The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-28
THE DROUGHT IN MAINE.

Il The bAOANdI In MAINE.
| Notwithstanding the fact that du .
'ns a period in which the mind OF
the present generation runneth not 10
The contrary, Maine, despite its rami.
hed network of lakes and rivers, has
won universal recognition as the
"dr1est" state In the Union, It's legisla.
''re the other day enacted thirst-de-
tying ordinance well calculated. II
would seem. to itensity the aridity OF
'ne prospect for persons of blbulous
prociivites TO a hygrometric degree
that would justify immediate emigra-
tion. If the news dispatches from tho
Pine Tree State are to be trusted
and there would appear to be no rea-
son TO doubt their accuracy, for one
and all are cast in vein of contem-
plative seriousness not to say sobriety.
that compels credence. the new Sturgis
act went into operation on Saturday,
and as a consequce. or rather through
the suddenly awakened activity OF the
sheriff in Portland, against whose toll
GRAFTON the act was originally aimed,
every steamboat and sailing vessel
that left the harbors of Maine during
the three preceding days, was loaded
to the gunwales with "kegs, barrels,
boxes and bottles of wet goods" whose
objective point, the correspondents are
careful to specify, was staid old Bos-
ton.
From tile condensed abstract of the
new law which has appeared in the
papers, it would seem that the meas
ure is OF character sufficiently dras-
tic fully to have warranted this alcohol
ic freightage, but those who during
recent years have essayed the task OF
obtaining such q relatively modest
quencher" as glass Of beer at any
first class hotel in Potland, Bangor or
Augusta, may well be pardoned Tor
doubling that the state ever really
contained the portables that the dis
patches enumerate.
The new law contemplates the sur
rendering of sail the common law and
statutory powers" issued by sherihs IN
their respective counties in regard 10
the enforcement Of the prohibition act'
N a committe OF three members to De
appointed by the governor, and this
hoard Is authorized by the act to ap-
noint unlimited deputies possessed Oh
commensurate power. throughout tne
commonwealth.
tn New Workers who are accustoHeu
to mass the heated term in out-ooor
recreation. with rod or gun, upon she
streams and amid the sylvan fastness-
es Of Maine, the prospect is terrifying
How. II may be asked, Is that "ousAs
silent Indian" that Kipling knew ana
sang 60 convincingly about 10 DC
coaxed into doing half a days "ork
with q paddle lOT d 'uAA 80
his zeal is not periodically quicKeheu
with three fingers of vegetable pi''
tersr-for so the woodsmen term 1t
in a tin pannikin? Then, too ever
since the days Of gentle Izaak. walton
the rocket fash has been as necessary
a part of the equipment OF the COM
nIete angler as his rod or creel-excep'
in the case of deep-sea fishermen Tor
thev It is rumored, invariably take
along a Jug. How is the stock ex-
change member, off for his brief hoh-
dav ever going to succeed in playing
and landing that monster trout in the
remote wilderness which envlrohS
Chimauasabamtook, or near the head
waters of classic Molechunkemunk, de5
prived Of this necessary adjunct to true
sportsmanshlp? Who can contemplate
without dismay a barless Bar Haroor
or a Mount Desert drier than Death
Valley and even more clamorous for