Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-09-02
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Agriculture, Is SUFFICIENT excuse. TX any
were needed for reproducing the follow
| ing article from the columns OF the Water
vile Mail. 1t is from the pen OF Hon
Isaac G. Libby of Buraham, gentleman
who has thoroughly investigated thu
subject and knows Just what he il talking
! about
ANY Industry that will add to the pros
| perity of agriculture Is indeed blessing
and should be tolerated and fostered
The farmers OF Maine, especially those
OF the beautiful kennebec valley, are
making great mistake in selling hay
| and by 50 doing they are steadily de-
creasing the value of their fertile farms,
perhaps the heritage passed down from
their ancestors, protected and fertilized
for generation, now to be despoiled by
removing the life giving spark, manure,
| by the devastating practice of selling
hay, which will blight the best farm in
the land; and cause those long priced.
| lovely fields to grow up to inferior grass
and weeds, and soon the cry another
deserted farm.
All this can be changed by adhering
to the rule Of selling nothing but con
densed articles. The hog the beef, the
veal calf and lamb are fed hay and
grain in condensed form. So are butter
and cheese. Condensed milk, although
not so common, is in the same category.
For the benefit Of those who have not
looked into the subject, we would sug-
gest that condensed milk is the pure
milk of the cow, with the water taken
out by a process of heating, which
leaves the butter and cheese combined,
which is preserved by sugar, about one
fourth of its weight. With the sugar
added, one quart Of common milk will
make can of condensed milk, and as
condensed milk retails at twenty cents
per can, and the farmers of Maine do not
make their milk net them over two cents
per quart, it seems as il the margin was
too large between the two. In other
words, IL we, the farmers, owned con-
densed milk factory. we might sell this
most important article Of food for a
much higher price.
These factories can be built by stock
companies. Each farmer within radius
of ten miles could take ten dollars
worth Of stock, and the sum would be
large enough to build, equip and operate
any condensed milk factory in the
world.
The company now building one Of
these factories at Newport offers, if the
farmers of Waterville and vicinity will
take limited amount Of stock, to build
u factory at Waterville, which location
could not be excelled in New England,
taking the rich and fertile lands. cool
and pure boiling springs, and extensive
railroad facilities into consideration.
If a condensed milk factory generated
the same prosperity it does in New ork
and elsewhere,it would make Waterville
the center of one of the finest agricul
tural sections in the world. This great
prosperity Of the farmers would lend its
lasting effect to the city, and cause this
most beautiful river town to be spot OF
uutiring activity, thrift and wealth.
The first thing for the people of Wa
terville and vicinity to do is to send some
careful men to investigate this industry,
and when it is asCertained that the picture
has not been overdrawn to go to work
like men and build factory. Dig
up some of that buried gold or those
bank bills from their camphor
protection and give it an airing
for the benefit of the human race.
A condensed milk factory with
capacity of 1000 COWS which will con.
dense A., 900 OTIS. of milk per day, will
employ seventy-five to one hundred
operators, men, women and children, per
day, and will add five hundred inhabi-
tants to any town where such industry
is located. Very many farmers with no
more or better land than is to be found
on the kenhebec river keep one hundred
to two hundred cows and as they sell
their milk for spot cash they always
wear smiles on their faces. What a con-
trast such farmer would be to the one
where the hay has been sold off a term
of years. where the farmers thrift is
fast disappearing, where the individual
is slowly selling his clothing, shipping
his real estate to Boston by degrees. and
nearing the poor house.
Ii is not the intention Of any one to
swindle the public by selling their
worthless stock on which never divi-
dend will be paid, But should the peo-
pie Of Waterville and vicinity conclude
to invest in such company, they are
not going out West or down South, but
are putting their money into an industry
right in their midst and are manufacture
ing an article that is gaining in favor
each year, and as we believe, will be-
come more in fashion as the production
increases and the price seeks level
with other articles of food.
At all the condensed milk factories in
New \ ork the stock of the companies has
increased in value till today there is none
for sale. The Aroostook Condensed
Milk Co.. now building factory at New
port, whose second factory will probably
be located at Waterville, are offering
limited amount Of stock at five dollars
per share till the present wants of the
company are supplied, then ten dollars
will be asked. We assure the public it is
no stock brokers' job, but We mean to
condense some milk in Maine.