SECRETARY'S REPORT. 33 



connected with a just appreciation of the great results which would 

 flow therefrom, is bj no means a novel one, but has been strongly 

 urged in years past by far-seeing men ; for example, in the report 

 of Hon. E. L. Hamlin as Land Agent in 1839, we have the follow- 

 ing : 



" Upon a glanoe at the public lands, it will be seen that the fertile valley 

 of the St. John river extends through the whole breadth of the northern part 

 of the State, and with the Aroostook valley, includes about one-third part of 

 our whole territory. The natural outlet of this country for trade and inter- 

 course is through the Province of New Brunswick. 



To connect this region with the Atlantic seaboard, within the limits of our 

 own State, it will be seen that the topography of the country distinctly marka 

 out two great avenues of communication through the valleys of the Kennebec 

 and Penobscot. 



That our seaboard will be connected with the St. John waters, sooner or 

 later, by tliese two routes, either by canal or railroad, or both in part, there 

 can be no doubt in the mind of any one who has watched tiie progress of 

 internal improvements in other states, who considers the feasibility of opening 

 these communications, and of their great practical importance in diverting 

 the trade of this region from a foreign market, and increasing the wealth and 

 population not only of the St. John valley, but of the whole State. The 

 development of the agricultural resources of this valley would give a sustain- 

 ing power to our commercial capital on the seaboard, a healthy impulse to 

 manufactories, and would not fail in advancing the State at once to the posi- 

 tion in the Federal Union, to which her natural advantages so justly entitle 

 her. 



It is evident that the citizens of this State have not heretofore been fully 

 impressed of the great value of our public domain. The golden opportunity 

 which occurred at the time of the separation, for Maine to acquire of Massa- 

 chusetts her interests in the public lands, was sufiered to pass unsecured by 

 us, and the appropriations heretofore made for the construction of roads 

 towards the interior, and for public improvements, seem to have been reluc- 

 tantly yielded, instead of being the spontaneous acts of the whole Legislature, 

 and as indicating a spirit and feeling worthy of our great resources. So long 

 as the public mmd is possessed of doubts and fears, and misgivings, and until 

 there is manifest an honest feeling of State pride and a just confidence in our 

 own means and resources, it will be in vain to undertake any public work of 

 magnitude with any rational hope of success. 



1 am aware that serious objections are entertained by many against all 

 works of internal improvement, when undertaken by the Slate, and where 

 it becomes necessary to borrow money. It cannot, however, be forgotten that 

 such objections have been raised in other states, particularly in New York and 

 Pennsylvania. When the former State commenced upon the great work of th& 



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