Year: 1871

Build a railroad to this fertile region. and lands
which cannot be given away to settlers will be
eagerly sought after at fair price And in IL
few years that country would contain population
and taX-paying capacity that, with the increased
value of the products of the soil and forest would
soon pay the cost of the road and become source
of wealth to the State. The Importance Of sys-
tenn OF railway communication that will make
cessible the timber and farming lands and deveope
the other resources of this section of the State has
| long been felt by our Wisest men, and frequently
and forciby discussed by my predecessors. The
| European and North American Railway so shortens
the length of new Il road necessary to make the i'm
mense resources of this part of the State accessible
that we may well inquire whether some practica
means may not be devised to accomplish a work so
desirable. / am convinced that the best way to
reduce the burden of the debt is to develope our
| resources, give the people better facilities to make
money and increase the taxable property of the
| State.


| have deemed it my duty to call attention to thi,
subject and invoke the wisdom of the Legislature
upon its consideration.


| The men who have furnished the means to build
railroads i'll Maine have relied upon the indirect ad
vantages they i'll common with others would receive
rather than any direct income from the investment
| The interests OF the masses of the people and the
stockholders and managers of railroads not
cessarily anagonstic, and it would be great mis-
fortune to the State if spirit of antagonism should
| spring up between them. We should avoid a rail
road war in Maine if possible.


l. Railroads are essential promoters of individual
prosperity and national progress; and are entitled





good. 1t would not be wise for the State to grant
unlimited powers, or permit the consolidation Of
railroad or any other corporations to an extent that
would, IN any event. allow such consolidated III
terests to control the legislation OF the State. For
in su IA event, every other interest might be rem
| dered subseryient, and all guarantees useless.
/ 4 proper appreciation of, and just regard for
the rights OF each, and the interests of all, will,
lfust, prevent any serious trouble Ill this regard.
IMMIGRATION


The RpUOrt of the Commits siOnpr Of immigratiot
presents an Interesting account of the work accom-
plished through his agency. A colony of one hun
dred aud two swedish immigrants has been estab
| llshed on q township in AroOstoOk County known
| us New Sweden The Commissioner is confident
that this has opened the way for large immigra-
ton of this hardy and industrious race. These
people evidently possess the characteristics neces
sary for pioneer work in this State and they will be
a valuable acquisition i'll the settlement of our uu-
| occupied lands. Such of these immigrants as
would prefer other pursuits, would find, III other
parts of the State desirable employment and good
compensation. Such laborers, male and female
greatly needed, especially household servants
| for whom there is great demand.


Many OF these people are excellent mechanics,
others excel as family servants Their religion
education, geneal intelligence and industrious hab-
it's with our need of their services, will create
mutual friendship and sympathy between them and
our people wherever i'll the State they may go. |
therefore suggest that whatever plan you adopt to
aid immigration in the future it be not confined to
| immigrants who prefer agricultural pursuits, but,





enployments in any part of the State. Other
States are adding largely to their population and
| wealth by their immigration efforts. | see no
| reason why we may not do the same.
Trusting that you will deem it wise to continue
/ this work iii some economical way, commend the
recommendations of the Commissioner with these
| brief suggestions to your early consideration.
| OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
! regret to say that the burdens,w the way and
| the legislation incident thereto placed upon ouI
| interests. removed. il
extremely Illuminating to see the business formerly
carried on under our flag, monopolized by, and
bearing the flag of the nation that contributed the
most, in our time of trouble, to sWsep our com
merce from the ocean. Maine may be expected 10
feel somewh intensely, and allowed to speak with
some earnestness on this subject because she has
very much at stake. She has in some years Of the
past furnished fifty per cent. of all the seagong
vessels OF the country. In the building and sailing
of vessels, employment has been given to twenty
| thousand and support to one hundred thousand of
| her citizens.


| If tins subject i'll which any portion Of tho
country or Government had adverse interests the
opposition ii receives might reasonably be expect
ed. But the relief we ask, while it would help us
and others Immediately interested, would through
increase of business, contribute to the prosperity OF
| the whole country, and add to the revenue of tIe
| Government immeaSurably more than would be
lost, by interfering these interests and allowing
| them to fulfill their important mission.
| No man who remembers the efficient aid received
| from our shipyartls and merchant marine in fur
|
creation of Il navy i'll the beginning OF the war can
fail to appreciate the Importance Of this subject to
the national defence. 1t is vastly cheaper and bet
ter every way to encourage and sustain interests,
which in addition to .heir means of prosperity i'll
time Of peace will furnish navy in time of war,
than to maintain permanently such naval force as
would otherwise be required. There is no ade
quate reason for continuing this unfriendy egislu
ton, which is paralyzing business of such import
ance.


| | earnestly hope Congress will at IN early day
/ burdens o
would allow our ships and our commerce to com
pete under more favorable circumstances, with


those Of other nations in the markets of the world
Let this he done, and we may reasonably hope that
the sounds of busy industry will soon be heard i'll
our ship Yards that the sails of commerce will
| again be allowed to whten every sea- and that the
sight of our flags will gitien the hearts of country
men In all lands.


BIENNIAL ELECTIONS AND SESSIONS or THE LEG
! LATUEE.


! My predecessor, in Of his addresses to the
Legislature called attention to the subject Of bien
NAL elections of State officers and sessions of the
| Legislature. The suggestion appeared to me time
| ly, one worthy of careful consideration, If q say


ing of forty fifty thousand dollars which is about
the cost OF session OF the Legislature, can be made
to the taxpayers of the State every two years We
sides an important reduction i'll time and expenses
incident to the elections without serious detriment
to other interests, it should be done revision :
the statutes has just been made. They should I'M
lergo no useless changes The history Of the State
and country show that the tendency is to too much
| legislation. ! am of the opinion that biennial sea-
sons would furnish ample opportunity for all the
legislation the interests of the people and the state
would require.


| CHANGE or THE DAY EOR THE ANNUAL ELECTION


If you should deem the subject Just referred to Of
suifcie importance to su bmlt to the people the
question Of such amendme Mt to the constitution
| the change would require, suggest that with it
you submit the question changing the day OF oui
annual election to the Tue stay next after the first
Monday in November being the day fixed by law
| or the Presidential election There some in-
lporaut advantages to be gained by the change.
| Every four Years it would save the time and eX-
penSe of one election, the Presidential and State
elections would occur on the same day. 1t would
be more favorable to fair expression of the wishes
it necessary to hold the preliminary caucuses and
convention at a time when i'll large part or the
State, the people employed in agricultural pursuits
are more busily engaged than in any other parts OF
the wear. AS parties are now organized the charac
terot our public servants is generally determined at
these primary meetings. Unless there Is unusual
interest in the nominations many of the most intel
ligent voters who are buslly engaged, stay at home
This makes it easy tor a few men, who may have
private other interests adverse TO the public
good. to control the nominations. and II in the
majority party the elections. | submit whether
the interests of the the State will not be better sub
served by holding the preliminary meetings and
the elections at a time when the largest number OF
the people can attend with the least sacrifice. 1t is
generally believed that a better understanding Of
our duties as voters may be obtained by intelligent
and thorough public discussion of the questions At
issue and the merits OF candidates. Here we find
again in the busy season that prccedes the present
l day of election, the same difficulty. Many OF the
working people cannot leave their business to
attend to such discussions TWO months later the
| longer evenings would be more favorable to read
uo and public meetings, and iaborlng men could
better attend to both. All would be aS we'll ar-
| .l,t,I md 111nON honest ntp ur.