The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-01

Saturday Morning, October. I, l81O.
The Decline Of Farming in Maine.

The report of the Superintendent OF Schools +
two years ago showed that the number OF
children under the age of twenty-one had
for several years been steadily decreasing.
This on. hit to have prepared us to learn when
the next census was taken. that there was a
decline of population in the rural districts |
nearly as great as the increase in the cities. |
But, though many explanations were made at
that time, it occurred to no one that the pop
ulation in most parts OF the State was abso-
iutely decreasing. The number of,patriot cit
liens who did not return from the war was
known to be quite large, but the number OF
young men who had emigrated to the West,
though considerable, was not, perhaps, equal
to that Of the previous decade. The natural
increase was thought to be more than suffi-
Gent to compensate for these losses. But the
census, which is a great disenchanter. and a
very impartial one. too, cutting off thousands
from the estimated population of cities, as
remorselessly as it takes hundreds from that
OF country villages, has dispelled the lllu-
sion.
One reason for the suddenncss with which
the growth of our rural population has stop
ped may he that in the last decade not SO
much has been done to extend the railroad
system of the State as in the years between
1850 and 1S60-at least not until 1869, when
it was too late to affect the returns this year.
1t this is the case we may expect that the
next ten years will have far more marked
effect upon the population of Me. than the last.
Within that time the increased business ac-
tivity attending the extension of railroads
will be felt along the following roads, which
are already built the Piscataquis, the Newport
AMI Dexter, aud the extension of the Portland
& Rochester. Then there will be the through
line to st. John and Halifax by way of the
European and North American, an impor-
tant section of which is in this State, and the
completion of which is promised next year,
the Knox and Lincoln which the towns along
the route seem determined to relieve speedily
from its embarrassments, the Belfast and
Moosehead Lake, over which trains have al
ready passed, the Somerset road which is pro-
crossing, the Houlton Branch, soon to place
Aroostook County in steam communication
with the outside world by way of the Prov
inces, the great Ogdensburg road to be speed
lily completed, the Portland and Rochester to
connect the State with New York roads by
way of Rochester, Nashua and Lowell, and
with the great West by way of Concord and
Rutland and the extension of the Maine Cen
trail from Danville Junction to this city. All
these roads that we have mentioned are sure
and so is the projected Aroostook road from
some point on the European and North
American, if the local quarrels can be set
tied. Besides, there are the Penobscot Bay
and River Railroad, the Georges Valley Rail-
road and road from Lewiston to Rumford
Falls projected, and the Portland and Oxford
Central is being extended. And then there
is Mr.. Poor's great Transcontinenta route
which as sean on the map fills every Portland
lander's heart with pride, and which no one
can help hoping may prove reality.
Many of these roads, especially the Western
routes, will only help the farmer incidentally.
Butby building up Portland and giving the
farmer better market nearer home they will
help the agricultural interest of the whole
State as well as those roads that pass directly
through regions that have at present no facili-
ties for transporting their produce. This ex
tension of the railroad system, together with
the increase of manufacturing which may b.
expected to result from the recent widely cir
culated statement OF the extent of our water
power, may be expected to react powerfully
upon agriculture, and the golden age of farm
ing will begin Let us hope so, at least, fol
to say nothing of the loss of material prospect
ty which the decline of farming indicates
there is nothing in the world more sad than il
has been 10 pass, during the last few years
through some of the most noted agricultural
regions of the State. 1t has seemed as if the
inhabitants had all deserted their dwellings,
and at the comfortable old fam houses, where
formerly the great barnes were SO DouH5Irury
stored, where there were large herds of cat
tie and flocks cf Sheep where within the MEM
DRY of men still young there was every autumn
no end OF meTymaking- huskings," "parng-
bees" and such well-known country revelry-
all seems runous and deserted. This is by no
means universally the case, but the instances
are so numerous as to make deep impression
on such as have observed them.