Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-09
Boosting the State.

tics OF the state OF Maine mas issued
more interesting or more valuable
report than that which is now being
distributed By the present Commits
sioner Hon. Thomas J. Lyons. of Vim
aIhsven. Mr.. Lyons. recognizing the
Names wonderful resources, devotes
a portion OF the report TO opportunities
for new industries. He could not have
fixed upon a better subject for ms
department to discuss and it is diff
fculr 70 see where the discussion of
the subject could be materially
changed for the better.
Three Years ago the bureau request
ed informa ton from the assessors VI
the several cities, towns ana pial''
lions of the State concerning oppor-
tuni.ies for new industries ana re-
ceived in ceply reports from 10 Vi ''e
cities. al2 of the towns and - OF the
,,an,a,ions This year the $50 delin-
nu.p, boards we're approached again
and replies were received from l@9.
unfortunately, of the ii municipalities
etiu diiinouent, Biddeford, Lewiston.
portland and South Portland are in
chGed. Now Riddeford and Lewiston
are cities largely dependent upon wa
tar powrr fer their prosperity ana
40, ~, n i, nj I,4G
for now industries within .heir limits
This is especially true of lewiston
the most rapidly growing city III
Maine today. Portland AN" Son'h
Portland are dependent upon .ihelr eH-
c,llent transportation facilities ana
advantageous geographical loca' ''''
for their industrial prestige ana u"
one dreams any appreciate por'i''''
of their manifold advantages nave
been exhausted. So that in reading Oh
the opportunities Maine cues an"
towns contain. it is only fair |" heaF
in mind that some OF the rlc'eAi se"''
have been nnavoidably left out.
70 ouole from the report: Name
10 rich in water power, the value OF
which can only be approXimated
one can only deal with this SUBJECT
in peneralitics because detailed
statement of the developed and unde-
veloped water powers in Maine would
GlI a large volume.
Maine is served by something over
1000 miles of steam railroads and over
400 miles of electric railroad. Both
are expanding rapidly in every dlrec-
port them is offered. Ten or the IL
counties are on navigable rivers" says
the report. and more than one hundred
cities and towns are accessible by
steamboats, and sailing vessels. The
state has a total OF 1861 miles OF
navigable rivers over which l,5l5l3.
tons of freight were moved in 1908.
We are blessed with raw material in
LARGE Quantities for certain manuiac-
tureS, Suc1 as lllrnDeI, StoIit. 'ldS,
SAND. limestone and slate. We pack
and cure hug" quantities of fish. we
manufacture cotton and wooden cloths
and boots and shoes and clothing. but
we could manufacture more.
Another feature OF the report winch
should not 90 unnotic"d is III" COM
ment upon agriculture. 1t says. zone
OF TIVE industries which should appeal
u the young men OF moderate means
is agriculture. There probably is n"
State in the Union where good farm
ing land can be purchased at 50 low a
price as in Maine. and no state where
the leading crops average a yield s"
large or value per acre $" high as IN
this state"
A state with these advantages cam
rot stand still 1t will grow more rap
idly than it's most enthusiastic boost
,.rS realize