The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-03
FROM THE FARM AND THE WORK SHOP
Information Gathered During the
Year by Commissioner Matthews.
Results of the Inquiry Regarding the
States Abandoned Farms.
Few Strikes Reported-Some New
Laws Which Are Needed,
Especial to the Press. !

AUGUSTA, January 2.-The fourth annual
report of Hon. S W. Mstthews, state COM
missioner Of labor and industrial statistics
was given to the public today. 1t is vol
ume of 222 pages, the contents of which are
Systematically arranged and the report is
one Of the best made up and neatest printed
documents ever published in the state. The
matter is arranged in five parts: /, Agricul
ture; III, Abandoned Farms; Ill, Strikes
their:causes and results; ", Report of the
Deputy Commissioner; V, Appendix.
Sixty-seven pages are devoted to tables
and deductions therefrom, pertaining to the
condition of farmers and farming through
| out the state. Considering the fact that far
mers like other business men are somewhat
averse to making public their affairs, and
that there Is noIre eQuirement compelling them
to make returns, the showing Is very credta-
BILE, and the interesting facts obtained from
the returns show how important and valua-
BILE such would become could they have been
larger in volume, and embraced wider area
OF the territory of the state. The points
covered in the blanks of inquiry sent out
were many, and pertained to the whole rural
economy of the state. They were based
upon the census blanks and upon blanks
sent out by Massachusetts and other states
where similar inquiries have been undertake
en- by state authority. These points en-
hraced the number and value of the stock Of
the farms, farm equipment, amount of re-
ceipt from all sources, value of improvements
made yearly, cost of maintaining family,
capital invested and other matters. Three
hundred and seventy-f0ur reports were re-
ceived, the number from the different cOun-
ties being as follows: AndToScoggin, 2;
Kennebec, A. Lincoln, Is; Oxford, 26; Pc,
nubscot, 6S; Piscataquis, 8; Sagadahoc, 8;
Somerset 35; Waldo, AZ; Washington, Al.
The general results obtained may be shown
briefly by the summary given herewith:
Number of farms returned, $40; total value
of farms, including buildings, $l,03S, ,425 90;
average value of farms, including building,
S2,S06. 90: average acres in each
farm, 1874; average value per acre,
Including farm buildings, SIS %; total
lumber of cows kept, 1866; average number
of cows o. each farm, g.; average receipts per
cnw, $40 &C; number of farms making profits,
50; numbee Of farms showing loss, 30; num-
'er OF farms showing neither gain nor loss,
2; average profit of farms showing gains,
S233 80; average loss of farms showing loss,
$3l0,5S; number of farms growing more pro-
ductive, $50: number of farms growing less
productive. Al; number of farms holding
their own, 49; average weekly wages paid
permanent help, $4 78; average weekly
wages paid transient help, Sc 81; number of
'arns mortgaged, GA; total value of farms
mortgaged, S205, ,150; total amount of mort
cages, So, 600; average rate of in crest on
mortgages, .0672; number of mOrtgaged
farms yielding profits. AT; number of mort
aged farms showing losses, II; not incud-
including cost of living as expense, the num-
her of farms showing gain, 281; number of
farms showing loss, So; number of farms
showing neither gain nor loss. L; average
profit of farms showing gain, $29164; aver
age loss of farms showing loss, S141 81.
The remarks of farmers which follow are
In general encouraging and satisfactory.
Following this portion of the report comes
a very readable and valuable article on the
Agriculture of Aroostook county, from the
pen of Hon. Edward Wiggin.