The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-11-03

the printer, with matters relating to his de-
| partment. The rest will be devoted largely
| to the results of Commissioner Matthews'S
| inquiries in relation to the farms of Maine.
| The condition of the farms Of Maine has
been the subject Of much discussion but Of
very little valuable investigation. This year
the work Of investigation has been carried
on Systematically with some tangible results.
In the first place the subject of abandoned
farms has been taken up. The returns from
this investigation have not all been tabu-
laten but enough has been done to show
that the greatest number of these farms are
found in the older counties such as Frank
lin, Somerset and Oxford. Very few are
the inquiry, Mr.. Matthews has de-
fined abandoned FARMS has
'those formerly cultivated but now desert
ed. and upon which cultivation Is now aban-
bo9ed, and the buildings. Il any, ,unoccupied
cases grass is still cut on these farms, but
nothing Is done In the way Of enrichment
OF the soil and the land Is practically unpro-
ductiye md left to run wild. The sub
Joined ltabulation madesfrom Cumberland
county returns will show the scope Of the
inquiry.
Besides the inquiries as to abandoned
farms another systematic inquiry has been
made as to the profits Of the farmers Of the
state. To get this circular Of inquiry like
the following was sent out:
Farm Schedule.
Name and address (not to be made publc).
No. OF acres In farm.
NO. OF acres under cultivation.
No. Of acres ip pasturage and woodland.
No. OF sheep kept on farm.
No Of horses, cows, other neat cattle kept
Is farm growing more or less productive9
CAPITAL.
Value of real estate
Value OF live stock, including poultry.
value OF farming utensils. tODls. etc
Na.ue OF coaches, carriages, wagons. etc.
Value OF all otner personal property.
Amount OF money borrowed TO pay farm ex-
penses.
Amount of money at interest.
RECEIPTS.
Value oil farm products: hay, grain, vegetables
fruit, ETC., sold,
Value Of stock products, beef, pork. mutton.
Value Of dairy products: butter, milk, etc.,
Value Of poultry, eggs, etc., sold.
Amount OF receipts from other sources.
Estimated value farm products consumed by
family.
Amount wages paid hired help
Estimated cost Of board oil hired help.
Amount paid for fertilizers, grain feed, etc.
Amount paid for repairs on buildings, tools, |
Amount paid for interest. insurance, taxes.
Estimated value of family services on farm.
port.
Average weekly ts-transient help.
No. Of weeks employed-permanent help.
No. Of weeks employed transient help.
No. 10 family: boys, girls.
No. in family employed on farm. |
is farm morIgaged? II so, for what amount?
What rate Of Interest do you pay on mortgage? |
What rent would your farm bring, including /
stock and bulldogs?
REMARKS.
About 1000 farmers have replied to these
circulars in such a way that their replies
wi "a nj fOr oh nhn or,Ik Iko
are not wholly fiattering to the profession Of |
farming as a business, although the way In
which farmers keep their accounts Is not /
such as to give their business the showing |
living, and generally good one of his farm,
and In MS returns he does not generally |
credit this living for what 1t Is worth. There |
VIII be connected with this branch of the |
inquiry some special articles by farmers, In. |
cluding one from Edward Wiggin of Presque |
Isle. One thing is noticeable In the farm |
returns, and this is that the farms are gen. /
orally considered by their owners as more |
productive than formerly.
The state offices.
Most of the more important state officers
will be reelected by the coming Legislature.
The Secretary of State is the only one where
there will probably be change. Secretary
Oromandel Smith will retire after long
term Of service, and will undoubtedly be sue
ceeded by Hon. Nicholas Fessenden of Fort
Fairfield recently clerk of the House. Mr..
abilities perfectly fit him for the
post of secretary of state.
In the Offices of the Legislature there will
be EumSer Of changes. Hon. @. +. Libby |
mas no oppostion 1or tue presidency OF the
Senate, position for which he is admirably
qualified.
For the speakership of the House Hon. A. |
p. Wiswell of Ellsworth, and Hon. j. b. |
Peaks OF Dover, are candidates.
For the secretaryship of the Senate Ken 1
dali NJ. Dunbar of DamariscOtta, assistant /
secretary of the last senate, is the only can
didate and will have the Office. as he de-
serves.
For clerk of the house there is a spirited
contest between w. S. Cotton Of Lisbon.
formerly assistant clerk, and admirably quail
lfied for the position, and Mr.. John Q. Swa-
sey Of Canton, son of Hon. John p. Swasey,
and assistant clerk of the last house.
For assistant secretary of the Senate there
are three candidates, Ernest Ii. Wheeler Of |
Gardiner, assistant messenger of the last |
senate; Charles X. Tilden of Hallowell, son |
OF General @. W. Tilden, and Mr.. Poor, son |
Of Hon. Leander Poor OF Sebago Young |
MIR. Poor Is graduate of Bowdoin and Is |
the peer OF any of his competitors to say the |
least
The messengers of the House and Senate,
Messrs. Smith and Lovejoy, have no opposi- |
AtOh lOA AO-CAOCtiOu anu luty buOulQ nave
none for they are excellent officers.
For assistant messenger of the Senate, |
young A. w. Spaulding of Caribou is candi- |
date. He was page In the last Senate, and /
is bright boy. The boys father Is prom
inent Democrat, but the boy Is stalwart /
Republican because his mother Is a Republi- L
can. All the people about the State House
are anxious that he shall succeed.
A. b. L. Chadbourne will probably be /
folder of the Senate again.
For some of the minor offices of the House |
there will be few contests, probably George |
III. Fisher and Fl ed A. Stevens have no op- |
position for the positions of first and second |
assistant messenger. For mail carrier, Wal |
ter |. Neal Is candidate, and Mr.. Hammond
Of Manchester is a candidate for assistant
mail carrier. j. A. Frederick and j. w.
Lang will probably be first and second fold
ers. For the position of third folder ex-
Representative Ben Maxim of Wayne and
S. A. Holbrook of Harpswell are candidates.
For assistant clerk of the House, the son
of Representative-elect Page III. Cain Of Pa
lermo, and Cyrus Holbrook of Madison are
candidates.
OF course there are some weeks yet before
the legislature meets, but this is the situa-
tion at present.