Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-01-17
VOLUME 35. No. 10.
in the matter are msa,ioned with grs., ap.

The fish commissioners have iven much
aitention to their Investigations in connec.
e,on with similar agents of neighboriog
oiates. They deem it. 1 unders, aud. en-
tiry Pracecab'e To restore the fish TO our
ABUNDANT watess which formerly AT ,rdrd
no small item in the productive reso irves
OF the State. The fisheries on the coast
also are an important interest, AMI should
be properly protected The complain, is
st'l' made that the mechanical operations
Tor the production OF f.h oil have besn
reckless. and the slaue hfer thus occasion-d
has caused n dearth OF small and even OF
large hsh along our s1ores. There is some
doubt about the facts aud their causes, but
it may be that the matter deserves your
attention.
The depression in so important branch.
OF our industry as ship building has reached
point where we must have relief. or aban-
don an interest which has been our pride
and stay Not only do we see our ship
yards idle aud maritime towns stagnaiing,
bot the ship.bniiders who are among our
most Intelligent and valuable citizens are
driven from the State to seek employment
elsewhere. Thr loss is one we can i'll afford
TO bear. The State that has for years fur
nished third part of the tonnage of the
United Stated may we'll demand TO be heard
in the Congress of the Nation, and there
are few subjects more worthy Of attention
than tbs restoration of the commercial i'm
terests OF the country. Name me ans 10
he fraternal. conciliatory and generous.
Prompt ia her loyalty to the Union, she is
still willing to deny herself something Tor
each OF the peculiar interests of her sistsr
States But she does not believe that they
will deliberately persist in polics which
mast destroy her main reliance, cripple her
industry, and degrade her from her appro-
PIRATE station. The country cannot afford
TO abandon the sea, and leave TO foreign
ships even our own extensive commerce..
] am aware tina, 1t Is not in the power OF
Congress to lifi the whole burden from our
shipping. Il will take time to change the
current OF trnde. and VIC must still De sub
ject 10 the laws of supply and demand. Other
places also which exempt their tonnage
from local taxation will still have some al.
vantage OF Us. We cannot hope Tor The
old prosperity; we only ask to be relieved
from uncqaal burden. and that. SO
far As legislation can effect il The chances
may be restored to us OF \ fair competition
in the commerce of the world
AGRICULrURE.
Agriculture ~ an interest in this Slate
too important to be overlooked There is
TO lack OF industry in this department bat
still doubt whether our agriculturists have
that courage and enterprise which our ia
clities call for. We are content with send
ing hay and cattle and potato out Of the
State. The great staple Of life we bring in,
an from a distance. aud so q. exaggerated
prices. We turn to our neighbors on the
north and west, aud even stretch our hands
TO California, for grain. II is painful to
see heavy teams toiling DAYS and nights
long TO carry -four into so fine 4 wh-at
country as our AroDstook. bringing it very
likely, from NV York or Boston, aud tax.
ing IL almost back where IL came from aud
the farmer pays for th. round about jpu-pey
IL has made, bills which amount TO more
than tho intrinsic value Of tae grain. when
he could raise just as good at his own door.
1t is useless TO wait for great manufacture
ing enterprises 10 iev-lope this industry bv
creating larger demand. Bread will alwavs
be in demand With our population. now
probably upwards OF 650.0O0. We Uead at
lcas, a. many barrels of -four yearly. which
at SIS the average price for the last veal
amounts 10 - $50 0OO. This is nearly all
imported and probably 10 one article of
export equals ibis 10 value. Here certainly
can wheat be proftably raised Ia Maine.
The soil and climate are no bar In the
Provinces north and east OF ue great atten-
ton is paid TO wheat raising. and with good
results. Where it has been skillfuly tried
in our own State there has been no failure.
The Intelligent farmer knows that he must
SOW on dry ground or undeTdrained. so as
TO get the seed IN early and avoid tho midge
that he must pulverize clayey soils so that
they will absoi b aud hold the nitroget or
ammonia upon which the cereals depend I;
and that the wheat should be followed by
crops like clover, turnips or peas. which do
not dissipate ammonia, and those crops be
kept upon the farm and returned 10 the soil
a. dressing. IL has been proposed t. offer
a bounty on the raising OF wheat IN this
State for the next three years. Whether
that Is done or not. the Intelligent farmer
who devote- himself TO th viii ind boun-
" in his immediate returns With our TO-
I $50 farms an average of four acres would
easily produce alto bushels 10 the acres,
/ rpsards Of { 900. 900 bushels OF wheat a
! year. and this experiment is worthy OF being
tired IL will DO useless 10 hope that even
~ith the increased fscili,ies for Transports
ton wblcn we anticipate. brea1suf, will
be greatly love' IN price The rapid in.
crease of mlnuf rtures IN the south ani
west viii tend 10 inctease = home consnmP-
ton. 80 that less bre ad.taffs will b. offered
+ IN eastern marke add thl- the prices viii
be kept up Even It il we're not 80 our
nearnesA 20 the great ntfket you'd give our
farmers the pracricai advantage OF nearly
the Whole additional value which the cost OF
long transportation compel'. Few subjects
are Of more Importance TO our farmers how
ever they may now b. prejudi ed or dis.
eouraged bv working biindly and by main
force, rsther han upderstsn,lingly and skill
fully. There Is a tactics IN peaee as well as
war.
The recen, examination Of the nee lands
I OF Aroostook by the Secretary Of the Board
| Of AcricnItnfe has convInced bin Of lhe