Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-14
Common New England Interests.

governors and duly appointed repre-
sentatives of the six New England
states to be held in Boston on Monday
and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week
The strong list of delegates named by
Governor Cobb was published in yes
tcrday's Journal. This meeting, which
: an outcome of the White House con-
ference Of a year ago of a preliminary
meeting Of the New England governors
in Boston not long ago, is called for =
discussion of those many problems in
six New England states seems espec-
tally desirable. 1t is the plan to make
these gatherings an annual occurrence
and it mas been arranged that out Of
the conference viii come definite recon-
inendations which the six governors
will insert in the messages to their re-
spective legislatures.
AS long ago as the time of John Win
tllrop. the Iirst governor OF the Massa-
Chusetts Bay colony, 4 New England
confederation was formed and although
little has been heard about such an ar
is easily demonstrated that there are
many subjects OF mutual interest to
these small neighboring states in the
northwest corner of the great Union.
l. is the common thing rather than
otherwise in this country for an area
as great as that Of New England to be
under q single guiding policy. The
total area of these six states is only
81, 900 square miles OF which onc-half
the area of the new state of Oklahoma
and only half Of that Of the Sagebush
State of Nevada. Kansas, Nebraska
and each Of the Dakotas are materially
| larger than our entire section. Of
course conditions are different in many
| respects in those western states than
here in New England. These six New
England states, although they have so
much III common yet differ greatly in
traditions. laws, and policies, just
as they differ in their origins.
There are some things to which
| each will cling, no doubt, and which
there is no need to disturb, but there
are many other things in which it
would be to the advantage Of all con-
cerned if Il common policy could pre-
vail
For instance, there is the automobile
which is one Of the features of our
modern life and which has no regard
for state boundaries in it's travels. Yet
each of the six New England states
| mas it's own restrictions regarding the
| automobile, it's own system of automo-
bile taxation and licenses. Mention oil
the automobile brings up the closely
related subject of public highways anc
| it is beyond question that it would Dt
mucn better if the good roads move
nent We're made subject of interstat,
| policy with continuous stretches OF i'm
proved highways between the leading
! ccnterS instead of detached stretche:
here ai.1 there. On this subject o
i good ! dads the Boston Transcrip
roved highway from New York acros.
CIV England to Portland and along
our coast. northward from Boston t
Montreal and still another from Provi
uHncc up through the Connecticut val
ley.
More important themes than these
however. are the preservation OF ou
natural resources. such as our forests
oar water supply. our game, and thu
sbellfish along the shore. All the New
| England states are working for thu
preservation of the lobster and TIL
clam, but several are working at eros
purposes with conflicting regulations
regarding open and close time. Con
certed action FOR the preservation o
these species would undoubtedly brin,
about better results
Then there are matters constant,
coming BEFORE Congress in which the 81,
New England states have common
Interest and in which concerted action
would be most effective. This IS VIII,
tho members of Congress are included
among the delegates to the conference
There is no end of lines upon which
the six New England states could worl
to their mutual advantage and the pro
posed conference of the representative
Of these states will not lack subject
to discuss or plans to propose. 1t j.
not impossible that the coming gath
cring may prove of epoch-making i'm
portance.
More than Other sections, New Eng
lands future is dependent upon tn,
careful outstanding of it's natural re
sources. 1T has a larger population t.
the square mile to maintain than any