74 FOREST commissioner's REPORT. 



It may be stated as an axiom that as the means of support 

 diminish population will decline. Emigration from Maine has 

 already assumed large proportions. The tenth census showed the 

 number of persons born in Maine and then residents of other states 

 and territories to have been 182,277. "Maine is the best State in 

 the Union to live in" said the late Hon. Lot M. Morrill to the writer 

 soon after his return from a tour of the southern tier of states as a 

 member of a congressional committee in the reconstruction period. 

 To that sentiment I most heartily ass^-nt. But why. then, are our 

 people leaving it in such numbers? For the same reason that con- 

 trols emigation everywhere, — a desire to improve their physical 

 condition. 



We are scarcely holding our own. From 1870 to 1880 our pop- 

 ulation increased 3 51 per cent, and from 1880 to 1890 only 1 87 

 pet' cent- It is evident that if the tide of emigration from the State 

 is to be stayed it will be the result of the development of our enor- 

 mous water power, of which we have a larger amount than can be 

 found in the same extent of territory anywhere else in the world. 

 Prof. Walter Wells estimated it at about 2,000,000 horse powers, 

 only 75,000 of which were utilized in 1880. 



The lack of transportation facilities have hitherto prevented the 

 development of this latent wealth of the State. But this lack, we 

 predict, is soon to be overcome by the construction of electric rail- 

 ways. 



T)ie importance of maintaining the highest possible stage of water 

 during the dry months of summer in all the large rivers of the State 

 cannot be over estimated. This can be accomplished by maintain- 

 ing the largest forest cover possible at the source of these rivers. 

 Hence the necessity of the State's affording every encouragement 

 in its power to induce a wise forest policy on the part of all land 

 owners. 



The discussion of our subject cannot be complete without a con- 

 sideration of some of the means that can be adopted by the states, 

 and the general government by which the wasteful cutting and 

 careless burning of our forests may be lessened. 



We know that in the matter of economy nothing can be expected 

 of the individual owner of wood laud, that does not tend to his 

 private advantage. He will generally manage his timber land in 

 that way which promises the largest financial return either present 

 or prospective, regardless of any interest the public may have in the 

 matter. 



