Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-01-13

siah bot Idil 10 JuStiIy our service duko
to our consciences and to our constituent
cies.
A Prosperous Two Years.
1t Is hardly necessary for me to say
that our state has been very prosperous
the past two years, and that our iinan-
ces are in excellent condition. Our total
bonded indebtedness is but six hundred
ninety eight thousand dollars (s69S 000)
no part of which will fall dur during this
administration. On December 81 1905
there was S56S.5S4.44 cash in the treas
ury We have paid three hundred ninety
five thousand dollars (s395.000) on the
bonded Indebtedness in the past two
years. All but two hundred sixty-eight
thousand three hundred dollars t$26S, 5000
of our present beaded Indebtedness is
bearing interest at the rate of three
percent and while none of our bonds ma
ture before 1911. l would advise purchas-
ing them, from time to time, as we can
make the purchases on a reasonable bas-
is, The present valuation is 2S,2l2.-
5000, showing an increase of 3,479,-
1880 over that of 1906
The total receipts for the years 1907-S
were S6.29S, 252.iS.
The total expenditures for the same
years were sG,327, 6s9.oG.
The estimated ordinary receipts for
1909 are s3.95s.44O.s
The estimated ordinary receipts for
1910 are 81 1909 393.S2
The estimated ordinary expenditures
for 1909 are 1855, 343.29.
The estimated ordinary expenditures
for 1910 are s3,736, 75142.
II should be remembered that while
We have large cash balance at this time
much of this will be used In the next
few months for current expenses, or be-
fore the state receives revenue from any
available source. While it is a matter
rSVfd hat xr,A
ing rapidly in wealth. we should practice
the same careful economy that has won
approval OF the citizens In the past. In
using this term ''practicing economy" l
wish you to understand that employ II
In the broader sense which means to
deal literally with ALL" to stint no in
stitution or state function but to keep
within the reasonable limits of our abili-
ty; to expend our money wisely; to see
that we get a good return for our ex-
penditures and to live so that we may
pay our debts without placing heavier
burdens upon the tax payers.
Conservation Of Our Resources.
Since the legislature of 1907 adjourned,
the Supreme Court of Maine in response
to request Of the Maine senate. has
published an opinion Affirming that the
legislature can regulate the cutting OF
logs on wild lands This opinion was well
coined by the president OF the United
States as an important and formal dec
laration In favor Of the public rights In
public resources which ownership does
not ALLEVIATE. In the past two years his
tory has been making along these lines,
and the various congresses for conserva-
ton and irrigation and the gatherings of
governors of states which have been
held in 1908. have developed public
thought along the lines OF the welcome
opinion of our Maine supreme court.
am persuaded that the waste of public
equity. notably in our forests makes il
Imperative that the present legislature,
should at least make beginning in the
direction OF state forest reserves and
state water storage. From year to year.
the nation has gone on. hit or miss, our
rivers have shrunk, and our forests have
been invaded so that. from one end OF
the country to the other, there Is reason
able alarm. Exhaustion of natural re-
sources, OF water power and forests would
be a grave disaster to corporations as
well as to the people. Floods waste and
destroy in the spring, and in midsummer.
autumn and winter We go dry. Unless
we preserve the forests on our mountain
and hilsides the soil will be carried by
the heavy rains into the valleys and the
mountain slopes be forever desoate.
Thousands OF acres in other countries
now desert were made such by waste
and pillage OF wild lands. To preserve
and cultivate the forests at our river
headwaters, seems to me to be our imme-
date duty.
Accordingly / recommend that the
legislature authorize and create a state
water supply commission, to devise
plans for the development Of our water
power, under ultimate state ownership
and control, so far as Is practicable. This
is no new matter. Since July IL, 1907,
there has been such a law on the statute
books OF New York state. opera ting I'M
der expert direction. The Empire State
year ago owned 1.51S.450 acres of pub
lie land, of which upwards OF 95 percent
was in the Adirondacks. In his message
of Jan. /, 1908. the governor of New York
recommended that the state of New York
extend its purchases, at the same time
urging that any effort of private inter-
ests to invade the common rights of
these lands should be defeated.
Must RepIant Forests.
Under state direction the time is at
hand when we must replant forests care
lessly destroyed. The state can produce
pine and spruce trees for very small
sum per thousand, A state water supply
commission naturally would cooperate
with the Forest and Game commission to
establish nurseries of forest trees.
The work which 1 commend and which
is justified in the state of New York.
should be given to men who have expert
knowledge of the subject. Skilled engi-
neers. members of such state water sup
ply commission, should supply exact in
formation regarding water powers unde
veloped and should equip us with infor-
nation and advice promotive of public
rights In harmony with vested rights.
The interests of existing corporations
and the people are in harmony when
properly understood. | agree with the
governor OF New York that mo grant
should be made of water power privi-
leges without compensa ton. nor without
restriction that will properly protect the
rights of the public from whom the privi-
leges are derived"
1t is noted that the science of forestry
is now invoked in 20 percent of the for
ests yet remaining in the hands OF the
nation and OF states, while in but one
percent of forests owned by corporations
forestry has been invoked. The excellent
record of public forests as distinguished
from corporate forests is due TO the fact
that forestry i'll public lands has been
conducted by experts devoted to scienti-
fic forestry. The opinion of the supreme
At l.