Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-06-19
MAINE AND MASSACHUSETTS.


chusetts only "a 1862. little more than two
per cent. of her population, leaving
q much larger percentage free IN Massa-
chusetts for other and more gainfui oc-
equations. Massachusetts, not only has
fewer persons engaged in the less profit
able occupation, but those that are en-
gagged therein are making greater profit,
giving her decided advantage.
Manufacturing enterprises are gener-
ally accepted as the desirable avenues
through which wealth can be accumulated,
and here the advantage is decidedly with
Massachusetts,, as she had in 1900 an in
yestment OF capital in manufacturing OF
sS23. 264 ,2S7, with wage-esrners numbering
497, 44s, and an annual product OF Sz2s,-
240,442, as against in Maine capital OF
s122, 91s. s26, ge-earners numbering "a
S16, and product of s2s, 527 $40, Massa-
chusetts exceeding Maine nearly eight
times instead of four as she would if the
proportion were equal, again decided
advantage in the line OF the acquisition Of
wealth.
These facts speak in no uncertain tones
in favor of Maine people and her policy.
1t is no discredit to Maine, however, to
note the fact that from 1850 to 1900 she has
increased by s124 the average amount paid
her wage earners, while Massachusetts
has made an increase of only SS7.
The home is the basic and essential unit
of our Christian civilization, and the ca
pacity to establish, maintain and own
homes is the most significant characters
tic of the highest development of people.
The average percentage of families having
free and unencumbered homes in the
North Atlantic division, consisting OF the
New England States and New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. is 22.S per cent.
Maine has 40 per cent, Massachusetts, only
IS per cent Maine is exceeded in this
particular in all of the states and terri
tories only by Idaho, with 61.s per cent;
Montana, 49.5; Nevada, 6o.4, New Mexico,
66.9; North Dakota, 56.7; Oklahoma, $50;
Utah, 500; and Alaska, 500. OF farm
families in Maine 69.2 per cent. own their
farms unincumbered. In Massachusetts
only 53.S per cent. SO hold them.
The liquor traffic is the most prolific
and potential source of insanity, pau
pSIlsIu anu cflUlS. 1nSst. 10 4uttt hE
Garvin, are ''the evils of drunkenness"
that ''are so common and so potent and
make the loss to society seem so vast.
Their connection with the subject under
discussion is close enough to warrant ex-
animation and analysis in this connection.
In 1903 Maine had $50 insane in its hos
pitfalls, 1858 for every 100000 people.
lal Fzr
100, 900, more than twice as many as Maine,
Notwithstanding the fact that the death
record in Massachusetts for insane in hos
pitfalls was LOIS, with only 96 in Maine,
nearly eleven times as many when there
should only have been four times as
many. Maine shows a decrease of the
number of insane, with her relatively
small death-rate of insane, since 1880 of
1928 in every 100000 people, while Massa-
chusetts shows an increase of one in every
100000.
In the Maine almshouses there were,
December 81, 1903, 1,l52 paupers, or 1881
for every 100000 people, and in Massa-
chusetts 1884 or 1878 for every 100000;
and here again the death-rate in Massa-
chusetts was 1888 and only ISL in Maine.
Maine shows from 1890 to 1903 a decrease
in paupers of 3, and Massachusetts, an
increase during the same time of l, 209.
Names death-rate from alcoholism in
1900 for every 100, 900 people was %; that
OF Massachusetts, was 6.S, three times as
great. Names rate is lower than that of
any other state in the Union except
New Hampshire's, which is the same.
There were of prisoners in Maine, Jane /,
1890, 512 or TIA for every 100000; in Msssa-
chusetts, 5,227, or 2,335 for every 100000;
three times as many as in Maine. Among
the offences were: Against the public
peace, Maine, 8; Massachusetts,, AZ.
Against the public morals, Maine, 1863;
Massachusetts, LIP. Assaults, Maine, IS;
Massachusetts, 3a5. Drunk and dis
orderly, Maine, 146; Massachusetts,, 1871.
June 80, 1901, there were of prisoners
for drunkenness in Maine 10 and in
Massachusetts, 2,110, q proportion Of more
than ten to one, when if parallel it should
be four to one. This is record with
which Maine has no occasion to be dis
couraged.
These are splendid and unparalleled re-
suits, and demonstrate an actual progress
in Maine markedly in excess of Massa-
chusetts and elsewhere Whether these
results are attributed to the unusual intel
igence and the natural energy, enter
prise, thrift and capacity with which the
people of Maine are fortunately endowed
to degree not found elsewhere, or
whether they are to be accounted for by
the fact that, because of the policy of
prohibiting the liquor traffic, they are
able more effectively to conserve and util-
zetheir energies, or both, 4 lesve-to be
answered by the critics.
The facts exist. If the critics propose
to eliminate the prohibition of the liquor
traffic as an important and controlling
factor, the burden is upon them to do so.
What is the difierentiating cause? While
the suggestion is not intended to apply