1938: Maine

Area and Population.

Originally a part of Massachusetts, Maine became a separate state on March 15, 1820. With an area of 33,040 sq. mi. it ranks 38th in size among the states. In population it ranks 35th, numbering 797,423 according to the census of 1930; 856,000 on July 1, 1937, according to the latest Federal estimate. In the 1930 census, 795,183 inhabitants were recorded as white and 694,815 as native white. There were also 1,096 Negroes, and 1,012 Indians.

Important cities are Portland, the largest, 70,810 (1930 census); Lewiston, noted for textiles and shoes, 34,948; Bangor, a commercial center, 28,749; Auburn, a shoe-manufacturing city, 18,571; Augusta, the capital, 17,198; Waterville, also noted for textiles, 15,454.

Agriculture.

Maine often leads the states in its production of potatoes. Of the potato crop for 1938, 85 per cent was grown in Aroostook County, the leading potato-growing county in the United States. Maine certified seed potatoes are shipped all over the country and are in larger demand each year. The outside market has been extended by the action of the legislature in placing a tax of a cent a barrel upon potatoes, the receipts being devoted to national advertisement of the product.

The dairy products for the year brought a revenue of $15,000,000 to Maine farmers, in large part for milk shipped to New England cities. Maine farmers devoted 16,000 acres to the production of sweet corn for the canning factories. Maine's apple crop for 1938 was considerably under the usual figure, due to the damage by the hurricane last September. The 1938 crop is estimated by the state Department of Agriculture at 858,000 bushels, as compared with 1,498,000 bushels, the ten-year annual average. The yield of dry beans was about 910 pounds per acre.

Industry.

General business conditions in Maine have been depressed in the last few years, but not so seriously as in most of the states. The pulp and paper industry has kept up well, and most of the mills were operated during 1938 on a forty-eight-hour schedule. The boot and shoe factories averaged operation on a weekly four-day schedule, and the woolen and cotton mills of the state showed an increased production over 1937. The principal industries of the state were free from labor difficulties during 1938.

An important natural resource of Maine is found in its water power. The developed power amounts to 610,300 h.p.; and the undeveloped is estimated at 796,600 h.p.

In the past decade Maine has given increasing attention to its resort possibilities, and the action of the legislature in doubling the annual appropriation for the use of the Maine Development Commission has had beneficial results. The Commission estimates that tourists and visitors expended $105,000,000 in the state during 1938. A rapidly developing summer business of the state is that of summer camps for boys and girls. In 1938 some 12,000 boys and girls from other states spent the summer at Maine camps.

Education.

As the result of the passage by the legislature of a bill designed to effect the equalization of educational opportunities, an appropriation of $200,000 annually is now being made to provide for improved school facilities in the less affluent communities. This special appropriation has made possible for some towns a longer school year, slightly increased salaries for teachers, and a more adequate supply of textbooks and educational equipment.

Legislation.

The most important matter of legislation to become fairly operative during 1938 was the establishment of a Board of Emergency Municipal Finance. This is for the purpose of enabling cities, towns, and plantations that have fallen into financial difficulties to receive assistance from the state and be established on a sound financial basis; also to assure to the state the collection of the taxes due from such cities, towns and plantations. The Board is authorized, if necessary, to take over and regulate the administration of such communities, with the management of its financial affairs. In accordance with this provision, administration of the affairs of one city and five towns has already been taken over by the state.

Political Events.

In the state election held in September, 1938, Lewis O. Barrows, Republican, was re-elected Governor for a second term of two years, defeating Louis J. Brann, Democrat, former Governor, by 157,206 to 139,745. Winfred V. Tabbutt, Socialist candidate, received 287 votes.

Finance.

Maine regards with pride the financial record of the state, as it balanced its budget and had a surplus of $386,000 for the fiscal year ending with June, in addition to reducing its debt by $989,000, and setting aside for the Deer Isle-Sedgwick bridge $145,000. At the end of the fiscal year, Maine was paying 10,158 old age assistance checks, a number increased by the end of November to 12,100. The state appropriation for old age assistance in 1937-38 was $600,000, and was increased to $1,700,000 for the fiscal year 1938-39. In addition, bridge bonds in the amount of $525,000 were called and retired. The appropriation for state government as set up by the legislature was reduced by $434,379 for 1937-38 through economical administration, and by $426,145 for 1938-39.

State Officers:

As the result of the September 1938 election, the principal state officers are: Governor, Lewis O. Barrows; Secretary of State, Frederick Robie; Treasurer, Belmont A. Smith; Commissioner of Finance, William S. Owen; Controller, William A. Runnells; Budget Officer, William H. Deering; Attorney General, Franz U. Burkett; Adjutant General, James W. Hanson; Auditor, Elbert D. Hayford; Commissioner of Education, Bertram E. Packard.

United States Senators:

Frederick Hale, Wallace Humphrey White, Jr.