108 SAGADAHOC COUNTY SOCIETY. 



the leading and most important pursuit of our peojjle, and we 

 believe it is, in the future, destined to occupy a much larger space 

 in the public mind, and in the public economy, or policy of our 

 State, than it has in the past. Maine is no longer emphatically 

 the lumber State. Her dense forests of valuable timber are fast 

 disappearing, and she must prepare for the day, and that in no 

 distant future, when lumbering will cease to be a great and profit- 

 able branch of business. Lumbering in the vicinity of our great 

 rivers and their tributaries, has heretofore occupied a large share 

 of the industry of our State, diverting it from agriculture, and often 

 dividing men's time between the logging camp, the drive on the 

 river, and the farm ; and always to tlie injury of the latter — for a 

 farm is one of the last things that will bear slight and neglect. 

 The result of such inattention is always short and poor crops, lean 

 stock of an inferior breed, and a perfect holiday for thistles and 

 all kinds of noxious weeds. As our forests of marketable lumber 

 disappear and retire towards the sources of our great rivers, agri- 

 culture receives more attention and additional strength and steadi- 

 ness ; and consequently' is much improved in method and the 

 quality and quantity of its crops. As the wealth hitherto derived 

 from the forest is gradually withheld, and its sources disappear, 

 our people are in a measure compensated by an increase of agri- 

 cultural strength, closer attention, more scientic methods, abund- 

 ant crops and an improved stock. 



Nearly all kinds of manufactures can be carried on to advantage 

 in our State. We have a variety of raw material for manufactur- 

 ing purposes, and whatever disadvantages may arise from our cli- 

 mate are more than made up by the industry and energy of our 

 people. This branch of business has too long been neglected by 

 our capitalists ; but it will in time give employment to many of our 

 people and largely increase the home market for agricultural pro- 

 ductions. 



The sea fisheries give emploj^ment to a portion of our capital and 

 labor, and can, no doubt, be largely extended with profit to those 

 who engage in them. But the chief business of our sea-board pop- 

 ulation is ship building and maritime commerce. Maine is not an 

 importing State, or but partially so. She builds ships for sale and 

 to engage in the carrjnng trade for whoever will pay best, and 

 receives her reward mainly in freight money, and what she can 

 gain by constructing vessels. The carrying trade has had many 

 years of great prosperity, and has been extremely liberal in its 



