Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-03-26
vsorRcEs AND INDUSTRIES OF
THE STATE OF MAINE.


Maine, the largest, and also the young
..t n the New England states, ranks first
:, the union in the abundance of resources
OF nature.
Tho statement has often been made that
,,.;,s,s most valuable natural resources
ues in her water powers, and that state
,,apt still holds good, as it has been COM
ruted that there is enough undeveloped
,.ater. power in the northern part of the
gate TO furnish light and power for half
,,s cities and factories OF New England.
But it is natural to speak first Of the re-
sonrces of the forests, out OF which grew
,he lumber industry. Owing to the
sbundaHce OF timber and good transporta-
lion facilities, Maine became at one time
the leading ship building State of the
Union. OF late years this industry has de-
cnned although many wooden ships are
still built.
In addition to timber for ship building,
the forests supply lumber to the wood
working mills which turn out last blocks,
wheel bs, spools, veneer and wooden
novelties, and to the mills which manu-
tacture long and short lumber; also to the
pulp mills, which grind our spruce and
poplar into pulp which is finally converted
into paper.
Our forests also provide shelter to the
wild animals. The northern sect on of
our State has been called "the playground
of nation" - forest play ground OF
over 5000 square miles In area. And the
great north woods have been termed the
normal dwelling place of the AngIo-Saxon
race. 1t is here the largest cities of the
eastern section OF our country send their
population in thousands for health and
recreation.
Our attention is called next to the re-
sources OF the soil. From the quarries
OF Maine is taken untading black slate of
the finest quality, which is unexcelled in
all the world. Large quantities OF granite
are also taken from the quarries of our
State. They have furnished the granite
for many great buildings all over the
country, among which may be mentioned
the post office buildings at Chicago, Cleve-
land and Milwaukee. Quarrying has
been great industry in Maine for more
than fifty years.
Agriculture has long claimed the atten-
ton OF a large percentage OF our people.
Among he leading products OF cultivation
are hay, potatoes and sweet corn. The
Aroostook potato crop is so great annually
that it has gained world wide fame.
Aroostook potatoes are shipped to nearly
every state east of the Mississippi river.
The Aroostook farmer treats the cultiva-
ton Of the potato as a science, and with
the remarkably excellent soil to help him,
has succeeded in getting larger yield to
the acre, and potatoes OF better quality,
than has been attained in any potato-rais
ing section OF this or any other country.
The raising and canning of sweet corn
has long been well-esta blished industry
in this State. II is claimed the finest corn
in the world Is raised and canned in
franklin county.
Orcharding is receiving great amount
Of attention. Apples of different varieties
are raised In every county OF the State.
Hancock county has many large orchards
which produce fruit of the finest quality.
The Baldwin, Stark, Macintosh red, and
Graveustein apples are the leading va
rieties. The counties OF Oxford, Kennebec
and Androscoggin are the leading apple
raising sections Of Maine.
There are many hundreds OF acres OF fine
pasture-land, affording feed for many
hundreds OF cattle and sheep.
The canning OF blueberries is an import
ant industry in the eastern part OF the
State. The blueberry crop in Washington
county the past year amounted to $4,000.
Even our swamps are productive, as
they annually furnish thousands of rail-
road ties and poles for telegraph and tele-
phone lines.
But, as has been stated, Names greatest
resource lies in her water power; manu-
featuring would naturally follow as the
leading industry. "Where the waters
once reared and tumbled over jagged
rocks, there are great concrete dams, and
the waters which defied all powers but
those of the Creator, are now harnessed
and do the bidding OF man."
We have cotton and wooden mills,
creameries, grist- mills, starch factories,
tanneries, foundries, pulp and paper mills,
canning factories, lumber mills and a
piano factory. In 1900 there were in the
State 6,702 manufacturing establishments,
which gave employment to about ten per
cent OF the total population.
The cutting and storing Of ice is among
the most important minor industries, and
millions of tons are annually shipped.
The Rennebec river is the chief centre Of
this industry, and its buildings for storing
Ice are the most extensive in the world.
Maine has countless streams, lakes and
ponds, out of which are taken large
Quantities of fish every year.
Our State is noted for its beautiful
scenery and fine summer resorts. We
nave long, broken coast, with many ex-
celpnt haya and harhpra uybtoh ma a