Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-07-21
THE PINE TREE STATE.
AS SEEN BY A SUMNER RESI-
DENT OF BLUEHILL.
LURES FOR THE INVESTING vACA-
ZIONIST WHILE BEING ENTER
TANNED IN MAINE.
Theodore W. Nevin, in special letter to The
Piftsburg, PAL Dfsputch.J

| BLuEHuL, July S.-"Call it what you
like, but it's business said citizen OF
the State OF Maine to visitor who had
called his attention to the fact that the
work of the State in propagating fish was a
step in the direction OF socialism.
| And the man spoke right; there can be
no doubt that it is business. During the
last forty years Maine has been working
along on business lines; natural resources,
which would not, or could not. be taken
care of except through the agency Of the
State, have been developed; business
which did not exist before has been
created and made profitable; water and
forest have been made to yield riches
previously not dreamed of; money counted
in the millions has been lured into the
State to stay. What Maine has done
| makes record OF which any state might
| be proud; even New York, which has ac-
complshed much for its commerce by its
stupendous system OF internal improve
ments, has probably done less in proper
| ton.
| 1t was about half century ago that
Maine awakened to the fact that it was
necessary to bestir itself; the laisses fare
policy Of the earlier statesmen had failed
to make the commonwealth the prosper
GUS community that those who loved it
thought it should be. For some years pre-
viously, one or two decades, the pick OF
her sons, the young and vigorous, had
been leaving the State at the rate Of 5000
year. They left because there was no
business to keep them at home. Hence it
was that the leading men realized the
| burning necessity Of doing something to
stem the tide Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
had to be offered, business had to be Gre
| ated, opportunities had to be made, where
by Names sons could find agreeable and
profitable employment at home.
Governor Chamberlain sharply called
the matter to the attention OF the people
of the State in 1867, when he said that the
great natural resources of Maine, "her
millions OF acres OF forest primeval, "
the measureless power Of her inland
waters" were not being developed fast
enough ''to afford field for the vigorous
and enterprising spirit OF her sons'. The
virile message of the governor had an
effect on the legislature, which in the year
mentioned decided to take steps toward
protecting two of the States great re-
sources-its fish and its game. A commits
sion was appointed which, in the two sac
ceeding years, went to the bottom Of the
subject, and as result OF its labors, to
quote Mr.. Carleton, the present fish COM
missioner, "a fish and game commission
| was appointed and comprehensive code
| Of fish and game laws enacted, both OF
which have been in existence ever since,
with result that fish have become abun-
dant "and moose and deer plenty"
The enactment of the protective laws
was followed up later by liberal expen-
diture OF money for the development of
the fish industry; hatcheries were estab-
lished at a number of points and per-
feet system of distribution effected in the
waters where they could be placed to the
greatest advantage.
The enactment and putting into effect
of these laws provided for game wardens,
guides, who are expected to see that the
game laws are observed; a close season,
the inhibition of the killing of the cow
moose, etc., ETC., and under these wise
laws game has increased wonderfully. One
hears much about the vast potato and
other agricultural crops of the State, as
well as the great output of lumber, but it
is not generally known that 10000 to 25,-
900 deer, for instance, are annually killed
by the $4,000 to. 1900 sportsman who
come into the State for that purpose.
These figures are probably within rather
than beyond the facts, for as each hunter
is only entitled to shoot two deer, it can
be put down as a certainty that he will do