The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“200TH ANNIVERSARY OF CANTON, MAINE” mentioning Susan M. Collins was published in the Senate section on page S103 on Jan. 22.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF CANTON, MAINE
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Town of Canton, ME. Canton was built with a spirit of determination and resiliency that still guides the community today, and this is a time to celebrate the generations of hard-working and caring people who have made it such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families.
The year of Canton's incorporation, 1821, was but one milestone in a long journey of progress. For thousands of years, the land of fields, rivers, lakes, and forests of what is now Oxford County was the home of the Abenaki Tribe, and Canton Point, or Rokomeko, was the headquarters of the Anasagunticook Band of the People of the Dawn. The reverence the Abenaki had for the natural beauty and resources of the region is upheld by the people of Canton today.
In the 1790s, following America's independence, an early settlement called Phipp's Canada was established. Maine achieved statehood in 1820, and on February 5 of the following year, the town of Canton was incorporated. With the mighty Androscoggin River providing power, Canton soon was home to lumber and grain mills, along with many other small industries. When the first paper mill opened in nearby Rumford in 1893, the people of Canton were part of the skilled and dedicated workforce that built a great Maine industry. The prosperity produced by hard work and determination was invested in schools and churches to create a true community.
Maine is known as ``Vacationland,'' and Canton has played a key role in the development of our State's tourism industry. A guidebook to the region published in 1888 described the easternmost town in Oxford County as ``one of the most beautiful and charming in all this attractive region.'' With guests arriving by train and, later, by bus and car, some of the first family vacation resorts were established on the shores of Lake Anasagunticook. Today, visitors and residents alike enjoy Canton's scenery, history, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The energy and planning that are going into Canton's yearlong bicentennial celebration demonstrate the pride townspeople have in their town.
The celebration of Canton's 200th anniversary is not merely about the passing of time. It is about human accomplishment. We celebrate the people who, from the dawn of our Nation to our time, have pulled together, cared for one another, and built a great community. Thanks to those who came before, Canton, ME, has a wonderful history. Thanks to those there today, it has a bright future.
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