Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-12-20
MisetIIanp.
Stay at Home.

Stay at Home.
MIR. Editor: / wish to offer a few re-
marks through the columns of the Farmer.
upon subject which has of late occupied but
little of the attention of those interested in The
prosperity and welfare OF our State, namely.
the Western Emigration, SO called.
have noticed but little of late. from The
pens of the good farmers of Maine. in the
Farmer. in regard to western emigration. and
believe that there are many of them who do
not know the injuries our State is SUSTAINING
by constant emigration from it.
For number of months past, various re-
ports have been circulated in this section of
the country, in regard to the advantages of the
west, the facilities for acquiring immediate
riches, the ease of obtaining livelihood, &C.,
which have been swallowed with great avidity
by some, and, together with the 'hue and cry
raised by some lazy croakers, about the short
ness of the season in Maine, the many failures
of crops, &C., have produced no very benef-
cial effects on the minds of the young men Of
this State. That there has been much exag-
geration in the reports circulated, is evident
from the many disappointed ones who have re-
turned home again, after few nontbs So
journing in that 'land of promse's
| would ask in how many instances is it
known where those who have left Maine for
the far west have been benefuedl Probably
there Ruf hn tbax, A ra
they men of small means-men of but limited
pecuniary resources! Certainly they are not.
Those who have reaped the benefit of western
emigration were men of means and removed
there merely for speculative pursuits. Poor
men who emigraie to the west, and there are
many who do 60, depending on their hands
merely for a livelihood, must be content to go
back, as it is termed, far into The country, out
OF the reach of humanity, almost, suffering in
Vulnerable priyations, or live like serfs driven
from post TO pillow at the volition' of rich
and hard-hearted land owners, of whom, per-
haps, few acres may have been leased, bare
| ly TO gel living.
The fact is demonstrated by observation and
by actual experience. Now what are the in
ducemenls TO the young men of Maine to emf
CRATE 10 the westl In the first place we must
part with home, friends, fathers, mothers
brothers, sisters, and every ASSOCIATION con-
nected herewith the risk Of sickness, fever,
&C., must be encountered, new associates must
there be found, we must there be initiated in
10 different orders of society, generally none OF
the hest to the morals of young men,-become
accustomed 10 all the hardships incident to
western pioneer life, merely with the expecta-
tion of becoming rich faster than our friends
we have left behind But we shall find, after
spending months and years of hard labor in the
west, that we have been duped, and like hun.
dreds of others shall wish ourselves in Maine
again.
would inquire again, what are the induce.
ments for people to stay at home! In the
| first place we have a climate as everyway con.
ducive 10 good health and long life, as any
country can boast Of, and those pestiferous dis
eases, such as fevers, chlls and cholera, 81
prevalent at the west, do not prevail very ex
tensively here in Maine, as all know
Again, the agricultural resources of Maine
are immense, possessing every variety of soil
which, by well applied energy, together with
industrial perseverance, which is the 'sine quc
non to the farmers prosperity and success
everywhere, can be made to produce in abun-
dance, vegetables and grains of every kint
adapted to our climate
Another advantage Maine has over the west
is her adaptedness to the production OF fine
fruits, and this alone is source of great in
come, for fruit will always command ready
market both in and out Of the State
In conclusion. let me say, that see no neet
of the sons of Maine emigrating TO the 'fal
west the State needs them here. The young
and rising societies of our State, devoted Il
agricultural knowledge, need their patronage
and support-Cor. Of Maine Farmer.