Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-02
STATE LIBRARIAN
| SPEAKS ON FUTURE
| maine ROTARY CLUB

The future of Maine. a Maine as
mighty and powerful as any other
state in the Union, was pictured by
Rev. H. E. Dunnack of Augusta, the
state librarian, at the regular meet
ing of the Waterville Rotary Club
at the Elmwood hotel yesterday
noon. The title of his very interest
ing and spirited address was 1.-The
Rebirth of Maine"
In opening Mr.. Dunnack declared
the 800 years of Names actual his
tory to be as glorious and romantic
as that of any state and he said
that the adventures of England,
Spain and Portugal had all played
their part in it. He called the at
tention of his hearers to the con-
tribution of Maine to the formation
of the republic. When the pressure
of the London Co., he said, threat
ened the extinction of the Plymouth
colony it was the fur trade of Maine
which gave the struggling colonists
enough to meet the extortionate tax
levees of the English and he men
toned number of other instances
of the heroic achievements of the
sons of Maine.
In every movement for the better
ment of civilization during the past
century some Maine man has been
prominent in it and he named Will
liam Ladd of Minot in world peace,
John Neal in woman suffrage, Doro-
thea Dix in prison reform, Elijah
Parrish Loveioy in the abolition of
slavery and Neal Dow in prohibit
ton.
Mr.. Dunnack pointed out that In
the past periods of Names history
from179O to 1910 had been the most
prosperous and glorious. 1t was
during that time that Maine made
ships, manned by Maine born men
CARRIED practically half of the world s
cargoes and the speaker stated that
in these years Maine grew faster
than any other New England state.
Then came the second period,
from 1910 to 1920. Steam took the
place of wind and falling water coal
was discovered and began to be used
and there was a drift in industry
away from this state, nearer to the
sources of iron, coal and to the larg-
err railroads. Maine, being able no
longer to maintain its enviable place
IN industry. went from it's borders
the best OF its young manhood to
Dulld up the wealth of other parts of
the youthful nation. Thus it was
that WaShburn was the man who
made possible the milling of -four
on large scale and a Stevens who
dug the Panama canal.
During the first year of the pres
ent century another great change in
the commercial and industrial life of
I'the country was to be noted. Men
began to abandon the use of steam
and to obtain their power from the
electricity developed by the rivers. In
every phase of life men are learn
ing to use electricity for more and
more purposes.
To Mr.. Dunnack's mind there
were four reasons why, because of
the use of electricity, Maine will re-
gam Its lost power. First there is
the supply of potential hydro-elec-
tric power; a million and a half
horsepower. Second he mentioned
the immense resources of both hard
and soft woods which can be used
in many industries. In this connec-
i ton he said there was a possibility
of small industry and small agricul-
ture in the same communities; an
ideal of civilization. Third came the
vast agricultural resources of Maine
! and Mr.. Dunnack pointed out that
the population of the country had
doubled during the last 20 years and
it seemed likely to double again in
the next 80. This increase in the
| number of people, he said, would
make the supplying of food stuffs a
| much greater project than it has
ever been in the past and the Maine
farmers can grow with the expand
ing needs. Lastly he spoke of the
summer tourist business, mentioning
the fact that people now have more
wealth and leisure for travel than
they have had and Maine will be
bound to profit by this.
These furnished. he said, a sound
economic foundation and he predict
ed an astonishing growth for Maine
in the next quarter century, In clos
ing Mr.. Dunnack urged his hearers
to stay in Maine and work every
minute for her advancement.