The numerous harbors of Maine offer the best facilities for commerce. Several of these harbors are arnong the best on the whole Atlantic coast; that'of Portland especially is easy of access, deep, large, and well protected, and is often unobstructed by ice when harbors farther west and south are frozen over. The ports of entry are Houlton, Eastport, Machias, Ellsworth, Castine, Bangor, Belfast, Waldoborough, Wis casset, Bath, Portland, Falmouth, Saco, Kennebunk, and York. The imports from foreign countries in 1873-74 amounted to $3,628,425; amount of exports in the same year, $5,372,102. The chief articles of import were coal, fish, sugar, iron, molasses, and wool; while those of export were cotton goods, canned vegetables, etc., boots and shoes, lumber, bacon, hams, and lard. The whole number of vessels entering from. foreign countries in the same year was 750, of 363,196 tons burthen; number of clearances, 1,489, of 512,287 tons; number of registered, enrolled and licensed vessels, 3,221, of 585,842 tons. In the coasting and fishery trade were entered at the same time 2,291 vessels of 1,124,127 tons, and cleared 1,526 of 847,178 tons. In 1873 there were built in the state 276 vessels of 89,817 tons.
In 1875 Maine had 945 m. of railroad, controlled by 19 different corporations. The inost important of these roads are the Atlantic and St. Lawrence, European and North American, Maine Central, Portland and Kennebec, and the Portland, Saco, and Ports mouth. Lines of steamers ply regularly between the largest cities of the state and_ Boston ; also between Portland and New York, St. John, N. B., and Halifax; and in the winter between Portland, Liverpool, and Glasgow.
In 1874 Maine had 64 national banks, with a capital of $9,840,000, and an outstand ing circulation of $7,946,576. The number of savings banks was 58, with $31,051,963 of deposits. There were at the same time 120 insurance companies doing business in the state. The public indebtedness of the state in 1875, after deducting the sinking fund held for its payment, was $5,574,378. The cash value of real and personal property in_ the state in 1874 was estimated at $254,000,000.
The public institutions are the insane hospital at Augusta, the state prison at Thomas ton, the reforn4,school near Portland, the industrial school for girls in Hallowell, the orphan asylum in Bangor, the military and naval orphans' asylum at Bath, and the Maine general hospital at Portland. There are no state institutions for the care of the deaf and dumb or the blind, but the state arranges for their care in the institutions of other states.
The permanent school fund, derived from the sale of wild lands belonging to the state amounts to about $370,000. The revenue for the support of public schools is derived in part from this fund and in part from taxation. The cost of maintaining the schools in 1874 was $1,237,778, the sum being apportioned among the several towns accordimr to the number of persons therein of school age. According to the latest reports, tfie number of persons in the state of school age was 225,219; registered in summer schools, 122,458, with an average attendance of 98,744; in winter schools, 132,333, with an average attendance of 1-08,478; number of school districts, 4,043; value of school property, $3,070,311; male teachers in summer, 161; in winter, 1,928; female teachers in summer, 4,366; in winter, 2,367; average wages of male teachers, per month, $36.17; of females, per week, $4.05. The legislature, several years since, established a system of free high-schools, the state defraying one-balf the cost of instruc tion upon certain conditions, The system has worked The number of pupils enrolled in these schools in 1874 was 14,820; the amount paid by the state for their support, about $40,000. There are two normal schools, the western at Farmington, the
eastern at Castine; tuition being free to those who agree to become teachers within the state. In 1873 the state appropriated $17,500 for the support of these schools. Maine has four colleges--Bowdoin college at Brunswick, founded in .1801; Colby university at 1Vaterville (Baptist), founded in 1820; Bates college at Lewiston (Freewill Baptist), founded in 1863; and the state college of agriculture and the mechanic arts at Orono, founded in 1868, and receiving the avails of the public lands appropriated by congress for the purpose. The Congregationalists have a theological seminary, founded in 1820, at Bangor. There are also in the state Several flourishing seminaries under the patron age of different relig;ous sects. The number of libraries in the state in 1870 was 3,334, 'containing 984,510 volumes; of these, 187'2, containing over 450,000 volumes, were pri vate. The most important public libraries are the state library in Augusta, and those of Bowdoin college, the Portland institute, the Bangor theological seminary, the mechanics' association of Bangor, Colby university, and Bates college, respectively.
The nurnber of newspapers and periodicals was 65, of which 7 were daily, 1 tri weekly, 47 weekly, 1 semi-monthly, 8 monthly, and 1 quarterly. In 1874 the daily papers had increased to 9, the weeklies to 56. The religious organizations in 1870 num bered 1326, having 1102 edifices, and property va?ned at $5,196,853. The principal +denominations were the Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Freewill Baptist, Protest ant Episcopal, Jewish, Christian, Roman Cafholie, Second Advent. Unitarian, and Universalists. The legislature, composed of a senate of 31 members and a house of representatives of 151 members, elected on the 2d Monday of September, annually-, meets at Augusta, the capital, on the first Weduesday in January. The governor (salary $2,500) is elected annually, and has the advice of a council of 7 members elected by the legisla ture on joint ballot. The supreme court, composed of 8 judges, is appointed by- the governor and council for a term of 7 years, each judge receiving a salary of $3,000. The county of Cumberland, embracing the city of Portland, has a superior court of one judge, appointed in the same way. Probate Judges are elected by the people of each county for terms of 4 years. Judges of inferior courts are appointed by the governor and council for terms of 7 years. The laws of Maine against the manufacture of and the traffic in intoxicating liquors are very strict, and supported by severe penalties. Liquors for medicinal, mechanical, and manufacturing purposes are sold in the several towns and cities by state agents appointed for the purpose. Husbands are not liable for debts contracted by their wives in their own name, but the latter may be sued for them. A wife may hold real and personal estate separately from her husband, and may convey or devise the same by will.
The electoral votes of Maine for president and vice-president of the United States have been as follows: 1820, 9 for Monroe and Tompkins; 1824, 9 for Adams and Cal houn; 182,8, 1 for Jackson and 8 for Adams for president, and 1 for Calhoun and 8 for Rush for vice-president; 1832, 10 for Jackson and Van Buren; 1836, 10 for Van Buren and R. 31. Johnson; 1840, 10 for Harrison and Tyler; 1844, 9 for Polk and Dallas; 1848, 9 for Cass and Butler; 1852, 8 for Pierce and King; 1856, 8 for Fremont and Day ton; 1860, 8 for Lincoln and Hamlin; 1864, 7 for Lincoln and Johnson; 1868, 7 for Grant and Colfax ; 1872, 7 for Grant and Wilson; 1876, 7 for Ilayes and Wheeler; 1880, '7 for Garfield and Arthur.