Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-01-04
NAMES GREAT RESOURCES.
Prosperous Now, and LIKELY Long to
Remain So.
(Banoor Commercial Nov. a6.)

| Commercial alluded to he fact that the
more than s10s. 100000 in the various
savings institutions OF the State attested
to the thrift, industry and economy of
our people.
When 1t said this 1t told only OF one
little part OF a great whole. We do not
mean little part in the sense that nearly
one hundred and three and half million
OF dollars is not a large sum, indeed a
magnificent sum; but we mean that OF her
matters enter into this computation which
OF themselves are greater than the mefe
savings OF our people.
For before savings must come expenses
OF living, of education, OF business inter-
ests--things which are far greater In the
aggregate than the sums saved, aud beside
which the amount in the savings institu-
lions look small. That Is what we mean
by saying this nearly one hundred and
three and one half millions of dollars
saved is only little part of the whole of
our industrial energy.
The wage ssrners OF our State are co..
lec:ively its great factor for development
and business. The various industries OF
Maine furnish the means for their profit
able employment. From the pay for this
employment they must first of all support
themselves and their families.
Then come other things-educstion OF
the children, suppcft Of the church;
higher finish to the young peoples equip
meht for life work In music, art, or
college course. Then there are benevo-
lences, which amount to no inconsidera bic
sum; taxes, insurance, etc., being included
In the general family support.
After the expense OF all these things
which pertain to life are met, then there
come in the little sums of savings which
are now represented by deposit OF nearly
one hundred and three and one half mill
lion dollars in our savings Institutions.
This last item, as we'll as all the other
items mentioned, are based upon the
industry Of the State. 1t is because Maine
is prosperous that our wage earners are
employed, that they are we'll to do, that
they can tuck away q little money each
year in some one of cur savings banks
against that rainy day.
In no other New England state to-day
is there such general prosperity as there is
in Maine. We think this plain propo-
sition admits.of no question. Let us look
at the situat ton a little closer. From Kit
terry TO Quoddy our people are employed
We do not now recall a condition of
serious labor dsturb ance at any point in
industrial Maine. There Is, or mas been a
little trouble in machine shop in York
county-which Is not unusual in thst
locality; and there is yet little odor OF
some sort hanging over a company at
Rumford Falls, but we believe even there,
no men are out. II there are exceptions
they are not e ements OF great disturbance.
AT Biddetord and Saco; at Lewiston and
Auburn; at Brunswick; at Augusta; at
Waterville; in the great pulp and paper
plants; at the WOODEN mills; In all the
lesser industries mills and factories are
busy at profitable work ana paying good
wages. This is why our people can put
aside some OF their earnings in the banks
and loan associations.
Many of the industries above named are
based, OF course, upon a combination OF
resources outside of our State. The cotton
mills must depend upon the products OF
other states for their material, the use of
which gives employment.
But to come down to things at home.
We intensity the statement that Maine is
more prosperous to-day than any other
New England state, by saying that we
have greater and more varied natural
resources than any other New England
state. Is it not SO?
Let us look, but in looking we can only
enumerate without going into detail. Our
great prosperity is based upon our agricul-
tural resources, in which we lead all the
states in New England. Our forests are
practically inexhaustible, and in the
industries built upon them, our lumber
mills, pulp and paper plants and allied
industries, 1--WE beat the world to say
nothing OF little New England-for at
Van Buren, We have the largest lumber saw
mill in the world, and at MiIIinoeket the
largest pulp and paper plant in the world.
Our granite, slate, mica and feldspar mines
surpass those Of any other New England
state.
In what New England state is to be built
the opening spring, two lines of standard
steam railroad, to add to our present
extensive railway mileage-the Northei
Seaboard line and the new line in mid
Aroostook9 Yet this is to be done In
Maine. And so we might go on-diversi-
fed industries, local manufactures OF
Importance, light plants, electric roads
and other elements of productive resources.
One thing must be mentioned--a closing
thought-our magnificent summer climate
and pleasuring resorts, the extent, variety