1942: Maine

Area and Population.

The north-easternmost state in the Union, Maine has an area of 33,215 sq. mi. and a population, in 1940, of 837,226. Admitted to the Union in 1820, after having previously been a part of Massachusetts, its population is principally native white, with quite a number of Canadian-French residents in the manufacturing cities of the southwestern part of the state, and in the northern section of Aroostook County.

The largest city in the state is Portland, with a population of 73,643. Others are: Lewiston, 38,598; Bangor, 29,822; Auburn, 19,817; Biddeford, 19,790; Augusta, the state capital, 19,360; and Waterville, 16,688. Due to the large shipbuilding plants at Bath, South Portland, and Portland, the population of these cities has been greatly increased, but mostly at the expense of other Maine cities and towns.

Education.

Figures of the latest available school census show 253,254 boys and girls of school age, 5 to 21 years, and a total enrollment of 179,695 pupils. The average of salary for men is $1,603 in the secondary schools and $944 in the elementary schools; for women, secondary schools, $1,167; elementary schools, $787. Due to scarcity of teachers these figures are advancing, but no totals are available. The state expenditure for public schools is $1,569,913; and the local taxes paid for education amount to $6,633,977.

Agriculture.

Maine's crop production for 1942, according to late estimates, is well ahead of 1941 figures in most lines. The Maine potato crop, which is about five-sixths of the New England production, was more than 45,000,000 bu., one per cent larger than the 1941 crop, and three per cent ahead of the ten-year average. Fine crops were harvested in the east-central section of Aroostook, Maine's great potato county, but the yield was comparatively light in other sections of Aroostook and in central and southern Maine.

Maine's production of both potatoes and apples was greatly aided by the remarkably mild weather prevailing during the harvest season, which allowed producers to put their crops under cover in exceptionally good condition. Apple production in the commercial apple counties was unusually high in 1942, late figures being 730,000 bu., about 125,000 bu. in excess of the 1941 crop, and almost 200,000 bu. in excess of the ten-year average harvest. McIntosh, Northern Spy and Baldwin apples did particularly well.

Buckwheat production was about the same as in 1941, but not much more than half the ten-year average of 192,000 bu. The corn crop was fair, with a yield of about 740,000 bu.

Industry.

Maine's principal industries enjoyed a prosperous year in 1942. The pulp and paper mills generally were fully occupied throughout the year, and are at present working on a three-shift, forty-hour basis, although some are not operating on a full six-day week. The number of employees and payrolls has increased in the industry.

During 1942 Maine experienced a revival of its shipbuilding industry. Many iron vessels were launched at Bath and South Portland, and during the year wooden ships were turned out in large numbers from yards that had not been operated for a generation.

Maine's boot and shoe industry showed a slight increase in production in 1942, with the value of production reaching approximately $75,000,000. In general, the factories were operating on a one-shift, forty-hour week basis.

Employer-employee relations in Maine industry were exceptionally good. There were but eight strikes, seven of which were quickly adjusted by arbitration. More serious was the strike at the South Portland shipyard in December, but that was adjusted within a week.

Legislation.

Maine had a brief special session of the Legislature in 1942, from January 12 to 24, called to create the Maine Civilian Defense Corps; improve military laws and make war appropriations.

Election.

Maine held its biennial election in 1942 and chose Sumner Sewall governor for his second term. Sewall, a Republican and a banker of Bath, was opposed by George W. Lane, Jr., of Lewiston, a Democrat and also a banker. Mr. Sewall received 118,047 votes to 58,558 for Mr. Lane, very similar to the result in the state election in 1940.

Maine Democrats made very little effort in the campaign, failing to nominate a candidate for the House of Representatives in the Third Maine District, and leaving many vacancies in their county tickets. Wallace H. White, Jr., Republican, of Lewiston, was reelected to the United States Senate, receiving 111,520 votes to 55,754 for Fulton J. Redman, his opponent.

Defense.

In connection with the war effort, Maine has organized an efficient State Guard, with headquarters at Portland and Bangor, and a State Guard Reserve. Civil Air Patrol units have been organized and trained. Maine has had under construction during the past two years some 23 or 24 airports and flight strips, projects financed in general through WPA and CAA programs, with the help of local communities and the Maine Military Defense Commission. The Commission also completed for occupancy, during 1942, eight armories, and is awaiting material for the addition of two more.

Finance.

Financially, Maine has had a successful year. Operations of the general fund for the fiscal year, ending with June, 1942, resulted in a net gain of $2,070,000. Revenues of the general fund totaled $19,363,000 for the fiscal year, of which $13,748,000 was available for appropriations, the remainder earmarked for departments. Major revenues were from the state tax on cities and towns, and the net revenues from liquor. Expenditures for relief increased approximately $700,000 over the previous fiscal year. In the six months since the close of the fiscal year, liquor sales have continued to increase. The total bonded indebtedness on June 30, 1942, was the lowest in many years, and there was a net reduction of $1,939,000 in the year ending on that date. It is estimated that there will be further reduction in the present fiscal year.

State Officers.

Governor, Sumner Sewall; Acting Secretary of State, Harold I. Goss; Controller, A. L. Kane; Treasurer, Belmont A. Smith; Auditor, William D. Hayes; Attorney General, Frank I. Cowan; Commissioner of Education, Harry V. Gilson; and Commissioner of Finance, Julian A. Mossman.

United States Senators:

Ralph O. Brewster, Wallace H. White, Jr.