Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-23
Advertisement

not heiu oy proprlet0rS, as IN
suitable for settlement shou,d
be placed within reach of set
tiers on the most fayorabls
terms. 1t is too late now to cor
rect the wastefu policy under 4.
which the magnificent domain
which the state possessed half
century since has disappeared
yet much may be done to remedy
evils that arise from LOOKING
UP large tracts of settling lands 1.
which would otherwise be inn
proved"
And still pothing was done. TIL.
pillage went on. y
Subsequent legislatures took II,
tax reform as applied to these LANDS
and it was pointed out and publ;c,,
alleged by one persistent agitator
for equal taxation that the cities ana
towns the urban population and
the farm population alike. paid taxes
at an average rate of THOUSANDS
per cent more than the wild lana
owners. Slight reforms were ea;nad
but it was over the logged protest
and never sleeping contentious ~
the exploiters. Some concession,
were made from time to time in o,.
der that true values might not Ia
disclosed.
Wild land taxation in Maine makes
uR a whole history in itself and 7
may refer to this in more detau
should the discussion of public uti,i.
ties continue. ! wish now to roto.
TO these public land transa ctions in
general terms in order that the mao
pie OF Maine may come to n bette,
realization of the dangers that ho.
set another great natural asset Of ,bo
State.
1t seems impossible to escape tho
unpleasant conclusion that one of.
feet of this wild land policy is tba
slow growth of the state. Not only
did we play directly into the hands
of a small group of spectators who
had no public spirit and apparently
no thought beyond their own private
pockethooks. but we neglected an
easy opportunity to encourage SET
liefs and larger citizenship. This
was Wasteful, criminal neglect. Now
1t is too late we can plainly see il
Take for instance the period of en-
years from 1850 to 1910. to revert
to census figures. While Moine
grew in population only 81 per cent
the other New England States. with
one exception. made tremendous
strides. Rhode Island grew 26S pcr
cent. Massachusetts, 239 per cent
connecticut POI per cent, New
Hampshire SO per cent.
Taking into the account state areas
as above the story of the census fig.
ures is still more important. The
State of Maine has 1885 square
miles of territory and during this
period of sixty years, grew in popu.
lation only 159.202. The other five
states of the New England group
have a total area of only 3342o
square miles and at the same time
grew in population 3,672,273. These
are cold. hard. forbidding figures. but
they speak volumes. There is some
thing radically wrong in an economic
policy that results in such a condi-
ton. There is something radically
wrong in the financial and political
policy of a state that permits such a
condition to continue. 1t is time for
Maine to wake up. Let us now profit
by this wild land lesson.
1t is too late to wake up and lock
the door in the matter of the tim
berlands. The horse has been stolen.
But it is not too late to wake up in
the matter of Names other preemi-
nent resource, water power. It's de-
should be encouraged, as
sisted in every way possible, state
regulated if necessary, kept within
state bounds, and operated for the
benefit of all the peoples of the state
whose rights in this great public
cannot be denied Other
states are alive to this reform. Why
should not we, almost the most i'm
portant water power state of all, at
least follow if we cannot lead?
Is the Legislature now in session,
the first of Names second century,
to protect these rights?
There is no more vital issue before
tiietL Douy lIlll THAT OIL tHC puDllc
utilities. We have come to the forks
Of the road. Two ways only are open.
One leads to action, progress and IN
creased prosperity, the other to mac
ton and stagnation. The sign posts
are up and the letters are large.
Shall we follow the wasteful course
Of the fathers of the first century,
neglect opportunity and allow public
property to pass out of the peoples
control? Or shall we act on the rec
of the new governor
who. foreseeing the future with keen
business vision. has made this an is
sue of his past public life and is nov
it Il test of his present ad-
The choice must be made IT means
much to the people of the State OF
Maine.
Respectfully,
EDWARD r. KICKER.
South Poland, Maine, Mar. q, 1921.