from them to the sea coast. The multitude of such points along the sea coast and navigable rivers, without any one of such commanding superiority, with respect to natural advantages, as to absorb or concentrate the capital, or divert it materially from all the rest, affords a foundation, and stimulus to, a spirit of enterprize and competition, which, if well directed, and regulated by ulterior views of public good, may result in improving the means of intercourse between the different portions of the interior and the seaboard, and promoting in various ways the convenience of the inhabitants of each, in a manner, and to a degree, highly advantageous to the common interests of the whole. It may also, on the other hand, be obstructed by want of power to overcome the obstacles presented by local authorities, or want of authority, and partial conflicting interests; or may result in narrow rivalships, and selfish combinations, which will prevent the general progress of public improvement, and produce a spirit of discord and bitterness, highly injurious, not only to the external prosperity, but to the moral character, and happiness of the State.

It will not be doubted that possibilities of these opposite natures exist, not only in relation to cases of the particular kind alluded to, but in a multitude, of all forms and descriptions, throughout the State.

It is well known that a considerable portion of the time and attention of the Legislature, is often taken up in the consideration of applications for, and objections against, some projected objects of internal improvement, or local convenience, such as turnpikes, bridges, canals, locks, milldams, &c. which in some instances may be beneficial to the public at large, in others may operate only to promote sectional or personal interests, to the disadvantage of other sections or persons. And though, in the abstract, they are decidedly measures of public improvement, yet it often requires much intelligence and foresight to discern, whether, from their circumstances, they may not prevent other measures of greater advantage than may be derived

from the projected improvement; or destroy, or materially diminish the value of, some natural advantages belonging to the community at large, or to some of its members; or whether the enterprize, though it appears to promise adequate advantage to the projectors, or to some particular section of the country, may not absorb more of the energies and capital of the community, than its results will eventually compensate or reimburse.

Related to this subject also, are schemes of civil and political arrangement, such as incorporation of towns and counties, establishment of literary and other institutions, &c. which sometimes may originate in, or receive a direction from, sectional or personal interests and rivalships, incompatible with the general good; and though in many cases they may be, and are, necessary and beneficial, yet in some they may be directly or indirectly injurious, or may prevent future and more important advantages.

new,

The continual and increasing enterprizes for the opening of and alteration of old roads, in all parts of the country; with the long contests and delays, with which some of these enterprizes are attended, afford additional evidence, not only of a spirit of improvement highly beneficial and creditable to the State, but of the existence, in some instances, of a counter spirit, and also of former deficiencies in the projection and prosecution of measures of public utility; and it indicates too, the importance of liberal and expanded views, and of the cultivation of a high tone of public spirit, in all those who possess the power or influence to promote or impede any such meas

ures.

The slightest reflection on these subjects will show that they afford room for endless injurious divisions, and demand the exercise of the united wisdom of the Legislature, and of the proper constituted authorities, with the highest moral sense and intelligence among the people, in adopting and pursuing that system of policy which shall produce, on the whole, the greatest sum of advantages, to which they may be made to conduce.

Where the current of commercial intercourse among the inhabitants is not controlled nor led by the course of the rivers, nor obstructed by mountains, or other natural impediments, and where mercantile capital is found at all points, in sufficient amount for the supply of the vicinity, the connections of the inhabitants of the interior, with those of the market towns, on the navigable waters of the sea-board, will be regulated chiefly by their respective distances. An exception may be made, so far as the circumstances of the different markets may offer paramount inducements in the relative prices of commodities. The courses of the rivers, in the facility they afford for the transportation of lumber, will naturally direct so much of the trade as consists in that article, to the towns on their respective borders, and generally to those situated near the head of navigation.

With these exceptions, the different sea-port and market towns in the State may be expected to command the interior trade, and form the centres of business, connections, and interests, of districts nearly proportioned in size to the respective distances from the different parts of the interior to these central points. This supposes, however, that the state of the roads, or other means of transportation, renders the communication equally easy and cheap to all parts in proportion to the distance.

The ultimate size, wealth, and importance of the market towns respectively, may be expected to be determined principally by the extent of territory, and amount of population, the business of which each can attract to itself.

It will be obvious that superior enterprize, and skill in its direction, on the part of the inhabitants of one market-town, in improving the natural, or creating artificial, means of communication with the interior, may extend their mercantile connections into districts, which otherwise would naturally be connected with some other market; and thus would increase their own wealth and importance, at the expense of some of their

neighbors. This affords a fair field of competition which, if properly conducted, may be made to result much to the advantage of the whole collectively. It is only necessary that it be left free to all, be entered upon-with a liberal spirit, and that no sinister measures, on the part of one, be suffered to arrest or impede the enterprize of another.

It would not be easy to assign to any one port, or focal point, in the State, the precise limits of the district to which its connections or operations should or may extend; nor if practicable would it be of much importance. It will not, however, be wholly uninteresting, nor useless, to notice some of the principal points, and the general extent of the districts with which their mercantile connections will naturally be formed, and from which they will, in a measure, derive their relative consequence.

In the present early stage and unequal distribution of the population of most parts of the State, very little of the future importance of any central point, or its adjacent districts, is to be measured by the present numbers of either. Extent of territory only must be the basis of any present calculations*; and the rapid increase and distribution of the population of the State may be expected to realize any reasonable anticipations in this respect, at a period not very remote.

In relation to this subject the State may be considered as naturally divided into four principal districts, and these again subdivided into many lesser ones. It will not be necessary to notice the minor divisions, but merely in a general manner, the principal ones, of which Portland, Hallowell, (including Augusta and Gardiner,) Bangor, and Calais, may be considered as forming or representing the central points. There are other towns which possess as great, and in some respects greater, commercial advantages than are possessed by some of these, but a part of them may be considered as included in, or con

* Fertility and other natural advantages of the territory should also be taken into the consideration, but estimates on these grounds can not be made with any tolerable certainty, at present.

nected with, some of these-others will depend principally on foreign commerce, and therefore are not within the design of this Chapter-others command too small an extent of interior country to form an item of much importance in a comprehensive view of the State. Kennebunk and Saco may be considered partly as connected, and partly as competing with Portland. Bath will share the connections of Hallowell, and also in some measure compete with Portland. The lumber trade of the Androscoggin will give it, in connection with Brunswick, an interest and connection with a part of the districts otherwise naturally assigned to Portland and Hallowell respectively. Its open navigation in the winter will give it an advantage which, at that season, will attract a part of the interior trade from the country otherwise naturally falling to Hallowell. The same circumstance will enable Belfast, at times, successfully to compete with Hallowell and Bangor. Machias and Eastport possess advantages of their own, and may share a part of those of Calais, and compete with that place, and with each other, for the trade of that section of the State. Machias, by perhaps a trifling expense in canals, may take a share of the lumber trade of the Schoodic lakes, and, by suitable improvements in the means of internal communication, Machias, Calais and Eastport may compete with Bangor for some part of the trade of the district naturally belonging to that place; and Bangor and Hallowell, and Hallowell and Portland, may claim a share of that of each other. The intermediate ports along the sea coast will compete, in various degrees, and with various success, with each other, and with some of those which have been mentioned.

The territory, within the State, to which Portland, including Kennebunk and Saco, affords the nearest market, contains about 1800 square miles.* Its open harbor in the winter, and

*It will be remembered that all reference to the present population of any part of the territory, is here thrown out of the question. The reader who is inclined to speculate on this subject, and conjecture its future bearing, may perhaps find some data, from which to reason, in Chapter &