8 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



but when you come abreast of the fort which stands on a hill 

 haul awa}' W. S. W. as there is a shoal bank on your starboard 

 hand that has not more than ten to twelve feet on it at high 

 water, which you are to avoid." 



This was only 79 years ago and simply illustrates the crude 

 methods of navigation, and in contrast we see the development 

 of the present day. I refer to this more particularly as a point 

 on which to form a basis of the steady increase in growth of the 

 largest city in the State. 



The rise of the tide in Portland is 8 to 9 feet. If you will 

 go to Fort Allen Park where the remains of the old fort re- 

 ferred to now exist, and look over the hill you will see the 

 spot in the harbor where, 79 years previous there was only two 

 to three feet of water at low tide, and today you will see 

 anchored on the spot the largest vessels which exist in the 

 maritime trade and there is thirty feet of water at low tide. 



Foreign steamers are continually coming to Portland and the 

 increase in the size of them is remarkable in comparison to those 

 of but a few years ago ; and to accommodate them large expen- 

 diture has been made and as time goes on a large amount must 

 be appropriated to keep pace with the greater development. 



The growth of cities depends largely on the push and activity 

 of their inhabitants, but the large commercial activity is caused 

 to a great extent by the "stranger within our gates" or what 

 might be termed the transient visitors. Boston and New York 

 and all the other large cities are dependent more or less on, 

 the transient guests for it is this class who give life to the city, 

 society, amusement and trade. 



And so today we are particularly pleased that this active and 

 important society comes to us and is grafting into our system 

 renewed incentive to still greater efforts for development as 

 a center of exhibition and display of the products and indus- 

 tries of our State. 



We have a great and beautiful State with wonderful re- 

 sources of almost every description, and all that is required 

 is to make them known in order to attract the attention they 

 so well deserve and be the means of promoting wider expansion 

 and greater activity ; and for these reasons it appears to me 

 that a city like Portland is a most favorable place to hold 



