Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-22
Farmers and the Savings Banks
Editors Of the Kenneb,e Journal;

Twas pleased 10 read the remarks Of Your
correspondent. IN. X. under the above
little in the journal of 18Th inst. Not only
because il is another evidence that the sub
ject of Equalization of Taxation is re-
ceiving something Of the attention which il
demands: but also because | believe the
writer will deal iutciligen'ly and honestly
with the subject Hs he We've it from bio
standpoint. And. a. | have no doubt To,
b would be glad to be corrected, if he b. I
fallen into an error, | will endeavor to sci
him right In one or two points.
But before doing so, allow me to say that
do not fully endorse Mr.. Gilberts state
mena. considered his speech very I'M
fortunate for the interests of the farmer. of
our State. and so wrote, at that time to one
Of cur leading Aaricul'urists, who is frier
Of us both. But, IL MIR. Gilbert's sayings
and writings whether before The Farmers
Institute" Legislative Committees and Tax
Commissiopers, or in the columns of his
agricultural paper. have been a series OF
biunders, and contradictions; fail to see
Why our whole agricultural iniere SITS should
be censured, or made to suffer for his folly
But, A. the Hero of Chase's Mills" says
"rhere NAV be scme chunks of frozen
truth in v hat Ziba rays" 50, do not condemn
and discard the whole Hs worthless, fol-
honey 10 honey no matter whose bees
make il. Il was said of one of Eng.
land's greatest agricultural writers and ex-
perims nters. shat while his inventions and
methods promised wonderful results in thso.
~. they proved miserable failures when re-
duced 10 pvaettse. Yet it resulted in grea,
good. - it set the people to thinking.
Therefore, let Us hope, although we canno,
endorse all Sec etary Gilbert says, thai
there may some gooi result from it.
But TO return to III. X b" He says
Nov, l have travelled annually for 2i
years in many parts of the Sac. and have
Observed . constant improvement in the sp-
pssrances Of buildings snd nelis in every
direction. And then he jumps at the conclu.
sion that the farms are approaching in value
and are worth more Nov, let n. illustrate
Had III. h. B." passed my fsrm in 1856 OF
1887 be might have seen some fine steers
that would have weighed some $500 pounds
per pair; and on his snpusl travels the past
year have seen the came cattle grown into
= beautiful pair of oxen, Weighing 1000
pounds, fat aud sleek: would he not have
ssid there VA grea; Improvement" con-
seqaently an increase in raixe? Now I
presume no man in Maine hiss a
letter knowledge of what constitute q
vaIses tha' III. <. B." II my premises
ae correct then be will agree With
me, that the value is. What AZ snimsl, or
a'ticle will command 10 the open msrkeis
Of as world. expenses deducted. Bank
efs, brokers, and all of the great fnaneiers
Of the world estimated the value of bonds,
stocks and real estate in proportion to the
security Of the came, and the rate of in
teress. or dividends tina, they pay, do they
uots Nov. while that pair Of Steers you
saw on my farm two years ago would have
brought me . cts, net, or $500 At that time.
they would only bring with all their grow b
81 cite. per 10. net. or el75, nov. yet they
had gained 500 lbs. And the same may be
said Of the most Of the farm property from