Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-30

The average amount of cost per
acre, therefore was a little over 26
cents, per acre. At that time the
State tax was. 00125 and the revenue
to the State from the lands, was $2S,-
562.1O. In 1906, the State board of
assessors gave the total number of
acres of wild lands in these same eight
counties as 9.129,119, and their value
was placed at $36,423,3G1. They We're
thus valued at about 81. an acre, and
the revenue to the State was $109,-
269.91.
1t is an interesting fact, in connec-
tion with the value of public lands,
that the celebrated Bingham purchase
of over two million of acres, made in
1898. brought an average Of only
II 1a cents per acre.
In 1925 Moses Greenleaf, one of the
earliest writer's on the history of
Maine, and authority upon the subject
of wild lands. stated that in the east
ern part of the State lands could be
bought in abundance, for from Is TO
80 cents an acre.
In his first message to the LegiSla-
ture, in 1920, Governor King suggested
the State in the management of the
public lands which would prevent
speculation but encourage the settle
ment Of these lands, by a class of men
who would help in building up the
State. In 1921 the Legislature of
Massachusetts passed a resolve pro-
posing that Maine should purchase all
the lands owned in Maine, by the
Commonwealth. Commissions We're
appointed by each of the states, and
an agreement was reached by them
whereby Maine should purchase
Massachusetts rights in the lands
of the State. for $1SS,922, but the
Legislatures Of both states refused to
ratify this agreement.
In Governor Enoch Lincoln in
his message to the Legislature
referred to the public lands as "a wild
and fertile territory embracing about
six million of acres AccOrding~to
Governor Lincoln up to that time the
State had disposed of soil and of pro-
duce to the amount of over $4,000.
In addition to this $4,000 acres had
been granted to academies. Governor
Lincoln appreciated the value of these
impress upon the minds of the people
the importance of preserving an"
wisely managing it.
The early Legislature adopted lib
eral policy in the appropriation OF
lands to aid in building roads and
bridges. The road north of Bingham
purchase and the Aroostook road were
built through the proceeds OF sales OIL
these lands. One report says that the
buildine of sixty one miles of the very
important AroostoOk highway cost
$1,000 a mile The Legislature also adop-
ted a very liberal policy In regard TO
grants towards those who had served
in time of war and in 1884 the Legis-
lature granted 81 acres of land to every
|non-commissioned officer and soldier
who had served for not less than three
wears in the Revolutionary war. and
who were at that time residents of the
state. The widows of soldiers who
would come under the provisions OF
tits act were also entitled to the same
amounts of lands. The lands to carry
ont the provisions of this act We're Sc
ircted from the Indian townships at
the mouth Of the Mattawamkeag river
on the east side of the Penobscot river,
in the county of Penobscot. 1t also in
cluded township No. secand range Of
townships. north of Bingham purchase,
in Washington county.
The rapid sales of the lands and the
large grants made for one purpose and
another. opened the eyes of the people
10 the fact that the immense amounts
of lands owned by the State were tast
disappearing. In January, 1888. the
house of representatives called upon
lana agent John Hodgdon for an ap-
stract Of the transactions of the iand
lepartme from 1920 to the hrsf OF
January. that year. Mr. Hodgdon made
statement showing that the t9tai
amount OF sales covered by those years
war zoos. 45O acres, and that they
brought sS93.01S.s2 The highest price
received was IS cents an acre, ana
the lowest price. the average
price being .4Sla. During wa
sa,ne period the number of acres grant
"a fo, different DurpOSeS was IOS, 953