Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-23
TOWN AND COUNTRY.
THE PROGRESS OF ONE BENEFICIAL
TO THE OTHER.

Co-epsrstivs Effort Of Farmer and City
Dwelier win Best Conserve the Interest
Of Both-A Word About Kickers-The
Value Of . Newspaper.
copyright, 1894, by American Press Associa-
toni
The interests of town or city and the
community and country surrounding
are identical. That which benefits one
il certain to favorably affect the other.
Often there is an unreasoning antago-
nism in the farming community against
their home town. From some inexph-
cable reason they consider it their duty
to oppose every movement that has Tor
its object the forwarding OF its interests
and depreciate its Importance in every
conceivable manner.
Fortunately in this community all OF
our best and most progressive farmers
and landowners have kindly interest in
the town and are as enthusiastic in wish
ing it success and exercising their ener-
oies to attain that end as any one who
dwells within it's limits. But the fact
cannot be disguised that we have many
individuals in our vicinity who display
the same characteristics that distinguish
those who have been the bane and curse
of other localities.
These people only speak of their home
town, community and neighbors IN terms
OF disapproval. Their good points are
kept in the background, while what they
are pleased to call their faults are pro-
claimed from the house tops. They sell
their products in distant market and
buy their supplies at the same place.
They are simply barnacles on the ship OF
progress, and the sooner they take up
their residence where they transact their
business and make room for some pro-
gressiye and liberal minded citizen the
better it will be for the community.
The fact cannot be controverted that
town cannot increase in size and lmpor-
lance without at the same time making
the country contiguous better place to
live. AS its population increases 1T fur
nisles better market for the farmer,
his land il enhanced in value, the amount
of taxable property in the town becomes
greater, and a consequent decrease Of the
farmers tax results. The literary, social
and educational advantages and church
privileges keep pace with the town
growth, and the farmer, his wife, sons
and daughters enjoy them equally with
other citizens.
Suppose, for instance, that our thirty
ing center Of business and trade was
swept away, and in Its stead we had q
crossroads hamlet, with a postoffice,
blacksmith shop and grocery store. Do
You think that this community would be
as desirable u one to live in as at present:
On the other hand, should the growth
of this community continue until we had
as large a population as some of the
larger cities we might name, with their
manufacturing industries, commercial,
literary and educational institutions and
all the conyeniences which are in reach
of those who live convenient to metro
politan centers, would not the life Of q
farmer be more pleasant and comforta-
bic and his vocation more profitable, his
daughters better educated and his sons
given better chance in life than as
present situated?
Probably we shall never be New
York or Chicago, but by united effort
Of our citizens we can build up a place
of which we may feel proud and secure
to the community many of the advan-
tages that 60 to make life worth living
in the great cities and at the same time
make our callings in life more attractive
and profitable. This consummation can
only be secured by the cooperative effort
of the entire population of the communi-
ty---farmers, mechanics, merchants, Ia
borers and professional men as well as
capitalists. Each can contribute his
share by assisting his neighbor with his
patronage and by giving every worthy
enterprise or undertaking his hearty and
unqualified support and approval.
Every business and professional man
in this town should have an advertise
ment in this paper if it is nothing great
err than two inch card. In addition to
the benefit it does the advertiser in
bringing his business to the attention of
the public, it is n slight token of his APP
probation Of the benefit that well con-
Quoted and enterprising newspaper is to
town. Further, it a notice to the world
at large that his particular line of brsi-
ness is represented in the place by an en-
terprising man and gives those seek
ing locations good opinion of the bust
ness men represented. The advertising
columns of the local paper are good
criterion to Judge a town by.