Safeguarding, and there can be little hesitation
in saying that the subordinaton Of these latter
to the sportsmen's pleasure wouldsbe an intol-
cradle hardship, while to set up a hunters log
cabin as representative Of Maine is so grossly
unjust to be grotesque.
Maine is not one Of the most populous States.
yet 1t considerably outranks Colorado, Florida,
Washington and Oregon, and has more inhabi-
tants than the three States Of Utah, Montana
and Idaho combined In value of real estate 1t
OurankS GeOf2la, lne |Elnpf6 SJAte OF
South, and in total valuation it surpasses Kan
sas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee West
Virginia. Washington and Oregon Its debt is
smaller than that Of Rhode Island or Mississippi
or the Territory of Arizona Its tax rate is one
Of the lowest. 1t has more capital invested
in manufactures than has Georgia. or Ala
bama, or either OF the Virginias, either of
the Carolinas, or Louisiana, or Kentucky,
Iowa. While in population 1t stands thirtieth,
IN amount Of bank deposits it stands eighteenth,
almost eQualling Texas, surprising Kansas, Ne
braska, Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisiana,
and more than twice exceeding Georgia, or the
two Carollnas combined. Its millions of acres
Of farming land rank in fertility and value OF
products almost If not quite as high as any on
the continent. 1t is true that its lakes are pro-
ductive of many fish, and more fish stories; and
that receipts of big game" at Bangor amount
to about 10 moose and 1900 deer a season.
But what are these compared with more than
S20,O00,OOO year from three agricultural prod
ucts, and S19,oO0,OO0 worth of domestic ami
mails?
The fact is, Maine is State of exceptionally
varied natural characteristics. A considerable
part OF 1t is best suited for hunting. fishing and
the like; and it would be we'll to have 1t main
tanned as such, forming, along with the noun
tain region of ew-Hampshre unsurpassed
forest preserve. But that region should be so
administered as not to interfere with the larger
and fax more important part which is adapted
to the high development OF agriculture, manu-
features and commerce; and the representation
Of the State which is made at st. Louis should
be one that would show It TO be a State of
varied resources rich in farms and factories
and ocean-going fleets, and not be confined to
the subordinate and incidental features OF log
cabins and deer hides.