202 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



meridian line of this place and we are 65 miles nearer the ocean 

 by that line than we are to the north line of the State. We are 

 in Northern Maine, so far as we are included in the region where 

 "winter lingers in tlie lap of spring." When summer has fully 

 come, our late experience is, that we are far enough south for per- 

 sonal comfort. AVere 1 to speak of the people here, I could only 

 say we are poor, not over enterprising nor ambitions. We hardly 

 expect our village to be selected as the future capital of the State. 

 But when other points are coveting that honor, we may suggest 

 that in the distance a geographical centre may be as good a claim 

 to present as any other. Now that this central portion of the 

 State is, by iron roads, opened to your inspection, so that you 

 have reached this point in one day from the oldest counties ; now 

 that Maine is represented in its leading interest by your presence 

 here to-day in this young count}^ we may with some propriety 

 speak of local matters. 



The settlement of all this region dates within the present centu- 

 ry. In 1816, the cold season came near discouraging all who 

 were here. Western emigration then commenced ; and of all the 

 fashions, habits, or eccentricities that have swayed this people, ' 

 this mania for moving west has ruled the most persistant and the 

 most constant. More people have emigrated from these towns 

 than now remain within them. When I shall sot out to visit my 

 old neighbors, I shall find them scattered all the way from Boston 

 to San Francisco. In towns such as these have been, with a sparse 

 population, the burthens to be borne for public roads and bridges,* 

 and for all educational and social privileges, are very heavy, and 

 are a constant excitant to emigration. The many hardships aad 

 disadvantages incident to this location, of which you all may have 

 some general idea, are sufficient to account for the low condition 

 in which you find us. We have not yet had tlio hands and the 

 means to fashion these lands to a condition to contribute largely 

 to human comfort and sustenance. We claim to have done well 



♦Our ciicuiiistances in this regard are so unlike that of most new cotntiiuiiities aa to 

 be worthy uf note hero. Ih'Mf river and its hirge trihutary titrciiius demand tlic erection 

 of luaiiy bridges — necessarily expen.'-ivo structures — all (>f which have been built and 

 supported by these thinly peopled towns; while in most other places thcso are extra 

 burthen.s, and are otherwise provided for. Then the main roads which lead out from 

 tide waters of the Penobscot and the Kennebec, and through these towns — roads that 

 carry the supplies for the lumber operations back of us — pass over much land of very 

 bad character for the maintenance of such road.', bearing, as they do, tlu'se heavy teams 

 mostly in the fall ami .spring .seasons, — these subject the towns to heavier taxation than 

 is ordinarily demanded for road purposes. 



