FOREST CO.MMISSIOXKR'S REPORT. 55 



It is interesting to note the estimates which were made of the 

 value of these lands in those early days. One of the earliest 

 writers and authorities on this subject of wild lands was Moses 

 Greenleaf of Williamsburg, who was one of the early settlers 

 of the District of ]\Iaine, coming when a lad of 13 with his 

 parents from Xewburyport to Gloucester. He became intensely 

 interested in the development of the District of Maine and 

 devoted his life to its betterment. In 1816 he wrote a work 

 entitled, "Statistical View of Elaine," which attracted wide- 

 spread attention, and no doubt did more to furnish knowledge- 

 regarding the District of Maine than any other thing which had 

 been done up to that time. In 1828 was published another book, 

 of which he was the author, "A Survey of the State of Maine, 

 Reference to its Geographical Features, Statistics and Political 

 Economy." With this he published a map, the first correct one 

 ever made of the District. Mr. Greenleaf has justly been called 

 the "Maker of the State of Maine," and also "Maine's First 

 ]\Iap-maker." 



In 1813 Charles Hammond, Esq., in behalf of the legislature 

 of that time, which had appointed a committee to obtain 

 information about the District of ]\Iaine, on account of the 

 information possessed by Mr. Greenleaf propounded to Wxcc 

 the following questions : 



"What is the quantity of land in the District of Maine, prob- 

 able estimate? 



''What proportion of that land is settleable, supposing it laid 

 in 100 acre lots? 



• "Where is the largest body of good land — what is its quan- 

 tity, and its distance from navigation? 



"What is the proportion of settleable land, as above — where 

 is the second largest quantity, — and its distance — what quality? 



Proportion 



3rd largest quantity — 



Proportion 



4th largest quantity — 



Proportion 



"What proportion, encouragement being equal, will find its 

 nearest mart at Bangor — Hallowell — Passamaquoddy — Fred- 

 erickton — Quebec ? 



