Saint Mary's beacon., 1888-04-05
Mr.. GRAEF's ADDRESS.
JOHN F. DUKE, Sec.


Gentlemen Having been chosen to pre-
side over the desiinies of the Farmers
| Club Of Leonaritown during the first yeal
year Of its existence, cordially ask you tc
earnestly cooperate with me to make the
objects Of the club a grand success and s
substantial benefit 10 us one and all. A:
a comparative stranger, cannot DO much
unaided but with your advice and help
much may be accomplished.
We are within l DAYS distance from
Washington with 150, 900 inhabitants; Bal.
timore with $4,000; Philadelphia with
$4,000, and New York, which city in.
cludes the cities Of Brooklyn and Jersey
City and containing together much over
100000 inhabitants and we can certainly
proiitably raise such products which can
stand "a hours transportation. In other
words, perishable products such as, Pota.
toes, Tomatoes, Cabbages, Caulifowers, all
kinds Of Turnips, Cucumbers, Sweet Pota-
toes, &c.
The crops at present raised here will do
we'll al great distances from markets bu,
ought not 10 be grown here.
What we are 50 much in need of is
cheaper and more frequent transportation
and 10 change this state of affairs rests al
! together with US. We must make il an
object 10 existing transportation companies
( to add 10 the number Of tips 10 Leonard
town or induce other companies or boats TO
make Leonardtown regular landing.
The question now arises, how shall we
! dc il. The answer is, we must raise larger
crops; We must have more goods TO send
from here. What crops shall We raise :?
How shall We improve our land to enable
Us 10 raise larger crops?
These few questions open up a large field
forvCry profitable discussions and research.
Gentlemen, the following questions
hope 10 have most thoroughly discussed ct
the regular meetings of the club:
| What crops shall we raise to bring US
larger and quicker returns than the pres
ent one?
II To enable us to raise larger crops we
naturally must permanently improve our
lands. How shall we DO this? Shall We
use artificial fertilizers, manures or green
manures, etc ?
III What must we do to have cheaper
and more frequent transportation
" We must raise cattle. What are
the best kinds for beef, for draught, etc.
y Cows are a profitable investment
They give milk and will give, if stall fed,
about II tons Of manure per annumn.
vi How shall we dispose of the milk
10 advantage. We have not. at present,
! the daily trains or boats.
VII Shall We organize Cheese Fac
tories and Butter Factories on the cooper
atiyc plan? Such factories already exist
and are very profitable to the farmers.
VII Cannot we induce a canning firm
t. locate here? What are the proper steps
10 take:
IN Are we not at present working too
large tracts Of land.
y How shall we induce immigration !?
Shall we offer them large or small farms =
+ Gentlemen, with these two questions
solved we will see very marked change
in our affairs. The farmers will feel hap
pier, will have more energy and the entire
ucighbOrhoOd will wear a healthier look.
, In closing, gentlemen, l will give you
picture Of Leonaritown as / see it in my
minds eye when We have daily boat to
Washington and Baltimore and possibly a
branch railroad from here to Mechanics
Vile On our terminus large commodi-
Gus warehouse, several large sheds near by
+ for waiting carriages and horses; e plain
but neatly kept waiting room on the wharf
for the use Of passengers. On the many
elevations fronting Britan's Bay, cottages
belonging 10 families from Washington and
Baltimore who, because there is regular
communication come here to spend their
Summers. The bay dotted With many
white sails. The roads leading 10 Leon
ardt0wn, dotted on each side with plain
but substantial residences of farmers who
own 10, 20, 40 acres Of land hard bv a
roomy barn in which are or ? horses, the
! same number of COWS chickens we'll kept,
the house and barn enclosed BY substantial
fences, little fower-garden attached to
each house. While riding along these
roads we will meet or overtake wagon
loads of produce going to Lconardtown
Wharf for shipment; will see herds of fat
sheep or cattle for the same destination :
will gneet the milkman making his daily
rounds collecting the milk fer the cooper.
+ aiive cheese factory, OF collecting cream 70
take 70 the cooperative butter factory !:
ladies taking their children cut walking or
driving 70 town 10 make purchases Leon
ardtown will have several more large no.
tels, many Summer visitors, more retail
storeS, several drug stores, sidewalks we'll
kept, shade trees in good condition, in
short be live, thriving, growing country
town.
Gentlemen, many Of you smile at this,
but think it over and ask yourselves is the
I above picture impoSSibleg I say il Is No.