Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-06-09
ARO0ST00K---XV.
A General ReYieY Of Previous
Letters.
Country Life In Afoostook. Social,
Educational and Religious
Advantages.
Soil, Climate, Crops and Sketches Of
the Great Farms.

bVni SnWosut ViVPS euu ohotVu0o VI
the Great Farms.
BY Hon. Edward Wigsin.
Misc once ptions of ArOost0sk Explained.
My journeyings through the several
towns of Aroostook being interrupted
this week by other duties, shall devote
this article TO general answer to the
many letters which | am receiving ask
ing as to the Inducements for new set
tiers to come to- Aroostook to engage in
farming and other pursuits. Some of
the representative farms in different sec
tions will also be described in order that
the many readers of the Journal may
form some idea OF what has been done
here in an agricultural way in the com
paratiyely short time that this fertile
section has been open to settlement.
The idea that even the settled
portion Of Aroostook county IL practi.
cally wilderness country away up in
the frozen north is one that seems gen
orally to obtain among the majority Of
those who have never visited the county
or paid much attention TO its develop
ment and present condition. That we
are not wholly in the hyperborean
region may be seen from the fact prob
ably not thought of by many that the
parallel Of latitude that runs near the
town OF lIoultOn also runs about
through the city of Lyons In France, and
crosses the northern part of vine-elad
Italy, and the head Of the beautiful
Adriatic sea. The line which marks the
northern extremity Of Aroostook county
runs very nearly through the city Of
Paris, the heaven of good Americans,
while away to the north of this line lies
Belgium and the Netherlands, the larger
part of the German Empire and the
whole Of the territory included in the
British Isles. The Swedish Colonists
OF AroostoOk who in few years have
converted forest township into q sue
cession Of finely cultivated farms and COM
Portable homes, and who by their honesty
industry and frugalitv have come to be
regarded as among the most valuable citi-
zens Of the county, were obliged to mi
CRATE fully thirteen degrees southwark
from Stockholm. the capital OF their
fatherland, in order to reach the north
ern boundary of the township which
was to be their new home. The mouth
OF the beautiful blue Danube is but a
few miles south of the mouth of the
equally beautiful Aroostook, while the
Seine and the Rhine mingle their waters
with the ocean far to the north of the
junction Of the Aroostook river with the
magnificent st. John. IL will thus be
seen that although we occupy the north
ern part OF the State Of Maine, yet when
the question of latitude IL considered,
we are Sin the swim with the most fer
tile sections of the habitable earth. The
inducements that Aroostook offers to
men of other counties of Maine who are
seeking for new home, or to persons
from any section who are willing TO earn
living by honest labor may be stated in
brief as follows. A fertile soil, rich in
the elements of plant food, not difficult
to reclaim from the wilderness and easy
of cultivation when once cleared; com
Portable, healthy climate, good local
markets. and railroad communication
with the markets of the world. Add to
these advantages community of good,
peaceful, aw-abiding citizens, abundant
religious and educational privileges, a
society in which true manhood or woman
hood ia the test of acceptance instead of
rank or wealth, and you have region in
which any resoluie, energetic man, even
though he come with small means, may
in few years make for himself and his
loved ones comfortable, happy and
prosperous home.
The Soil of Aroosto0k
Is und ,niably the richest in New Eng.
land and for strength and durability and
the ability to produce with proper cult
walton u practically endless succession of
the various crops adapted to the locality
1t is unsurpassed by the much Wanted
pfairies of the West. Not only is the
soil new and possessed of all its original
fertility but frem its geological for
nation It is supplied with abundant
material for plant growth and with in
tellgent culture is practically inexhaust-
ible. While the tillers of the soil In the
fertile State of Kansas. whittier SO many
eastern men have emigrated as to an ag
ricultural Ell Dorado, are now crushed
down with the terrible weight OF the
canker eating mortgage, aud even con-
sentative journals in that State are sound
ing the cry that unless aid comes by leg
islative enactment thousands of farms
uiusl SUM ~ Vic lit
farmers of Aroostook are prosperous,
happy and independent, and ask no aid
from the State except that which comes
from fair dealing in the matter of tax
alton and an equitable valuation of all
specimens of property.
Past and Present Compared.
The task OF making farm aud a
home from forest tract Is not what it
was half century or less ago when
the pioneers Of the county first came
here with little but stout hearts and
willing hands to hew for themselves
homes ia the traekiess wilderness. Then
| after reaching the outposts of eiviliza-
| ton long and weary journey through
the forest lay before them with. in many
cases, hardly the nucleus of settle
ment to mark the termination of their
| tedious march. No mills or stores,
churches or schools or social privileges
were here to add to their comfort or en-.
joyment or aid them in the hard strug-
| gle. All these had to be created and un-
I'll they We're supplied the new settler
had to rough 1t as best he could. Now
the settler coming to any portion OF
Aroostook, even il he wish TO take up
. wild lot, will find good road leading
to within very few miles OF the spot
where he chooses to locate, and mills,
stores, churches and schools will not b.
Inaccessible. Thus though the settler
upon forest tract need not expect to
4 make farm without work, or for the
first few years without snug figuring
II he come with small means. yet the
opening up of roads and settlements and
the development Of the country has eli.
minated from his toll very much that
the early settlers were subjected to.
Even as late as 1865. neighbor of mine,
Mr.. Colu.abus Hayfsra.
| who came in that year. tells me that
with the assistance of another man he
was two days swamplng a road to get
| supplies in to the lot he had purchased
ard where be- was preparing to make a