This rum, almost the whole of it, whether imported or home-made, was consumed among our own people.

It was sent in the way of trade and in exchange for "lumber" into every part of our territory; not a town or village, or rural district escaped, however remote or thinly populated it might be.
The result of this was, that almost the entire value of all this vast industry went down the throats of our people in the shape of rum, either imported or home-made.

I have heard men say who had been extensively engaged in this lumber trade, that Maine is not a dollar the richer, and never was, on account of this immense business; but that the people were poorer in consequence of it, and more miserable than they would have been if the pine forests had been swept away by a great conflagration.
The effects of this course of trade were seen everywhere throughout the State.

In scarcely any part of it was there any evidence of business prosperity or thrift, but, generally, there was abundant evidence of poverty, untidiness and decay.

In the lumbering towns and villages, where the innumerable saw-mills were, the greatest bustle and activity prevailed.