Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-22
TO THOSE WHO MUST DO IT

President Gulnac OF the state
Chamber of Commerce and Agricul-
tural League, trying, as he says, to
bring home TO the people of Maine
that the future of this State rests
in their hands, asks the Journal to
give publicity to the situation which
he thus describes:
THAT the State OF Maine has not
even held its own for the past ten
;ears can be seen from the fact that
the total increase in population from
1910 to 1920 was 25643, or 3k per
cent while the increase in Portland
South Portland. Auburn-Lewiston.
aco-Biddeford and Bath was %
4G7. or SPA more than the total for
tho State.
The valuation OF property for
taxing purposes increased during the
same 10 years S1S5, SO, 314, or Al per
cent.
The rural population in nearly
every county in the State decreased.
The above shows a very unhealthy
condition Of affairs.
IF it is true that Maine possesses
wonderful soil, climate, scenery, wa
ter powers, forests, etc, why are we
not progressing instead OF going
back? Have we any definite relia BILE
information of what we have, where
it is ana how we are handling it?
Are we capable of handling it bet
ter?
The state Chamber of Commerce
and Agricultural League believes
that we have a wonderful State, that
we are capable of handling it well,
although we are not at present doing
SO. In the hope OF obtaining correct
information, the State Chamber is
asking the local Chambers to make
survey of their neutrality-suspicious.
turally. industrially, tourist, fisheries,
forests, etc. The plan is to do this
by counties, asking the organizations
in each county to arrange with rep
resentatives of every town in their
county. Uniform information blanks
viii he prepared.
There will be possibilities for IN
crnasing business in every part of
tHe sSldle tIlIOuGll lHe Sldtc lel .
Coastwise and Transatlantic Lines
will run. regularly to Portland. il as
surance can be given them of ton
mage. This will open an entirely
new outlet for all kinds OF Maine
products. agricultural as well as
manufactured. 1t will be necessary,
however, to know what we have in
the way Of tonnage and whether we
desire to ship any of it over the
Pier. The value of this Pier to the
State will depend upon the use made
of it by Maine interests. This survey
or study should demonstrate whether
use can and will be made of it. Its
future rests with the people of the
State, not with the commissioners
appointed to build it,
we believe that volunteer work
ers can be found In every town of
the State to make this survey"
Some appear to think we may pro-
duce by psychology. but something
In addition is required. 1t would do
us no harm to acquire the Califor-
MIA habit of talking about Names
glories, but we would need some Of
the California enterprise in coopera-
ton to go along with it. When men,
who grow grapes. are shut off from
making wine and Immediately de-
wise ways to make their grape grow
ing even more profitable than be-
fore. 1t is pretty good evidence that
they are doing some thinking, plan
ming and executing. That's what
they did in the glorious climate of
California" Can't we somehow do
as well in the glorious climate of
Maine? If so. we are the ones who
must do it.