The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-01-23
FARM. GARDEN AND
HOUSEHOLD.
ShTinkage of Farm Values.
IN1 EREsI1NG PAPER BY SECRETARY
GILBERT

The estimates of the shrinkage of farm
values In this State made last week by
Hon. II. A. Gilbert. Secretary of the
State Board of Agriculture, will surprise
no one who has been familiar with the
courses of farm values in Maine for the
last twenty years. But those who have
lot been close observers of this class Of
property will be surprised to be told that
twenty years the money value Of farms
las shruuk one half, and that In the last
ten years this shrinkage has been so rapid
hat Mr.. Gilbert estimates 1t at thirty Der
cent. of their nominal value twenty Years
.go. So far has this depression gone
hat. as Mr. Gilbert states, Farms have
hardly a selling value" and when, by
ieath or otherwise, farm Is forced to a
sale, 1.-The public estimate hardly gives 1t
value, and 1t is quite apparent that were
my considerable number in any locality
forced to sale at any one time they
would not find purchasers" Secretary
Gilbert explains that part of the fifty
per cent. of depreciation Ia apparent
rather than real, since twenty years ago
we had an inflated currency. OF course
for those farmers who bought on inflated
prices without paying at the time this
apparent depreciation is very real indeed
But 1t Is OF course not a real depreciation.
Yet In the last ten years there has been
no Imitation, and the shrInkage Of thirty
per cent. In that time Is real.
Mr.. Gilbert gives the causes and then
prescribes the remedies. OF the causes
ne assigns leading place to what he calls
'puohc sentiment" Strange as this
cause may seem at first we are inclined to
think that 1t merits the leading place CIV
1T \ 10 l.
That Tor a generation the young people
have had 1t impressed upon them that
Maine Is 'played out" OF course gen
eration brought up with the Idea that the
'niy thing to do Is to leave the home farm
Will emigrate as soon as they can get the
means to get away. OF course with the
farming population leaving, the values of
The farms must fall verv rapidly Mr.
Gilbert Is of the opinion that there Is no
adequate Justification, even from a De.
cuniary point OF view, for thi. wholesale
emigration, and that by persistently hold
ing up the West In its true character to
he young people, an educational infiu-
nee may be put at work to counteract the
present tendencies of the farming popu-
lation. Then there Is taxation which
Observation-Disclosures unduly upon the farm
'r, and which Is now q subject of inves-
tigation by the State.
Mr.. Gilbert says: The remedy for this
farming condition of the agriculture Of
ne state IL In reversal of the causes
which have brought 1t about:
l. Money must be kept at home, and
IN the town where 1t IL made.
z. Investment In farm ENTERPRISES
must be promoted.
3. Agriculture must be fostered by
the State.
4. The discrimination 10 taxation must
be reversed.
D. PUBLIC sentiment must be corrected
home advantages must be written
up. talked up, taught up, and posted up
md western bubbles blown up, and the
children brought M with an appreciation
VI our own surrdoddings.
Z. Capitalists must seek investments
in our own State,
Can all this be donep Yes, II men In
earnest set about 1t. The valuation com
mission now In session can do much tow
ards relieving taxation. The tax COM
mission now investigating taxation can
'ievise a way to release mortgaged farm
real estate from taxes, and the next Leg.
stature can make it a law These are
steps whose effects would he promptly
felt. Others would easily follow when
men awake to the fact that we have an
agriculture to save. and that faithful citI-
zens have responsibility 10 It's welfare
Already there are signs of Improvement
In certain directions. There is a more
hopeful sentiment cultivated over our
home resources. The western drift of
our young blood has been checked. We
have only to cultivate these favorable
conditions and add still Others to their
influence to hasten on this improvement
and work rapid change.
The importation OF colonies of for
elgners to make these cheap lands their
homes, Is not what Is wanted and can
never reach the case. Rs-establsh
ouoiic sentiment that shall recognize the
real productive and intrinsic value OF
nose lands, encourage an appreciation OF
he money advantages by which we are
'Hrrounded, employ our money In home
Industries and instead Of keeping the WIS.,
ION 'xed on distant objects. remove the
discrimination Of taxation now Gripping
sr'n Investments. and we shall have no
t '"p lands. Values will return, and
"heu again established there will be no
'liings wanting occupants, no lands
waiting owners"