Town of Cherryfield comprehensive plan : a guide for growth

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Town Of CHERRYFIELD
COMPREHENSI E PIAN

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INFORMATION CENTER

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1977

THE CHERRYFIELD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY 3
THE LAND 5
USES OF THE LAND 9
CARRYING OUT THE PLAN 15
POPULATION 20

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY 26

COASTAL ZONE
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U DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NCAA
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CHARLE'STON SC 2

The Cherryfield Comprehensive Plan-

A Guide for Growth

The Planning Board was appointed by the Selectmen to advise them and the'
Town Manager about the future of the Town. This Comprehensive Plan
report describes the Town as it is today and as it may be tomorrow.

1. Introduction

The United States Chamber of Commerce in its publication "City
Planning and Urban Development" states:

"City or urban planning in its simplest terms can be
defined as intelligent forethought applied to the
development of a community. A plan for a town, city,
or metropolitan area is an outline which attempts to
set down in words, maps, and charts a guide for public
officials and private citizens in developing and using
land. This plan is commonly known as the comprehensive,
general, or "master" plan for the community.
"No business concern today can continue long in business
without applying forethought to the efficient development
of its physical plant, its financial capacity to improve
it operations, and its responsibilities to the public in
the form of goods and services. There is no basic
difference between the concept of planning for private
business and,planning for a community."

A comprehensive plan has two basic functions:
1. 'Policy determination: The.plan enables the town through
its planning board to consider alternatives and agree upon a
definite set of policies that will govern future physical
development and a general physical design to be followed in
carrying out these policies.
2. Current project review: The plan enables the Selectmen
and Planning Board to view all specific projects upon which
they must act against a clear picture of desirable future
development for the entire town.

Since its settlement in 1757, the Town of Cherryfield has changed greatly.
In the future it will also change and grow.. This comprehensive plan is
a guide for growth. It is a policy framework which will be used by the
Planning Board and Selectmen in making decisions concerning the investment
of both public and private funds in order to encourage the development of
better residential areas, improved commercial and industrial sites and
more adequate community facilities such as schools and parks.

The goal of this plan is to make Cherryfield a better place in which to
live , work and play.
The town is a grouping of parts that are so closely interrelated that
none can be considered separately in making intelligent recommendations.
A proposed subdivision can not be reviewed by the Planning Board without
considering the roads, sewers, water, schools, and shopping areas in the
vicinity, and the effect that the subdivision'with its homes and people
will have upon them.
Land is one of the town's most valuable resources as well as the property
of individuals. When it is put a particular use (civic buildings, fac-
tories, streets,etc.) this is generally a long term commitment. Real
property is not like worn-out machinery which can be "written off the
books" -- it remains as a permanent part of the town. A poorly located
use will remain as an "eye-sore" for years. A use without proper road
access or adequate water and sewer services will present problems
throughout its life. For these reasons, the present and future uses of
the land are legitimate concerns of the public as well as of the indi-
vidual property owners.
This plan is a statement of policy prepared to guide further development.
It is-not a set on mandatory, hard and fast rules and regulations.
This plan is flexible and will be changed in the light of new conditions
and new developments. It is not a rigidly imposed "straight jacket."
This plan is a program concerned with thinking constructively about the
future of Cherryfield.

H I STORY*

Cherryfield, on the southwestern border of Washington County is
situated on both sides of the Narraguagus River. This town was originally
No. 11 of the "lottery Townships," fifty of which, situated between the
Penobscot and St. Croix rivers, were included in the land lottery of 1786.
The town was incorporated in 1816. Its first settlers had come in'1757.
Milbridge Village is at the head of navigation on the Narraguagus, although
Cherryfield is at the head of the tide five or six miles farther on.
The origin and development of the town of Cherryfield has been chiefly
due to the Narraguagus River which divides the village into two nearly
equal parts. It was for many years called Narraguagus. Vessels ascended
to Milbridge within five and half miles of Cherryfield Village, and lumber
was floated to that point in scows and rafts.
Cherryfield was first settled in 1757 by Ichabod Willey and Samuel
Colson . Willey, and probably Colson, came from New Hampshire; the former
was English born, or born soon after his parents came to this country.
His wife, Elizabeth Bumford, was born in Londonderry, Ireland. Mr. Willey
was a millwright, who built the first mill on the Narraguagus River.
About 1760 two brothers, Thomas and Samuel Leighton, came from Falmouth
to the Narraguagus; Joseph Bracy was a very early settler. John Bohannon,
Samuel Colson and John Foster had arrived by 1763. John Lawrence came early
from North Yarmouth, while Captain Josiah Tucker built a house and lived
on the hill east of Samuel Ray's residenc 'e.
Alexander Campbell moved to that part of Steuben, now Cherryfield,
where he built mills about 1772 or 1773. He first contemplated building
on the privilege occupied by Forest Mill, but built a dam and tide mill
down below. There was a mill built prior to this, perhaps owned by Joseph
Wallace, Deacon Johnathan Stevens and others'..
John Archer, an Englis4an, a surveyor'aind teacher, took up a lot on
the Beddington.Road in thg early settlement, was one of the assessors in
1812, and a member of the Committee of Safety. @h@bal Hinckley, sometime
prior to the Revolution, settled first on the east side of the river and
then moved to the intervale beyond the Archer place. The Fosters came to
the river from Cape Elizabeth soon after the close of the Revolutionary
War. They were English born and lived at Halifax, but had great sympathy
for American independence.
The northeast part of Steuben was annexed to Cherryfield in-jj@Z&.
Alexander Nickels first settled in Milbridge and then purchased-the Todd
lot in Cherryfield and built a mansion. He was concerned with the tide
mill at the old shipyard. Issac Patten, by trade a tanner, came to
Gouldsborough early and then moved to Foster's Island in Narraguagus Bay.
Colonel Campbell relinquished some thirty acres of the large lot which he
had taken up, and Mr. Patten established a tanyard near the creek. Joseph
Bracy, a very early settler, already mentioned, finally bought a piece of
land of the Todd or Nickels lot and built a house on the south side of the
old County road that led to the bridge at.Shipyard Point.

*From Ava Harriet Chadbourne's Maine Place Names and the Peopling of Its
Towns, 1957

The first meeting house was built on the east side of the river near
the Campbell Mill. "The Belgrade," a full-rigged bark that carried fifty-
six local men around Cape Horn to California during the gold rush, was
built in this formerly active shipbuilding community.
Among later Cherryfield settlers was Dr. Benjamin Alline, surgeon in
the Continental Army, who settled in Gouldsborough after the war. He
moved to Cherryfield about 1790, the first physician in the vicinity.
Joseph Adams came about 1807 from Massachussetts to Wiscasset, soon to
Cherry fie I d. He was among the plantation officers in 1809 and from that
time was identified with the town and with its interests. He held nearly
every town office and was elected several times to the General Court.
He often rode on horseback from Narraguagus to Boston and back again after
the session. A man of fine personal presence and of genial manners, he
was a member of the Committee of Safety in 1812, and a Representative,
from 1821 to 1831, to the Legislature of the newly established State of
Maine.
The census of 1790 lists the following additional heads of families
in No. 11 at that date: John Jordan, Moses Roff, Gawing Vilson, John
Anderson, John, Elisha, Ebeneezer and John Small, Jr.
Cherryfield's claim to be "The Blueberry Capital of the World" is
based upon its extensive blueberry barrens which als
'pt4@y
,pport the canning
facilities operated by A.L. Stewart and Sons and Wym@n iiaspe_5vand Son.
Both factories also receive and process berries from o5tfie-r-parts of the
county.

THE LAND

A series of maps has been prepared showing which parts of the town are
most suitable (and least suitable) for residences, farms, industry and
other activities.. Agreement to use the land in keeping with its capa-
bilities is an important first step on improving property values,
preventing adverse conditions which will be expensive to correct, and
assuring sound growth of the town.

ELEVATION

In general, Cherryfield lies predominantly between sea level and 200 feet
of elevation, gently sloping upland to higher points on Pineo Ridge and
west of the upper reaches of the Narraguagus River. A long ridge of
land west of the West Branch of the Narraguagus exhibits a more sudden
rise of land. This is an extension of a small band of mountains immedi-
ately to the west in Hancock County.

SLOPES

Slopes are an important aspect of elevation. Whether an area is at sea
level or 3000 feet above sea level is less important than knowing how
steeply the land rises. Slope is measured as a percentage of the relation-
ship between vertical distance and horizontal distance. If, for example,
the ground rises 10 feet for every 100 feet of horizontal distance., the
slope of the land is 10 divided by 100, or 10%. Slope is important when
a piece of land is being considered for various kinds of development.
Economically and physically, it is usually harder to develop a piece of
steep land. Bedrock is usually closer to the surface, and runoff of rain-
water or snowmelt increases velocity on steep slopes and makes erosion
more likely. Development of steep slopes should be considered with care.
Cherryfield has few probl@ms with steep slopes. Except for the western
rLdge coming in from Hancock County, most steep areas are small and isolated.
Probably 90 to 95% of Cherryfield's land has'a slope no greater than 8%.

SOILS

Soil is the ground on which land uses occur. Therefore, the condition of
the soil and soil types are important in land use decisions. Most soils
in Maine, however, have only been mapped generally. A few areas have been
studied intensively to determine their soil types, but most information
available is the general soils mapping done by the Soil Conservation
Service.
The soils groups mapped on this map for Cherryfield are general associa-
toins, mixtures of different types of soils. Their general analysis is
dependent not only on the soils themselves,.but also on how rocky they are,
and on how steep the slopes on which they occur are.- Although this map
shows what kinds of soils are found in Cherryfield, the boundaries are
not strict, and isolated pockets of radically different soils may be
found upon closer investigation of a particular site. This is one reason
why soils tests are important.

Unfortunately, most of the general soils associations in Cherryfield are
not considered favorable for most kinds of development. The term "favor-
ability" can be awkward, as in the case of some soils that are suitable
to build houses or stores on, but which are notably unsuitable for sewage
disposal. Poor soils do not, however, prohibit development. They can
create limitations by which a town must determine what are the best uses
for the land. Other-than-conventional uses may be called for. Larger
than average lot sizes may be necessary. Other measures can be taken to
use the land to its best capacity. The accompanying chart shows some of
the constraints for the soils found in Cherryfield.

CHERRYFIELD GENERAL SOILS ANALYSIS

V) Uj _j 0- Uj
a- CL < C)
SOIL TYPE TEXTURE SLOPE Uj _j W _j
cn 06 in a. U ca

Adams ---- 0-15 % V V G-F V F-P P_V V
Alluvials ---- 0-3 V V V V V V V
Belgrade ---- 0-15 P F P F P F-P F-P
Berkshire ---- 0-15 G-F F F G-F F-P F P_V
Biddeford ---- 0-3 V V V V V V V
Buxton ---- 3-15 V F P F P V P_V
Buxton-Scantic ---- o-8 V V V V V V V
Colton ---- o-45 V V F V P V V
Duane ---- 0-15 V V F V F V P
Elmwood ---- 0-15 V F P F P F F
Hermon stony 3-45 F-P V F-P P P V P_V
Leicester stony o-8 V V V V P V P-V
Lyman ---- 3-15 P V V V P P_V P
Lyman stony o-45 V V V V P_V V V
Lyman-Berks'hire stony 0-15 -.-P V V V P P_V V
Marlow ---- 3-15 P F F G-F F-P P F-P
Marlow rocky 3-45 P-V F-P F F P_V P_V V
Organic ---- 0-3 V V V V V V V
Peru rocky 3-15 V F P F P P_V V
Ridgebury rocky 0-8 V V V V P V V
Rockland rocky 3-45 V V V V V V V
Saco ---- 0-3 V V V V V V V
Scantic ---- 0-3 V V V V P V P_V
Scarboro 0-3 V V V V V V V
Suffield ---- 15-45 V P_V P_V P_V V V V
Swanton ---- 0-3 V V V V P V P
Tidal ---- 0-3 V V. V V V V V
Waumbek stony 0-15 P ..F P F P P_V P_V
Walpole 1 0-3 V V V V P V P

E -- Excellent SEPTIC on-site septic systems
G--- Good COVER c@ver materials for landfills
F -- Fair HOUSES residential houses
P ---Poor PIPES municipal sewer lines
V -- Very Poor BUILD icommercial buildings no more than 3 stories high
PLAYG playing fields
CROPS cultivated crops
BLUEB blueberry cultivation (no info. as yet)

From: "Soil Suitability Guide" Cooperative Extension Service, Unviersity of Maine,
Orono, Maine, Misc. Publication No. 667 (Revised February 1975).

SURFICIAL GEOLOGY AND GROUNDWATER FAVORABILITY

This map depicts several kinds of geological conditions found in Cherryfield.
These conditions relate closely to the soil types found in the area and
may influence the occurrence of groundwater.
The s.urficial geology unddrlies (usually) the topsoil and often is of
inorganic materials. The exception is swamp deposits, made up of peat and
muck, occurring in poorly drained areas. They may release water slowly
o groundwater sources or to streams associated with them. They absorb
flood waters during high runoff periods.
t

Marine deposits occur in areas where the sea once inundated the land,
usually less than 100 feet above present sea level. The materials are
silts, clays, and very fine sands, deposited as sediments. Water may be
held in these materials, but it is released very slowly, though it is of
good quality.
Outwash is made up of materials deposited as the last glacier retreated.
It is described as stratified, or layered, deposits of sand and gravel,
with some silt, clay, and cobbles. The areas are generally too small or
too thin to be significant water resource areas. The water yielded,
howeve'r, is usually soft and of good quality.
Ice-contact deposits are also stratified layers of sand and gravel. These
can be quite thick and cover broad areas of land. They can serve as
important water resource areas (aquifers and aquifer recharge areas hold-
ing large quantities of groundwater). The water is soft and of good
quality.
Terminal moraines are unstratified, unsorted deposits of clay, silt, sand,
gravel, cobbles, and boulders, interspersed with some stratified deposits
of sand and gravel. They usually occur as long narrow ridges of-materials
(not always noticeable in,the topography of the land surface as eskers
are) that were dropped at the edge of the glacier as it stopped retreating
temporarily. When moraines are thick enough., they are a good source of
good water that is soft. 1.
Till and bedrock, mapped together, represent the remainder of inorganic
geologic materials. Bedrock in this area is mostly igneo .us rocks (granites)
and metamorphic rocks (slate, shale, schist, quartzite, etc.). Bedrock
formations are dense and relatively impermeable to water. Water is held
and yielded through planes, fractures, and other breaks in the rock. The
water is often under pressure and may rise hi,gh in wells. It is usually
of good quality.
Till is an unsorted mixture of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and boulders.
It may resemble ice-contact deposits, except for the lack of stratification;
or it may be heavy in clay and boulders. It is a good source for water,
though wells dug in till may go dry in summer. The water is soft and of
good quality.

YIELD AND DEPTH OF BEDROCK WELLS

This map shows where particular wells of high yield are located, and also
where general high-yield areas are. The depth of these bedrock wells gives
an idea of how far down drillers must go to reach sufficient water supplies,
especially for industrial, commercial, or municipal purposes. An interesting
counterpart to this map would be one showing high-yield wells in non-
bedrock areas.

This map may not be entirely accurate in the boundaries and locations
of yields areas and wells, because information was transferred from a
map at 1:125,000 to this one, which is more than ten times larger. The
in-town area was highly congested with information. The information,
however, is generally correct and shows trends in well depth and capacity.

USES'OF THE LAND

Most of the people in Cherryfield are fully aware of the rights of
property owners, and the fact that these rights cannot be so unlimited
so as to impair or destroy the value of a neighbor's property by water
or air pollution, or other nuisance. The people in joining together
to form a town, elect Selectmen, and appoint a Planning Board have taken
another step toward assuring a bright future for their area. Sound
fiscal and physical improvement planning for the future will not only
protect the investments of the people, but will improve their tax base.
The many kinds of land uses in Cherryfield have been recorded on a series
of field maps showing not only general land uses, but also information on
points of interest -- boat launching areas, town parks, and historical
buildings. A summary of these maps is included in this report.
Cherryfield is currently sparsely populated and its rural character and
open space reflect this. It can be generally described as a rural resi-
dential community. The existing land use map illustrates this. '
As the town grows in the future it will be desirable to encourage expansion
from the present center of essential services such as water supply, sewage
disposal, retail services and community facilities. By so doing the Town
can do much to reduce future servicing costs and at the same time protect
the remaining rural open space and other natural resources. The alter-
native to this is widespread, scattered development and all the dis-
advantages of costly and extensive services or, as frequently occurs, no
services at all.
With the above as a basic concept for future,development, there are various
means by which it may be realized. This cannot occur overnight since the
residents do not have the means or the intention of attempting at once
to provide all the services which will be needed in the future. A simple
and basic means of encouraging the development of a village pattern, however,
is to adopt land use standards which would encourage all the uses to occur
in a central location and leave the balanceof the community for a variety
of uses, but in a less concentrated form. For example, the village area
might contain a group of stores, some local office space, recreation
facilities, churches, town offices, police station, fire station, and
village residences at a higher density than outlying areas. The outlying
areas in turn would contain residences on much larger parcels of land,
farms, recreation and conservation areas, and here and there an occasional
retail convenience outlet or service.
Such standards would also include requirements for potential industry.
While no specific locations are currently suggested for industry, such
standards would complement the soils data developed for the Town and make
both site selection and performance standards very easy should the need
arise. Adoption of the following Industrial Policy Statement is recommended.
The Town of Cherryfield is receptive to industrial development provided
that:

1. It is a stable, solid enterprise.

2. It adapts itself to the community without disrupting it.
3. It does not create uncontrollable air or water pollution or any
other nuisance.

Under these conditions, the Town encourages use of suitable areas for
industrial development. Industrial development, in this frame of reference,
includes the broad spectrum from production to research.
A further means of encouraging orderly growth is to identify future
commu nity needs and recommend ways of providing for them as required. In
this way, the community may foresee situations before they become problems
and then take the necessary steps.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

The historic buildings of the town are interesting, not only in themselves,
but as a link with (and reminder of) the past. The better known of these
are:

First Baptist Church: Six individuals established the First
Baptist Church in 1796. The original building was erected
soon after but burned in 1903. The present structure was
built in 1905. During the time of rebuilding services were
held in Union Hall in the Cherryfield Academy.

First Congregational Church: The First Congregational Church
was organized in 1833 by Rev. Elijah Kellogg under the sponsor-
ship of the American Home M-issionary Society. In the 1850's
the Society built the present meeting house which remains today
little changed. In 1964 the church became affiliated with the
United Church of Christ and the Maine Sea Coast Missionary
Society.

The Adams House: The Adams House, a home of fine proportions.
This colonial house-was built in 1793 and is considered to be
the second oldest house in the town. It is now occupied by the
fourth generation of Adams family.

The Clarence A. and Gladys C. Tucker Home: It has been in 2 states,
2 counties, and 2 towns. Massachusetts included what is Maine
until it became a state. Lincoln County was divided to form
Hancock and Washington Counties, and before the town lines were
finally established the property was located in Steuben, thus
placing the property in Massachusetts, then Maine, Lincoln County,
then Washington County and the town of Steuben and then Cherryfield.
Not open to the public.

The Patten Building: Entered on the National Register of
Historic Places in 1979, this designation indicates that the
property is deemed worthy of presevation and protection as part
of the Nation's historic and architectural heritage.
The Patten Building was erected in 1865 by Frank W. Patten to be
used as a boot and shoe store and manufactory. Over the years it
has served at one time or another as a meat market, a pool hall,
a photography shop and a barber shop.
The structure is an example of a rural store built in the
Itanlianate style.
The value of these buildings should be kept in mind and future developments
not allowed to detract from them.

HOUS I NG

The 1970 U.S. Census counted a total of 371 "Housing Units" in Cherryfield.
(A housing unit is a detached home or an apartment). Of these, 268 were
occupied and 103 vacant.
Two-hundred and sixty of the occupied units were year-round, and eight
seasonal. Renters lived in 21 of the 260, 239 being owner occupied.
Only three structures with two or more units were identified. There were
13 mobile homes.
The Regional Planning Commission's 1975 survey counted 385 units -- an
increase of 14 or about three new homes a year. That agency's housing
element indicated that in the next few years 70 new homes may be built in
Cherryfield to accomodate new families formed within the town (the children
of residents growing up and moving out of their parents home) and newcomers
to the area. This is only as estimate, but is useful for planning purposes.
Most of these homes will be scattered throughout the town.. but there is
a real possibility of one or more subdivisions being submitted to the
Planning Board and a small number of homes being built for sale in the next
few years.
The Planning Board's role is to ensure that these subdivisions are designed
so as not to become a financial burden on the town.

PUBLIC UTILITIES

Electric Power: Is available, usually dependable, although relatively
expensive. Improved preventive maintenance by the Bangor Hydro-Electric
Power Company might enhance dependability although ice storms cannot be
controlled.
Telephone Service- At p ese toll free calls can be made from Cherryfield
to Steuben, Milbr o 171
es ny Columbia, Columbia Falls, and Harrington.
Improvement of dependagility is desirable. - '
Water: Residents are depending upon theirlown wells and springs nearly
entirely. This requires utmost care in the prevention of pollution that
could result in bacterial or toxic infection with resultant disability or
even death. It also requires that we designate areas where additional
public water supply of good quality could be'stored in future years by
daming up brooks and springs. It also requires that utmost care be taken,
not to pollute in any way our water resources. This can be done by not
installing inadequate sewage disposal systems and by referring to the Town's
soils suitability maps before installing any system whatsoever. The mini-
mum standards for the installation of septic disposal systems established
by the State of Maine should be observed. All lots with no public water
supply or public sewage disposal systems must now meet the State minimum
of 20,000 square feet or, approximately.L-4&win size. A limited popu-
lation of Cherryfield (4%) is served by'the West Side Aqueduct Company,
which supplies from a large well.
Sewage and Waste Disposal: There are only individual disposal units.
At this time, we are not aware, at least, of any single major problem.
Although the concentration of housing in the village area contributes to
the Class SC rating of water quality in the Lower Narraguagus River. It
is conceivable that in the future sewage pipes and a treatment plant may

be needed. Designation for a sewage treatment plant now would be an
important first step and eliminate uncertainty that might slow develop-
ment. A location in the vivinity of the proposed village development area
would be logical since this would eventually be an area of concentrated
service from which further expansion might later occur.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Municipal Government: While the administrative facilities of the Town
at present appear to be adequate, provision should be made to designate
a location where a municipal building might best serve its residents. If
and when the time comes that Cherryfield must have full time municipal
officers, a treasurer's office, a police department, and others, a
building could be constructed without disturbing anyone else and perhaps
without having to pay an exorbitant price. The same applies to housing
of town owned vehicles (public works) in future years. Again, a site
within the village area appears to be a logical and central location most
convenient to the residents of the Town.
Fire Protection: Fire protection is hampered by lack of a public water
supply system, dependance on ponds and brooks for our pumper, and tank
truckof limited capacity. Improvements can be achieved by strengthening
regional assistance between the neighboring communities or pooling regional
resources in strategic locations. Long range planning should include
provisions for a Town water system with adequate numbers of hydrants.
This will prove very costly because of the size of the community and dis-
persal of properties. This fact adds to the desirability of.a relatively
compact village area which could be economically served by a public system
which in turn could be later extended into the outlying areas as the need
arose.
Law Enforcement: Currently, State Police, County Sheriff's Department,
and Town Constable compleffient protective services. For the time being,
this seems adequate for most occasions. If for any reason an increase in
police coverage becomes necessary in the future, an increase in deputized
sheriffs on a part-time or project basis ks favored over a full-time police
force. The Town should plan on setting aside funds for two-way radio
transmitters in certain locations as the need for quick communications
might become apparent.
Health Services: Cherryfield does not have'a resident physician in
General Practice. Such services are available in Milbridge, Harrington,
Ellsworth and Machias. Ambulance Service is available to Cherryfield
residents through the Cherryfield Ambulance Corp.
The closest Hospital Facilities are in Ellsworth and Machias. Cherryfield
residents also utilize the hospital in Bar Harbor. More complete medical
services are at Eastern Maine Medical in Bangor.
EducationalOpportunities: Cherryfield is a member of School Administrative
District #37. Elementary education is at the Cherryfield Elementaty School
for Grades 1-8, and high school education is provided at Narraguagus High
School in Harrington.
Adult evening education and college credit courses are available in nearby
towns and cities within commuting distance. This is also true in respect
to college education at the University of Maine, Machias and the schools
in Bangor and Orono.

The need for a day care center for pre-school children and another nursery
school should be examined and kept current in the years to come, as such
facilities may make a definite difference for many young people when con-
sidering living in Cherryfield.

HIGHWAYS, ROADS-, TRANSPORTATION
Access to Cherryfield is provided by U.S. Route I and State Routes 182 and
193.
The Town should consider adding sidewalks to certain existing roads to
make pedestrian walking and bike-riding safe.
Attention should be given to the repair and particularly to the reconstru-
ction of existing bridges.
Street lights and signs should be financed similar to the way in which the
Town gradually improves roads. Lights tend to deter crime and add to
traffic safety.
Width of roads, highways, and intersections should be sufficient to facili-
tate plowing and snow removal in the winter and to allow safe parking in
appropriate locations. Acceptable standards of width are:
Local roads: 50 feet
Collector roads: 60 feet
Arterial highways: 80 to 100 feet
The Town should establish strict acceptance standards for new streets and
regulations for subdivision of land and its use.
Public transportation within the Town is presently non-existent. Greyhound's
Boston - St. Stephen route schedules four stops daily in nearby Milbridge
and Harrington. The buses run through Cherryfield both ways. The Washington-
Hancock Community Action Agency provides some service to special groups
(elderly and handicapped). Scheduled air service is available at Bar Harbor
and Bangor.
The residents of Cherryfield are basically.dependent upon private auto-
mobiles for transportation. Those without cars must rely primarily upon
friends and neighbors.
The Maine Central Railroad maintains track through Cherryfield for freight
transport. This railroad carries lumber, w6od products and other cargo
to and from Washington County. A rail yard is based on a spur on the
eastern edge of town.
West's Transportation of Milbridge is currently considering establishing
a rural bus service to Ellsworth from Cherryfield, Milbridge, Steuben,
Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor, Sullivan and Hancock. This service could be
of great value to the people of the Town. Mr. West should be encouraged
in his efforts to start it.

RECREATION

Recreation facilities presently are limited to hiking, fishing, hunting,
horseback riding, and, more recently, snowmobiling. Facilities includet
Indoor recreation: Limited to the second floor of the Town Office Building
(the former Cherryfield Academy.)

Narraguagus Park: 5 picnic tables/3 shelters
Narraguagus River: canoeing/fishi'ng (salmon)
Weald Bethel: religious retreat open to public/picnic tables/nature trail
Blueberry Factories: blueberries are processed and packaged/tours are
given upon request
Black' Woods Road: (Route 182) scenic highway leading to Ellsworth, passes
through wooded area with many lakes
Cherryfield Hill Rest Area: 4 picnic tables/3 fireplaces/2 shelters/toilet
Overnight Facilities:

Tennis Courts:

The Selectmen are considering the creation of a Recreation Board. Such
a board would be an official body of the town responsible for general
leisure development in the community. It would be composed of appointed
or elected citizens who are particularly interested in stimulating interest
and development of recreation opportunities for the citizens of Cherryfield.
Its function would be:
-To provide information to the citizens of the municipality concerning the
functions of the Board and the leisure opportunities available.
-To assist in the development of leisure goals and objectives for the
municipality.
-To serve as an individual municipal resource for leisure development.
To serve as a vital resource to other municipal bodies.

-
To provide citizen participation in the process of extending leisure
development and improving existing services.
-To assist.in the planning and development of leisure facilities and pro-
grams.
-To report to the municipal officers of th@6 progress and requirements of
the Board.
There are two options open to a town wishing to legally establish a Board.
1) The Town may develop an article for thewarrant as follows: "To see
if the Town WiZZ vote to estabZish a Recreation Board - the members to
serve 3-year staggered terms and to be appointed by the municipaZ officers.
The duties of the Board to be determined by the ZegisZative body."
2) An alternative approach would be to draw up an Ordinance outlining the
structure, powers and duties of the Recreation Board and have the 'Town
vote on the following article: "ShaZZ an Ordinance entitZed 'CherryfieZd
Recreation Ordinance be enacted?'
A cross representation of the community is a desirable membership ingredient.
Youth, adults and special interest people are all helpful. Most important
is the desire to become involved and accept responsibility.
When formed, the Board should, among other things, make a study of Town
lands to determine if any are appropriate for future development for
recreation use. Particular attention should be given to lands along the
river.

CARRYING OUT THE PLAN

Having a planning policy and carrying it out are two different things.
The planning policy is advisory only and may be readily changed as the
circumstances dictate. Carrying out any policy, however, requires pri-
vate actions and support and public action
public action includes a number of steps which most towns take over a
period of years. Sensible budgeting to provide for needs in order of
priority is one of the best ways of providing needed services. This
should be accomplished as a joint effort of the Selectmen, the Budget
Committee and the Planning Board -- and, good public relations prior to
Town meeting.
Cherryfield has a building ordinance to ensure that buildings are properly
and saftly constructed. This is the best way of preventing substandard
shacks and other structures.
Other steps involve the adoption of standards to make sure that the growth
of the Town does not harm the health, welfare, or safety of Cherryfield's
residents. It is strongly recommended that the Town consider the develop-
ment of standards for the following:
Land Use to encourage the development of a central
village area and ensure that all future uses
develop harmoniously with the environment and
each other.
Subdivision to ensure that land is subdivided in a practical
and logical way in order to protect the interests
of potential buyers and eliminate unnecessary
maintenance problems for the Town in the future.
This should include mobile home park areas.
Housing to ensure that everybody lives in a decent,
safe and sanitary dwelling. This also usually
deals with items s *uch as plumbing and wiring.
Such standards are 'in everybody's interest.
It is usually a;r'eas where no such minimum stan-
dards exist that slums develop and where the
greatest community costs for health, welfare
and fire protection occur.
Recreation to ensure that the community provides for the
recreational needs of its inhabitants. This can
best be done by acquiring recreational easements,
by purchasing land with assistance from the
State and Federal Government as part of the
Open Space Program, and by making the best pos-
sible use of existing facilities, especially
school plant.
Conservation to ensure that wildlife and our precious natural
resources are protected from thoughtless develop-
ment or needless abuse.
Air and Water to ensure that the environment we depend upon
Pollution for life does not become an instrument of disease
and possible death because of our own thoughtless
contaminations.

M MWDIMMIE NWECOWNESPOCHMM M
CHERRYFIELD Pop-_1030 Date__ August 1@, 192,R

Code or
Ordinance Does Is the Is It Is the Is Im- Is the Is Im- Comments or Suggested Improvements
the code enforced permit provement enforcing provement
Town effective 7 process In the agent In en-
l
have adequately code effective forcement
one ? exercised 7 needed ? needed ?

Building Town has no fine system for
Perr.it Yes Yes Yes Yes No Partly Pattly violations. Permit system
Ordinance maintained to keep track of
growth trends.

Subdtvislon Town would like to set up Its
Review State Yes Yes Partly Yes Yes No own guidelines for subdivisions.
Process Only 2 In town now. Feels present
review process not adequate.

Shoreland No problems In town.
Zoning Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
Ordinance

Code effective In new construction
state No CEO In town; no provision In law
Plumbing State Yes Partly Yes Yes Partly Yes for enforcement to handle violations.
Code

Town questions enforcing Individuals
Solid to use town dump Instead of their
Waste Yes Yes Yes No Yes No back-yard dumps. Town asks how'to
Maragerent enforce this.

No salt water coastline carrying
significant amounts of shellfish.
No
Some tidal river influence.

Al I of the above can be achieved by our wi I I ingness to protect and pre-
serve what we now have or what we may have in the foreseeable future.
More important is the belief that we should hand on to the generations
which follow the best conditions we can create with our limited means.
In this way, perhaps, they will not have to wrestle with the problems
facing many communities today.
In addition to local regulations, there are many state controls over
development. These are summarized on the following pages.

,SITUATJOIJ CONTACT
LAW

ite.Location Development of a land or water area in excess of Bureau of Land Quality
Law 20 acres; gravel areas over 5 acres If not reg- Control, Dept. of
ulated by Dept. of Transportation; developments Environmental Protection,
with air emissions; developments Involving re- Augusta, 289-2111
shaping of the earth's surface in excess of 60,000
sq. ft. (1-5 acres); and certain subdivisions.
or F1afflV1J'V1i E@CaAd. Or-
tinimum Lot Building a single family dwelling with conventional Bureau o Land Quality
Size Law underground sewage disposal on a lot less than Control, Dept. of
20,000 sq. ft. (I acre). The lot must have at Environmental Protection,
least 100 ft. of frontage if it borders on any Augusta, 289-2111
body of water. (Lots served by a municipal sewer
system are exempt from this law.)

ubdivision Subdividing a parcel of land Into 3 or more lots Council, Board of
Law within any 5-year period (except lots given to Selectmen, or Planning
relatives, transferred to abutting owner(s), or Board of that munici-
where one lot is kept by landowner.) pality.
Also prohibited is the sale of development of lot(s)
of a subdivision not approved by the municipality.

reat Ponds Construction of causeways, bridges, marinas,* Bureau of Land Quality
Act wharves, other permanent structures, beach con- Control, Dept. of
struction, filling, and/or dredging, in or on land Environmental Protection,
adjacent to a great.pond,, Including Inland wetlands. Augusta, 289-2111. Or
any local Fish and Wild-
life warden or other law
enforcement officers.

Rivers and Construction in, alterations to, or obstructions of Army Corps of Engineers,
rbors Act navigable waters of the U.S, below the mean high 424 Trapelo Rd.,
la water mark. Waltham, MA 02154
t
oreland Alteration or construction on shorelands of Municipal Officers of the
oning Act organized towns within 250 ft. of the mean high town In which offense
water mark, fresh or salt. occurs; or State Planning
Office, W-Ugusta, 289-3261

NOTE: Alteration or construction on shorelands Land Use Regulation
or any other lands within the unorganized Commission, Augusta, ME
townships. 289-2631

astal Construction in or biteration of a coastal wetland, Bureau of Land Quality
Lands Act which includes all tidal and sub-tidal lands sub- Control, Dept. of
ject to tidal action or normal storm flowage. Environmental Protection,
Alteration Includes dredging, filling. and draining. Augusta, 289-2111. Or
local Dept. of Marine
Resources Coastal Warden.

S I T-UAT 1, Q;N
LAW CONTACT

Conversion of Converting a seasonal dwelling to a permanent Local Plumbing Inspector,
Seasonal dwelling intended for year-round use, without up- or the municipal authori-
D,wellings in dating the sewage disposal'system, providing It to ties. Or Dept. of Human
Shoreland be sufficient, or tying into a public collection Services, Bureau of Healt'
Areas Law system. Engineering, Augusta,
289-3826.

Alteration of Dredging, filling, or building permanent structures Dept. of Inland Fisheries
Itivers, in, on, or over any river, stream, or brook above and Wildlife, Augusta,
Streams, and head of tide, or on the land adjacent to such 289-2766. Or any local
Brooks Act waters. Fish Game Warden.

Dam Building Construction of dam or other obstruction of any Dept. of Inland Fisheries
Law river, stream, or brook. and Wildlife, Augusta,
289-2766. Or any loc;1
Fish & Game Warden.

Open Burning Open burning of any kind. Even with a permit, Local forest ranger,
burning is prohibited during periods of dangerous town fire wardens.
weather conditions, within 25 ft. of a public way,
without sufficient supervision, or without regard
to Maine Forestry Dept. or local fire regulations.

Dumping or Depositing or discharging, directly or Indirectly, Bureau of Land Quality
Discharging any wastes or refuse into Inland or tidal waters, Control, Dept. of
onto the ice, or aLn the banks such that such Environmental Protection,
refuse may fall, wash, or 11each Into the waters. Augusta, 289-2111.

Oil Spills To'll Free Oil Spills
Only, 1-800-482-0777.
Solid Waste Depositing or dumping refuse or trash within 300 Bureau of Land Quality
Management Act feet of any body of water. Control, Dept. of
Environmental Protection,
Augusta, 289-2111

POPULATION

Washington County and Cherryfield reached their peak populations in 1900
when the U.S.Census reported that 45,232 persons lived in the County.
Rapid advances in transportation systems, though slow in this county, began
to affect the economy everywhere. Railroad systems across the country made
goods as available or more so than shipping by water. By the 1920's land
travel had improved to such a degree that many prosperous towns along the
coast, strategically located for trade advantages when travel was predom-
inantly by sea, were bypassed. As this century progressed, inland road-
ways have become more and more the major trucking route for shipment of
goods. Those roads that lead to towns on the sea are basically dead ends.
Towns originally separated by only a few minutes' travel by water are now
fifty or a hundred miles apart by land. The local economy began to
falter in these isolated places and the young people moved away to find
fresh opportunities elswhere.' Vessels in formerly bustling harbors lay
idle at their moorings.
Another cause for the faltering economy was the development of substitute
products, such as concrete in p,lace of granite, and metal ships, requiring
less maintenance, in place of wooden ones. As they began to move onto the
market, these products disrupted the economy in areas that provided
natural products.
World War 1 precipitated rapid advances in technology and drew young people
of Maine to the cities seeking an exciting life and job. The entire nation
swung into the irresponsible 1920's. In 1920 the census reported only
41,800 residents in Washington County; in 1930, only 37,800. Then the
depression of the thirties set in and the headcount steadied for a decade.
Perhaps news of poverty in the cities discouraged those who might otherwise
have left their homes.
The decline picked up again in the forties with the Second World War. The
entire nation, not just Maine and Washington County, experienced the
migration of promising young generations moving from rural areas to-the
cities. Right up until 1970, residents of this county kept moving to urban
areas, where they felt the opportunities were better. Though the state
showed an increase in population in the sixties, this county continued to
lose. Gloomy predictions, forecasting a continued decline for the county,
followed the 1970 census of only 29,859 persons, the lowest it's been
since the 1840's. It seemed that there was nothing to attract people to
this county that other areas didn't have.
By 1973, however, those gloomy predictions had been proven false. Though
only an estimate, the figure for the 1978 population reached 34,000 showing
growth in the county for the first time since the turn of the century.
This figure was no fluke: population in Washington County since 1970
has increased at an average of 500 -600 persons per year. During the same
period, Cherryfield grew from 771 to 980.
No obvious major economic advancements have taken place here in the last
seven years; what is it about Washington County that is suddenly attrac-
tive? What kinds of people are moving here?
A pattern had begun in the mid-sixties along the southern and mid-coast
areas; by the beginning of this decade it had reached this county. Cries
for environmental action, loudest in the centers of ecological conflict,
the urban centers, brought a new awareness to our people whose nation had

-Z 0

been partly founded on a belief that all growth is good. To an extent
this was true, but these centers of conflict showed where we had over-
stepped our limits. Spurred by a rash of books on natural systems and
envirnonmental abuse and by the deterioration of urban and suburban life,
people began moving from the cities to less heavily developed areas,
first to the well-known areas of the coast, and later inland to the rolling
farmlands and eastward to include this county.
The migration is still underway. Though the outflow of Maine residents
is still great, the inflow is large enough to show a net increase in
population. "Back-to-the-earth hippies'' receive perhaps more than their
share of attention, for the majority of immigrants are young and middle-
aged men and women, some married, some with children, according to a
report by Louis A. Ploch of the Unive,rsity of Maine, called "Maine's New
Pattern of In-Migration". This large survey in 1976 found that many live
on farmland, but do not farm professionally. The majority of immigrants
in any one working category are so-called white-collar workers. These
include engineers, nurses, physicians, teachers, lab technicians, members
of the clergy, artist and artisans, government workers, and other occu-
pations of this type. The jobs require a relatively high level of educa-
tion. These young, energetic, working-age people may provide new initia-
tive and motivation to municipalities. The emigrants appear to be educated
young people, leaving low-skilled workers in the area. The new immigrants,
half of whom have completed four years of college, may maintain or improve
the quality of the labor force (Ploch, 1976).
"Quality of life" seems to be a major motivation for the move to Maine
(and subsequently Washington County), according to this survey conducted
by the University of Maine at Orono in 1976. Not only the physical
deterioration of urban and suburban areas drives people away from them,
but also the occupational and social pressures repel them. An abundance
of museums, libraries, theater, and other services may provide a cultural
atmosphere not always present in rural Maine, but these are not always
enough to balance against what is known as the "rat-race" - the 9-to-5
time punch, the apathy among employees for work that offers no challenge,
no room for initiative or imagination, the;"keeping-up-with-the Jonses"
expected of urban and suburban dwellers. Though we like to joke about these
things, they present serious physical and mental health problems for
people in these areas. They are willing to give up higher paying jobs to
move to Maine, to Washington County, to get something better -- fresh, clean
water and air, open space, beauty, a more relaxed or more challenging
lifestyle, or something they haven't yet defined to themselves.
(Prohibitively high land prices and taxes in more rapidly growing areas
surely have been an incentive to move here as well. Land has been consis-
tently low-priced compared to other parts of Maine and New England, making
lots available to young families who might not otherwise be able to afford
to buy.)
Small towns are particularly popular with these immigrants. Over two-
thirds of them originally came from counties of over 200,000 in population.
Most immigrants from Maine are from the northeastern region of the United
States, especially New England (Ploch, 1976).
Though many immigrants are older persons, returning to their native state
or retiring after years of visiting, the majority falls between the ages
of 24 - 64 years of age, with 51% under 35 years of age. (Ploch, 1976).

This may seem contradictory to conditions in Washington County, which has
a high ratio of retired persons (over 65) to county population.
It appears, however, that many of the wealthier counties are increasing
in percent of retired persons to overall population, while the poorer
counties are beginning to decrease in percent of retired population.
This can be explained in a number of ways. The "richer" south and mid-
coastal counties have a greater attraction to retirees: these are the
traditional vacation-resort areas. They have well-developed municipal and
health care services and, though essentially rural, are close to popula-
tion centers. The "poorer" northern and eastern counties (including
Washington County), extremely rural and distant from service centers or
having little commercial and industrial development, fail to attract
larger numbers of retirees that "richer" areas do.
The high "over 65" population in these "poorer" areas represents natives
who never left, who were living in these areas during the great migrations
of young people to urban areas. (Aroostook County, the only county still
experiencing population decreases, reflects this theory: its "over 6511
ratio is still growing because it is still losing population, its young
people, while other counties whose "over 65" ratios are growing are
experiencing population increases). Thus it may be safe to say that
Washington County is attracting a larger proportion of young immigrants
to old immigrants than some other areas of the state. This is supported
by the fact that, though in 1970, the "over 65" percent was at 14.9, by
1975 it shrank to 14.5. The state increased from 11.6 to 11.8 percent
over that five-year period, according to the Maine Bureau of Vital
Statistics, Department of Human Services.
So while it is at present not possible to get accurate statistics on just
who is moving to Washington County, the available population breakdown
by age and the statewide trend would indicate an increasing population of
young to middle-aged persons.

-yooo

.3@00: ..............

1400

AN
'o 4
10
117

.23

PREPARED iY THE STATE PLANNING OFFICE TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION
COMMUNITY PROFILE
OL"OGkAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF OATES it/ Z/F?
CHE4RYFIELO
TABLE 1 WASmINGTON COUNTY TABLE 2

------------------------ PCPUL37ION BY AGE ----------------------- ------------------ POPULATICN DENSITY ------------------

YEAR 0-4 5-L7 18-44 45-64 65+ TOTAL ACREAGE SO MILE PERSONS PER SQ MILES
1000 S 1 1970 1975 CHANGE
----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
TOWN 1970 51 174 204 191 151 ?71 TOWN 2q.3 45.8 L6.8 L7.7 5.41%
1975 109 179 Z41 185 155 309
X OF TCTAL 1975 b.IX 22-IZ 29.8% 22.9% 19.2Z 100.0%

COUNTY 1970 2232 7045 8630 6344 4260 28438 COUNTY 1074.5 1678.9 16.9 18.8 11.2Z
1975 2491 7649 10557 6118 4546 31552
Z OF TOTAL 1975 ?.9z 24.21 33.5% 19.##X 14.4% 100-OX

STATE 19yo 84175 257777 32F279 203123 114002 9137671 STATE 11337-9 t7715.5 55.6 59.4 6.5%
1975 8L530 260424 381857 203382 124446 1051902
% OF TOTAL 1975 7.dZ 24.8% 36.3Z ig.3% ll.ax 100.0%

TAeLE 3

----------------------------- ELEMENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE 19?0 - 1975 -----------------------------

----------------- TOTALS ------------------ ------------ ANNUAL AVERAGES -------------

POP NATURL NET POP NATURL NET
CHANGE BIRTHS DEATHS INCRS HIGRT CHANGE BIRTHS DEATHS INCRS MIGRT
----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
TOWN 38 57 83 -26 64 a It 17 -5 13

COUNTY 3114 2845 2455 390 2724 623 569 0691 78 50#5

STATE b4231 97748 64599 33149 31082 12546 19550 12920 bb38 621b

St;UR-,Et U.S. 8UFfAU OF THE CENSUS AND 14AINE DEPT. OF HUAAN SERVICES

MUNICIPAL POPULATION PROJECTIONS
11/16/78

C Ef, SUS ------------------ Spo PROJ6CTIONS ------------------- PCT CHG
REGION 1970 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 70-83
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ p-
CHERRYFIELD 771 980 1000 1020 1040 1070 1090 41.4$

iCW -0 VBi 0
RY T WICAL@ @EPVICCS I
6 , - -w
pRrP 1) T
C 0. 11 HUNI j-T--_e p 9 F I L E
S
C AL-614 --@f DATES 3/ 2174
0 AVA CRISij@s-
CNERRYFIELO
---WA-@HINGiONCOUNTY

TABLE.

SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS - - ----- - -------------------------------

TOTAL ENROLL14ENTS ELEMENIARY ENROLILMENTI---------.-$ECONDARY ENROLLMENTS
.0d. -4- jqTO - 1975 L9rO 1975 113ra - t9r5
1, @-d MANGE PERCENT-__1970 1975 C14ANGE PERCENT 1970 1975 CRkNGC-iPkRCENT
------------- ---------------- ---- ------------------------- ------------------------------
TOWN ly?.
--A9---- -65 ir .14

COUNTY T93% 6.sx
5. 0 9 A 9-0 5-- -.7 IS ?-L.- -2 145 168

544% 293% 174626 V3tT3--j@51 -8 819- 6481
670' -OF
SOU9CEI MAINE To -E0UGkTjQ-N--------

OF -MAJOft SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROG04"

FOOD GENEVAL-ASSISTA
FY 1 6 j-jy-7f_ FY 19T6
C A SES PEOPLE-U!PE@RSES CASES PEOPLE
J@XFP
- ------------- -- - - -- - --------- -------
TOWN -173 5 4 11116

CCUNTN 4625 --3449---- ---3L.64-----1"1.88-_U23 Hiz trz 1-69
74 76 '46686 0#6695 1211rF9 %3532915
STATE 744RI.- 6 q4l 5 --j3q4l-@9q

SCURCEI MAINE OrPT. OF MUnAN S

12/23/77 Pi%C)JL(;Ii:.L) NuMl-,ER OF bUUSEHULDS 1N

1970 1975 1977 1980 1982 Cl-ANGE
r. in ;1 2 c'-, 0 -4 0 370 4 10 4 @ 0 4
lbi a w w a w 0 a a a 0 a k 0 0 a a a 0 1* aa a jr ff w N w w a. . . . . . . . . . . a a a.k 0 d A At of ik

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Population growth is all well and good, but for it to be sustained, the
number of jobs must increase proportionally. Since 1970, the county's
population has increased by about 550 persons per year. Even eliminating
those who are not of working age -- children or retirees -- a great number
of eligible workers are entering the labor force each year in Washington
County, a county with consistently high unemployment rates.
High unemployment is usually indicative of low average income levels,
and Washington County is no exception. Two graphs at the end of this chapter,
illustrating per capita income levels and household buying income, show
how Washington County compares to other counties, to the state as a whole,
and to the nation. The low average income (per capita and per household)
and its average of increase is surprisingly far behind other Maine counties
and the nation, and is falling further behind all the time.

ECONOMY
Until the 20th Century, Washin,gt@n County experienced a population
growth typical of the nation. An abundance of natural resources and a
great demand for the product's of these resources encouraged settlement and
growth in the area before the American Revolution.
The natural resources of the area, attractive to settlers, contributed
highly to growth and prosperity. Deep, protected harbors, lumber available
for homes and shipbuilding, and a wealth of fish species guaranteed a
living from the sea. Towns were built where access to deep water and to
the ocean were readily available, for the seas were the highways. With
only a little more than two hundred miles of water, about two or three days'
sailing, between the area (known as the Machias District) and Boston,
and not much farther to New York and other major cities, a coasting schooner
crew could make a handsome profit transporting goods to and from these
familiar ports. The elegance of the historical houses throughout the region
attests to the prosperity of those times.
Lumber is perhaps the most well-known of the products of Maine. Older
cities and settlements to the west and south had exhausted their supplies
of native wood and needed to import lumber to continue growth. "long
lumber" (to be cut into necessary dimensions after shipment), planks, and
boards constituted the major bulk of the cargo. "Short lumber" included
clapboards, laths, fence posts, and shingle bolts. Timber for boatbuilding
hardwoods, juniper, and hackmatack for knees, and masts and spars of
softwoods -- composed another large segment of the shipment. Hemlock bark
for tanning, shingles, box shooks for containers, hoops, barrel staves,
and ties and posts for the railroads made up the rest of the load. The
West Indies made good customers for they were starved constantly for wood
products. Though Bangor was most famous as a lumber town, Calais, Machias,
Cherryfield, and other towns along the eastern coast held their own in
production (Rowe, 1948).
Besides the lumber business, granite and building stone brought income to
the people of Washington County. Jonesport was well-known in the Machias
District for its high-quality granite, as well as Beals, Calais, Addison,
Bucks Harbor, and other towns. Granite blocks were used in the cities for
foundations, pillars, and steps of public buildings. Cobblestones from
rough beaches paved the city street. In the late 1800's the state enjoyed
a brief mining boom. Lubec and Petit Manan contibuted silver; Cherryfield,

sl lver and gold; and Trescott, several different minierals (Maine
Bicentennial Atlas, 1976).
Fishing, the initial attraction of the coast, has continued to be a primary
industry in most coastal towns. Though never booming the way lumber and
shipbuilding did, the fishing industry has remained perhaps the most
consistent source of income, in spite of its economic flucuations. Cod.
haddock, menhadden, porgy, herring, and other fish species supplied oils
and salt fish not only to the coastal communities of the young nation,
but also to other countries whose own fisheries were overworked. Clams,
other shellfish, and herring are still packed in a variety of sauces
throughout the county, but not to the extent that they were in the past.
Sheer size of numbers in the statistics given for production of these
various industries should give an idea of the healthy population of 19th
Century Washington County. Nearly two thousand ships were registered in
the Machias District in the boom of the 1800's. Harrington alone had
eighteen master shipbuilders. Calais boasted 36 sawmills and 272 vessels
shipping lumber. Its population doubled between 1810 and 1820, then
guadrupled during the next ten years. In 1860 this town shipped out
over 85 million feet of long lumber. In two w;eks' time in 1857, Machias
shipped out nearly two mill,ion feet of lumber (Rowe, 1948).
The advent of the railroad hurt neither the shipping nor the lumber
industries in this county. These businesses took advantage of the rail-
road to draw lumber out of the deep woods down to the docks for loading.
Two short lines were built in Washington County. One built in 1863 drew
lumber from Whitneyville to Machias. The other, Between Calais and
Milltown, was built in 1839, extended to Baring in 1851, then shortly
thereafter it was further extended to serve Princeton. Railroad ties,
posts, and other goods were shipped out for use by budding rail companies
in other parts of the country. Except for the line that ran through
Vanceboro from Mattawamkeag, Maine Central Railroad did not expand its lines
into Washington County until early in the 20th Century (Rowe, 1948;
aine Bicentennial Atlas, 1976.)
WMhat are the reasons for this poverty?
Lack of industry is one answer. Washington County has experienced little
industrial growth. What growth we've had has been on the small commercial
scale -- new stores, motels, shops, and offices. Some government jobs
have opened up, and other jobs have opened in the non-manufacturing field.
This blue-collar-worker-county with jobs primarily in the manufacturing
field is slowly converting into a more non-manufacturing county. In 1970,
about 38% of all jobs were in manufacturing; in 1975, only about 31% were
in manufacturing. Other than the paper mill in Woodland, we have no
industrial centers. With the exception of Calais (pop. 4400), all of our
towns are under 4000 in population, and all but seven are under 1000.
Industry needs population to support it; population needs industry to
support it. In spite of the surprising growth rate over the last seven
years, Washington County's population at present isn't big enough to support
a large industrial complex.
Most economic activity here is related to natural resource-based industries.
Few of the resources have been developed beyond their primary state where
they are made into final products ready for use by the consumer. "Va I ue-
added" industries bring in people and income. Exporting raw resources is
a common practice here, bringing more money to outsiders than to county

residents. A piece of furniture made in Washington County, however, brings
money not only to the person who cut the tree, but also the the person who
milled the wood and to the person who made the furniture. In addition,
higher skilled labor usually means that a worker is employed year-round.
Sustained population depends primarily upon increased economic activity.
Economic growth to date has revolved around the use of our natural resources.
More' extensive development of the following resources would insure economic
stability that would support a growing population.
Forestry has always been the major industry in Washington County. Forests
cover 92% of Washington County's land area. Pulp and paper and lumber
products are the major industrial use of our woodlands. Some value-added
industries such as printing, furniture manufacturing, and prefabricated
housing could provide added income to Washington County.
In the fishing industry, shellfish brings in the greatest landed value.
Many species of finfish are either ignored or underutilized due to the lack
of capital to finance harvesting and processing. The Washington County
Vocational Technical Institute in Calais provides a positive note: it is
developing the Marine Trades Center to be located in Eastport, designed
to help local fishermen. The Center plans to offer instruction to exper-
ienced as well as to new fishermen. They will help develop techniques for
harvest of fish species during the winter, teach equipment repair, and
offer instruction in other aspects of the modern fishing trade. Aquaculture
is still in its experimental stage in Maine. The possibilities of this
industry will become more feasible in the future considering the prevalent
bays and harbors along our coast. If shellfish resources, already threatened,
become in danger of commercial extinction because of pollution, predat6rs,
and overharvesting, aquaculture may become a logical alternative.
Lowbush blueberries are the backbone of agriculture in Washington County.
Growing on the barrens and on former cropland, blueberries make up about
80% of the total crop for the state. The Jasper Wyman and Son and A.L.
Stewart and Sons both located in Cherryfield, process a major share of
the crop. Thisindustry, though seasonal and low skill, provides many jobs
and brings in millions of dollars a year into the county. As new techniques
for propagation, fertilization, and increased production are developed and
applied, this important cash crop will Become increasingly valuable to
Washington County's Economy. The seasonal peak is leveled somewhat at the
two factories by processing other crops including beans, corn apples, straw-
berries and cherrys.
Peat moss is a little-developed industry, suprisingly so in light of the
thousands.of tons of harvestable, marketable peat in the county. Only
three operations function today in the county. Primitive working conditions
limit this industry to mostly seasonal production. The demand for peat
is high, and most high-quality peat, such as that found in Maine, is pres-
ently imported from Finland, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, and Canada. Popular
peat Items that could be produced here are pressed pots, strips, and cubes
for starting plants indoors. Peat-vermiculite-fertilizer mixes are also
popular. Native resources, such as seaweeds, clamshells, fishwastes, manure,
granite dust, and sawdust could be added to the peat.
Tourism, a major industry in this county, will probably continue at its
present rate. Our county has a great deal to offer in beauty and history
that has attracted people for decades. Leisure time has encouraged tourists
to spend more time in eastern Maine. The lengthened tourist season brings
more income to county residents.

061

Several major industrial projects have been proposed that could be of
economic importance to Washington County. Tidal power projects, deep
water ports, and oil refineries have been the most wide I y-di scussed
projects. Nowhere on the East Coast are there currents, tides, and deep
water like those in eastern Maine.

Development of a deep water port facility, non-existent at present in
this'county, could provide an important lift to the economy. Eastort is
planning such a facility. Deep-water piers and wharves would service large
freighter ships, and several ships at a time could be loading potatoes,
paper products, fish products, and other locally manufactured goods, and
unloading goods necessary to the area's businesses and industries. A well-
planned port facility could easily compete with Searsport or Portland.
The Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project was one of the first major proposals
for generating electricity from the tides. This idea has been resurrected
many times in the past. As conventional energy production becomes more
expensive, the Passamaquoddy project will become more feasible in terms of
its cost-effectiveness.
The Pittston Company has proposed an oil refinery for Eastport. Approval
for this project is pending. There is little doubt that an industry of
this magnitude, and the satellite industries that it would attract, would
give the region a much-needed economic boost. The controversy, for the
most part, arises from 1) the environmental risks involved and 2) the
economic practicality of establishing a refinery in light of dwindling
petroleum reserves.
In summary, population growth will probably depend on the development of
the county's resources. The long-term benefits and costs of major indus-
trial development from outside the indigenous resource pool are unknown.
In any case, it will probably cause major fluctuations in the population
growth rate. Native resources, however, if developed, will probably provide
a stable base for steady growth in the future.
An important indicator of the economic condition of a community is retail
sales of various goods and the "effective buyi,ng income" of the residents.
Cherryfield does not have a major retail center, but the figures for
nearby communities which depend, in part, upon Cherryfield residents give
a picture of the situation.
Per capita income in Washington County remains the lowest in Maine., although
un-reported income to the many self-employed residents would probably change
this (if it could be computed). The County also remains low in retail sales.
While most of the rest of Washington County focuses its commercial, indus-
trial, and personal activities in the Machias and Calais-Woodland growth
centers, the Cherryfield-Milbridge area, set nearly exactly between Machias
and Ellsworth, divides its attention between these two municipalities.
Ellsworth, a city having facilities superior to Machias, draws residents
of this area for many jobs and for shopping and other services. Machias,
on the other hand, is the county seat, and draws business from this area
for that reason.

RC&D office for Washington and Hancock cities is located here and WHCA has
its board meetings in Harrington. FmHA maintains an office in Cherryfield.
This may promote establishment of continuing office services for the Washington
Hancock area, since Cherryfield is midway between the two county seats.

IMPACT OF NEW WORKERS ON A COMMUNITY

Recent statistics from the United States Chamber of Commerce show that
C new workers mean the following to a community:

Increase in Annual Retail Sales

Grocery stores $ 70,000

Eating and drinking places 30,000

Department, dry goods, and variety stores 45,000

Clothing and shoe stores 25,000

Automobile dealers 50,000

Gasoline service stations 20,000

Lumber yards and building material dealers 15,000

Other stores 105,000

Total increase in annual retail sales $360,000

Also; 100 New Workers Mean

296 more people

112 more households

51 more children

$270,000 more bank deposits

$590,000 more personal income per year

107 more passenger cars registered

4 more retail establishments

174 more services, trade, and professional workers employed

This memo series is the joint effort of the Cooperative Extension
of the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This memo is by
Weeks, Extension Economist, University of New Hampshire. Send request for
additional copies for your county Cooperative Extension Office or your
university Cooperative Extension Service.

b
rWanpotuer
DEPARTMENT OF MANPOWER AFFAIRS EMPLOYMENT SE'CURITY IN F 0 9 M A I I

.ros.qh E. Bremnan
a MANPOWER RESEARCH DIVISION NOVEMBER 1978

LABOR FORCE, EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT in Thousands

Unemployment Unemployment

Percent of
Area Labor Forcei/ Resident I niployed Number Labor Force
st Year Thi% Last Year This Lm%i Year This Ea st Year
This LA
Month Month Ago Month Month Ago Month Month Ago Month Month Ago

MAINE Statewide .......... 471.4 473.8 466.9 446.5 449.6 432.4 24.9 24.2 34.5 5.3 5.1 7.4

Se'ected Labor Market.,
A,;ju%ta ................... 27,35o 27,320 27,060 25,820 25,950 24,830 1,530 1,370 2,230 5.6 5.0 0.2
lianior-hirvwer ............. 40,100 40,100 39,600 30,200 3A,100 36,700 1,900 2,000 3,100 4.7 5.0 7.8
1`@" ta"t . I ................. 11,780 11,670 11,260 10,7so 10,710 10,U70 1,010 940 1. 1 1#,) 8.7 8.1 10.6
8 ant or d ......... 28,700 2d, )00 2@, 300 27,4oO 27,000 26,600 1 , ioo I , IOU 1,7nn 4.5 4.6 6.0
1!1@- hat:.or-Wi,scassat . 6,240 6,320 6,01,0 S,710 5, m'c' 5, 2')0 5 30 4t,U 77o 8.5 7.3 12.7
C 1'. 1..1 . t It ........... 14,940 15,040 15,37o 11, Hoo 14 1 0@0 14,120 1,140 1,0ZO 1,21,u 7.6 6.8 8.1
............ 6,140 6, 30U 6,470 0,140 6'loo S'960 @wo 2oO 510 1 3.2 3.2 7.9
Ell -r h................. . 17,850 181520 17, stio 16,810 17, 1, 10 1G,670 1,040 910 1,210 5.8 4.9 6.8
F-i r- .:i ;I @n ................ 12,JS0 12,250 11, 14A0 11,670 11,740 11,150 480 510 710 3.9 4.2 6.1
................ 820 840 gdo 760 770 82U 60 70 80 7.3 8.3 8.9
5x5A ...... 37,200 36,900 37,000 35,700 35,400 34,600 1,500 1,500 2,4UO 4.0 4.1 6.5
........... 4,870 4,910 A, 820 4,640 4,00 4,500 230 280 320 4.7 5,7 6.6
........... 4,640 4,690 4,450 4,370 4,410 4,060 270 2bo 390 5.8 6.0 8.8
D';ren ....... . 4,360 4,620 4,260 4,030 4,260 3,940 330 360 320 7.6 7.8 7.5
J.-Ic Fa*..s ............ 2,440 2,420 2,680 2,330 2.330 .2, 566 110 90 120 4.5 3.7 4.5
Pjtten-:s!dn1 Falls ....... 2,440 2,700 2,340 2 300 2,540 2,210 140 160 110 5.7 5.9 5.6
Pcrt.andl SMSA ............. . 87,000 86,400 84,500 83:500 82,800 79,000 3,500 3,600 5-500 4.0 4.2 6.5
i1cckj..4 ' 16,260 16,470 15,960 15,430 15.690 14,820 850 780 1,140 5.2 4,7 7.1
P-Tt'ra . .. ............. . 18.4.20
18,250 18,320 17,190 17,450 17,030 1,060 970 1,290 5.8 5.3 7.0
S06thwtst Penouscot ....... . 6,150 61100 6,450 5,500 5,470 5,430 650 630 1,020 10.6 10.) 15.6
wltervi.;.* ................ . 21,460 20,930 20,710 20,540 20,030 .19,540 920 goo 1,170 4.3 4.) 5.7

Othcr %ew I ngi,nd State%
.............. n/a 1,514.4 1,497.9 n/a 1,447.7 1.416.5 n/A 66.7 81.4 n1a 4.4 514
............ . 2,843.0 2,HO5.0 2,799.6 12,694.4 2,684.0 2.605.8 148.6 121.0 193.8 5.2 4.3 6.9
........... n/A 432.2 420.8 n/s 416.6 399.4 n/a 15.6 21.4 n/a 3.6 S.1
kh-le 1.1and ............. . 437.5 433.7 443.8 415.1 412.9 412.5 22.4 20.9 31.3 5.1 4.8 7.1
Vermont ................... n/A 241.0 228.8 n/a 231.4 213.7 n/A 9.6 15.1 n/a 4.0 6.6
New I figlind states .......... n/a 5,426.3 5,390.9 nla 5,192.5 5,047.9 n/a 233.9 34j.0 n/A 4.3 6.4
United StAtes .............. 101,659 101,555 98,819 96,029 96,095 92,473 S,629 5,460 6,346 5.5 5.4 6.4

!-r.a
L'A% - La@-i-rM.;1r7et Area
h11SA - Sta,.dard Metropo!xtan Statistical Area

Foo!n,) I-s
e-plow-nent. and unemployment data for all areas not seasonally ad)usted. L:;timates made independently for each labor market
areA hA@e been ten@ rtmarked to and ex'trApolated from the Current Populat ion Survey estimates for the state. All data ad)usted to & place
of ir&%11@nce L.0.4.
21 Current figires preliminary; list month and ye3r ago figures revised.
'S1 sational estimates based on a sample of household visits; state estimates based on enlargements of employment figures reported.

NOtt
n7a-injicates that the information was not available at the time of printing.
Employmitnt and urweployment may not add to labor force due to rounding.

MID-MONTH INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT (Less Partials)

Statewide Portland SMSA Lew oston-A u burn SMSA
Item I hi% Last Year ThIq Last year 'I hi, I.a%t Year
I

Month Month Alto Month Month Ago Month 4-nih Alto
Number of (antinued Week ('1jimanti ......... 9,171 7.849 12,800 1,239 1,093 1,774 521 453 915

Wored I'virmplo-,ment RAte ................. 2.4 2.0 3.9 1.6 I.S 2.9 1.6 1.4 3.1

Shotild not hc unfu%ed with insurLd Uncrillilo%meril I.Ite% 4% defillrd In the 1 111plovilik'111
Set 11(itv I 'Iw. Published under Appropriation ft. 03444.2

N
Wwaine blanpower
t Z. DEPARTMENT Of MANPOWER AFFAIRS EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION

Lop-;:oil Einilien A Lrlrtqo,,-
N 0 V E h B E R 1 9 7 4 is
Ubo'r Force, Employment and Unemployment In Thousands

Uncinploynk-111 Une"llskiyow"t

Percent of
Area I LAbor 1,irce I/ Resident Urnployed Nurnher Vabnr Force
i Lj%l Yr. Thi% I a%l Thft 1 8%4 Yr.
P Mo. M'. Mo
44 This L iist Yr.
Ago Ago Mo. Mo Age Mo Mo Ago

%IAI%I. %Iale-odc . ........ 419.9 432.9 419.0 309.5 407.4 397.
2 30.4 2S.S 21.81 7.2 5.9 5.2
%lijor Ljt%,t Markrt%
P,,(,Ijnd L%1A .it ... 65 4 66.0 6@ 3 61.5 62 5 62.7 3.: 3.5 2.6,j 6.0 5.3 4.0
Lcw ... i-Aulturn S%4SA (b')''. 34:0 34.4 34:6 31.6 32:-3 32.9 2. 2.1 1.7 7.1 6.1 4.9
Ranon.Bi,@%er L%lA (c) ..... 35.4 35.7 35.4 33.4 33.9 33.7 2.0 1.8 1.7 5.7 5 0 14
Bidd0oid-San6nd IMA l1d) ..... 31.8 32.3 31.9 29.2 30.4 30. : 0
3 2.6 1.9 1.b IF 0.2 5 9 5

AQi ...... ggin 870 2,880 2,440 2,44o 7.2 5.9 5.9
......... 40,220 41,110 41 310 37,340 38,670 30
.. ....... 35,490 41,110 3 5:010 32,690 38,600 32:7@,O 2,800 2,510 2,260 7.9 6.1 6.5
....... 90,140 90,770 87,040 84,500 b5,750 8 3, 300 5,64U 5,020 3,740 1 6.3 5.5 4.)
. ....... ...... 10 350 10'660 10,300 9,870 10,140 9,650 480 520 450'J 4.6 4.9 4.4
.......... 17:410 18,140 16,270 16,360 17,390 15,530 1'o5o 750 74o 6.0 4.1 4.5
..... ........... . . 1 42,150 42,960 41,840 39,730 40,9HO 39.940 2,420 1.980 1,900 5.7 4 6 4.5
4 ka.4 . . ........ I I . . . . 12,350 12,830 12,620 11,620 12, @ 2 0 11,870t 730 610 75o 5.9 4.8 5.9
.................... 8,060 8,250 7,770 11 7,340 7,830 7,230 720 4 2 0 540- 8.9 5.1 7.0
............. 16,900 17,310 17 150 @T 15,240 15,930 16,420 1.660 1,380 730 9.8 8.0 4.2
53,930 54,860 53:2bO 50,370 51,530 .50,300 3,560 3,330 2,980 6.6 6.1 5.6
........ .......... 7,390 7,360 6 6,330 6,400 6,580 1,060 960 410 14.3 13.0 5.9
............. 10 680 10,980 9 440 10,000 10,450 9,000 680 530 440 1 6.4 4.8 4. 7
: 990
........ ..... ...... 17:490 18,150 16,750 15,840 16,720 15,850 1,650 1,430 900,; 9.4 7.9 S 4
...... 10,020 10,290 9 670 9,370 9,580 9,020 650 710 650 6.5 6.9 6:7
@-%J'h.npton .... ...... 1 13,170 13,390 12: 950 12,060 12,590 11 990 't 1,110 Goo 960 8.4 6.0 7.4
h 0 47,830 48.580 46,630 44,920 46,470 44:850 2,910 2,110 1, 780 il' 6.1 4.) 3.6
York ... . ..... ..... I
A
Oiher V. Engl.md Stateti.
... ....... 1,444.0 1,426.4 1,376.8 1,346.1 1,346.1 2,307.2 97.9 60.3 69.6 6.8 5.6 5.1
.. .... n/A 2,646.5 2,593.2 n/a 2,457.3 2,397.6 n/a 169.2 195.6 n/& 7.1 7.5
... .... 316.S 336.7 329.5 319.5 321.6 317.9 17.0 15.1 11 b 5.1 4.5
Rh,,k- wand 418.9 417.3 42a. 1 386.7 389.2 394.7 32.2 28.1 25:4 7.7 6.7
Ve"now 199.6 199.7 200.9
184.5 188.6 189.7 15.1 11.1 11.2 7.5 5.5 5.5
n)a 5,459.5 5.33:. n/a S,110.2 5"3004.3 349.3 335.2) 6.4 6.3 @V
9 93 05,924 06,8 643 5,66S S,044 4.058-, 6.2 5.5 4.5
3 91,609 91,891 47 5,

Au,
LMA IjN@r M4tkct Afca
S%ISA 4oin-Jaid %loro;,ithlin Swli%tiul Area
(is) Indude, Cirv Eludwth. CurnitcrIand, Filmouth. Ckwh,ini, Poelland. &-jrKwo. South Portland. Wc%lbr4wk. and Yarnumth.
(til ln0uJ%:, Auhurn. lewwiin. and Li@Kvn,
&N H.Ino-r hte-cr, Iddinoon. Glenhurn, HarnpiJeo. liernmit). 110den. Old limit, Orrhipton. Orono. aivJ Wazie,
it"
udc% J1 it# wk ( iiunl@ e%,,cri Wrwi,k. Lhitt. Kw%:ry. %otolh lkiwwk. W01%. and Yiwk,

I I .^'r fiq@c J.'w hit all flui wa-iiAll) aJju%tt:d 1-%unwtc% nw& IndepeoJenily lot ewh o.%-jniy i"id %houli awt fm eitpewtoj w aN to 4,d.:
1-14AI. 'All J.111 ..11111tLd lit k p1j": -I 1"'Idowc
rivni nJ lj%l ni,mh tiguri:% prOiminary. @%:,r agil tippre% tc-od.1
K@j ciinm.le% h@wd in j %,Mph: 0 h4luwh,iIJ uw jj,: ha.cd *in enlarjp:rneni% of cniploi,nwril fipurv@ (i:j%wii:J.

n'A tnJi%:ati:% thai ihi, initirmatsim was nut ;A%jjljhlc at the tim%: iil Printing,
Employawnt and uncinplo)ffient may not ^W to labor locce due to roundino.

Mid-Month Insured Unemployment (Less Partials)

Posiland LMA I cwwort-Aultuin SMSA

Nov. Nov. Oct.
Itern Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. POV
1974 1974 L973 1974 IV74 1973 1974 1474 147.@3
A4

%unthcf -4 Conli-ved Wcvk Claimant .... . ..... 12.537 8,467 6,671 1,539 1.138 723 1,161 851 Soo
ln%ufcd ""vniri-most Raic 4.3 2.9 2.3 3.3 2.4 I.S 4.4 3.2 2.1

Sh.,Uw n"i K' C0111"':j with inwied unonplo%nunt rjlt:% i% dolin,:J n fric I mlit-iiimi %-ujjl) I
Pul,10kA undii-r Aprw,qwta1%*n No 4444

TABLE V. TOTAL EFFECTIVE BUYING INCOME, BY COUNTY
Maine, 1975 and 1965

1975 1965
Total EBI Rank In Total EBI Rank In $ Change % Change
County thousands) State ($ thousands) State 1965 to 1975 1965 to 1975

Androscoggin 393,408.0 5 192,642 5 200,766 104.2
Aroostook 352,754.2 6 160,879 6 191,875.2 119.3
Cumberland 1,040,004.1 1 459,698 1 580,306.1 126.2
Franklin 101,908.4 14 34,773 14 67,185.4 193.5
Hancock 158,479.2 9 59,822 9 98,657.2 164.9
Kennebec 476,818.4 4 194,651 4 282,167.2 145.0
Knox 151,811.5 10 51,583 10 100,228.5 194.3
Lincoln 99,743.4 15 33,716 15 66,027.4 195.9
Oxford 173,964.0 7 89,901 7 84,063 93.5
Penobscot 568,724.8 2 264,523 2 304,201.8 115.0
Piscataquis 72,228.0 16 33,317 16 38,911 116.8
Sagadahoc 115,254.0 11 50,403 11 64,851 128.7
Somerset 167,860.0 8 75,239 8 92,621 123.1
Waldo 103,604.3 13 35,236 13 66,368.2 194.0
Washington 112,583.2 12 48,160 12 64,423.2 133.7
York 486,058.3 3 224,177 3 261,881.3 116.8
MAINE 4,052,045.2 -- 2,008,670 -- 2,043,375.2 101.7

Source: Sales Management Magazine; Survey of Buying Power

TABLE VI. AVERAGE PER HOUSEHOLD EFFECTIVE BUYING INCOME, BY COUNTY
Maine, 1975 and 1965

1975 1965
Avg. HousehoIT-Rank In Avg. HousehoTd-Rank In $ Change % Change
Counly EBI State EBI ($ State 1965 to 1975 1965 to 1975
Wa@hinqton^ 9,964 ----16- 5,069 -16 - 4,895@ 96.6

TABLE IV: PERSONAL INCOME, TOTAL AND PER CAPITA
Maine Counties, 1975

Personal Income

County Total $ (thousands) Per Capita Index___(Maine 100)

Washington' -127,104 - 3,875 1-wtO - 81 . 0

081?

MAINE TOTAL TAXABLE SALES. SEPTEMBER 1977
Includes Sales Tax, Rentals lax, Use Tax
LCONOMIC DISTRICI THOUSANDS OF'-60LLARS
CURRLNT MONTH LASI 12 MONTHS
1977 T976-77176 1977 1976 77/76 77/74
BUCKSPORT ..... 2.990 29294 130.3 32,750 27,319 119.9 119.0
ELLSWORTH ..... 6,453 4.897 131.8 5/,296 48.991 117.0 140.2
BLUE HILL ..... 875 831 105.3 8,580 7,631 112.4 122.1
BAR HAPBOR ... 4.125 3.847 107.2 29,604 26,714 110.8 138.6
LASIEROOK . . . . a a a a a a a
JONEIPORT ..... 1,787 755 236.7 8,442 7,229 116.8 147.8
MACHIAS ....... 1,243 1"311 94.8 13,608 12,510 108.8 143.2
EASTPORT ...... 8?0 622 131.8 6,519 5,692 114.5 131.4
CALAIS ........ 3,841 3.023 127.1 45,706 41,512 105.0 134.1
ST. CROIX ..... a a a a a a a
EASTERN MAINE 22,4F,46 17,664 127.3 203,738 180,475 112.9 134.2
MAINE TAXABLE SALES. GE!;ERAL MEKCMA301SE. SEPTEMBER 1977
ECONOMIC DISTRICT I TAHOUSANOS OF DOLLARS
CURRENT MONT4 LAST 12 MUNTHS
1977 1,;71 -77/75 1977 1@76 -7wi,-177b 77/74
SUCKSPORT ...... 357 286 124.8 3.295 2.972 710.9 127.5
ELLSWORTH ..... 1,693 1,273,, 133.0 16.396 13,550 121.0 137.8
BLUE HILL ..... 86 95 90.5 780 688 113.4 106.6
SAR HARBOR .... 546 454 120.3 3.859 3,415 113.0 129.8
EASTBROCK..... a a a a a 6
@C-SESPORT .... 171 72 237.5 857 890 96.3 91.4
...... 242 173 139.9 2,369' 2,042 116.0 156.3
EASTPORT ...... 179 99 180.8 1,275 1,045 122.0 142.9
CALAIS ....... 873 740 118.0 10,298 8,152 126.3 152.0
ST. CROIX ..... a a a a a a a
------ ......
EASTE;.4 4E... 3,203 130.4 39,281 32,885 1;8.3 140.2
IN
MAINE TAXABLE SALLS. FOOD STURES. SEPTLMBLR 1977

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
ECONOMIC DISTRICT CURRENT MONTH LAST 12 MONTHS
1977 1976 -77/76 1977 197@ 76 L7 74
BUCKSPORT . . . . . . . 175 171 102. 3 1,902 1.755 108.4 134.8
ELLSWORTH ....... 507 470 107.9 5,jol 4,540 112.4 131.8
BLUE HILL ....... 165 148 111.5 1,726 1,519 113.6 155.1
BAR HARBOI* * . . . . 311 1117 111,9 3.251 2.967 109.6 13? . 7
EASTBPOOK . . . . . . . aa a a a a a
JU@IJESPORT . . . . . . . 139 159 87.4 1 458 1.399 104.2 147. 1
MACHIAS .......... 142 185 76.8 1.910 1,120 111.0 138./
IAITIONT,,,**,*, 91 149 61,4 1,518 1,451 104*1 129,6
CALAIS .......... 292 289 101.0 3,1RI 2,864 111.1 154.6
ST. CROIX ....... aa a a a a a

---- ---- ----- ----- -----
EASTERN MAINk.. 1,863 1,879 99.1 20,277 18,436 lio.n 138.6
14A !!.E T
-AXABLE SALES. SUILOING-SUPPLY. SEPTEMBER 1977

THOUSANDS OF OOL,LARS
ECO%0.41C DISTRICT CURRViT mONTH LAST 12 MOITMS
114", 1975 19-15 77lia 77/74
1 7 "17 5. 1977
!uC.(SPIRT ........ 42 34' 123.5 392 367 106.8 94.0
ELLS;vORTH ........ 1.226 800 153.3 8,348.. 7,000 119.3 125.3
3LJE HILL ........ 252 201 125.4 2.170 11929 112.S 10.4
BAR PiARSOR ....... 363 342 106.1 3,692 3.439 105.8 114.4
!AS-?P.3CK ........ aa a a a a a
'ONESPO;T ........ 464 185 250.8 1.914 1,779 107.6 147.0
MAC.A!@S .......... 143 188 76.1 1,604 1.79S 89.4 99.0
EAS-OCRT ......... 251 i6a 155.4 1,350 1,052 128.3 166.7
CALAIS ........... 392 350 112.0 3,316 3.128 106.0 105.6
ST. CROIX ........ aa a a a a a
--;- z---- "--, 2.... ; 2 ...... -I-i-o,-9- 1,;,9"4
EAS7:q4 MAINE ... 3.1 6 269 138.7 2.80 0 5SS

E. Capital Improvement Program
The major physical facilities required for providing town services Include
streets, parks, playgrounds, water, sewage, boat facilities, street lighting,
libraries, town garage and fire and police station -- and the necessary major
equipment for their operation.
The initial cons-truction or acquisition together with improvements and
additions to these facilities are called "capital improvements" regardless of
how they are obtained or financed. For example, a park, school, or town hall
may be obtained by gift or purchase, or by other methods.
The capital improvement program is a list of capital improvements that
will be needed by the town to provide its program of public services.
Priority List of Improvements. As a part of the capital improvement
program, the projects to be undertaken are arranged in the order of proposed
priority of construction, with estimates of the probable cost of each improve--
ment, the method of financing and other information.
Revenue Program. Not only must there be a proper balance between oper-
ating and capital expenditures, but expenditures must in turn be balanced
against revenues. This balance is accomplished by forming a tentative revenue
policy (including taxes, loans, and other revenue sources) and studying it in
relation to expenditure proposals. The two are balanced by adjusting the
proposed services and the estimated revenues.
After the proposed projects have been arranged according to need or
urgency, adjustments will probably have to be made in allo(fating the projects
to different years of the program. It may be found, for instance, that seveeral
large improvements head the priority list, and that not more than one such
improvement can be undertaken in any one year. Minor projects appearing farther
down on the priority list will be advanced where necessary to balance the
program and utilize the funds estimated to be available.
Projects for the later years will necessarily be tentative and subject to
considerable change before the time comes for construction. Experience has
shown that projects intended for the first five years can be worked out in
considerable detail and those for the second five years in, somewhat less detail.
Projects relegated to the last part of t.he progra 'm are left in outline. But
in order to determine what should be done durin.g the first five years, it Is
necessary to consider land for a given project might be acquired in the first
year of the program, with plan preparation coming several years later, and
construction or development following. For example, in developing a recreation
area a preliminary plan for the area would be made early in the program (or
might already be available); land acquisition might start immediately, and
proceed over several years and improvements for the area might extend through-
out the program.
Such a priority system will result in a definite pattern:
I. The program for the first ensuing year, which is to be implemented
by the annual budget, is set forth in detail and is based on preliminary
engineering or architectural designs.
2. Less detailed programs for the second, third, forth, and fifth years
contain descriptions of projects and approximate cost estimates. The priority
arrangement, though tentative, has been suggested. "Priority A."
3. A more generalized and preliminary program for the next five-year
period has descriptions of projects and approximate cost estimates with the

projects arranged in tentative priority order but with no attempt at
scheduling by years. "Priority B."
4. The balance of the projects proposed for xonstruction during the
remaining years of the program again are grouped in tentative preliminary
oriority,but with no attempt to schedule by years. "PriorityC."
The financial aspects of the tentative schedule of improvements should
be considered next. The first step is to obtain any missing cost estimates..
The next step is to develop a revenue program.
Sources of funds for carrying out the Capital Improvement Program: There
are three basic sources of funds available to the town:

1. Local taxes;
2. Revenue sharing;
3. State and federal grants.
In addition, there may be occasional gifts of land or facilities made to
the town.
Past town expenditures have been used as the basis for projecting future
local funds, and reasonable estimates of state and federal funds have been
made based upon past experience of towns in the county.
While specific sources of funds are indicated for each project in the
program, the amount actually a@ailable from each will vary from year to year.
The sources should therefore be regarded only as suggestions.
Execution of the Capital Improvement Program. Putting the capital
improvement program into actual operation is a year-by-year process done
through the town budget. Each year when the current budget is prepared, one
year of the capital budget is included in it.
Periodic Revision and Extension. It is good practice to review, revise,
and extend the capital budget every two years. The passage of time may
indicated the wisdom of rearranging the order of priorities. It is also
important that new estimates of income and operating expenses be prepared.
Thisdoes not mean that the entire process of long-range programming for
capital improvements need to be repeated each year. The review is primarily
for the purpose of adjusting the program to immdeiately changing circumstances.

DATE DUE

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