Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-11-04


Candage, of Brookline, Mass. formerly ot
Biuehili, at the Farmers rational congress in
st Paul, Mimi, Aug. 81, ls9s.l
The prosperity OF the farmer is linked
with that Of ind 1stries in other channels,
which he can neither break nor un-
st.ackle, and he is not nor can he be indie
pendent OF his fellow men. Formerly it
was said that he was independent OF the
world, but only in limited sense can it
be true in our time.
The advance in knowledge which our
present civilization has evolved has
emancipsted us from the erroneous Toe
liefs and opinions held in the past but
binds Us closer in the bonds OF a common
hrot her hood, and teaches that the well
fare of he many l. greater and more to
be desired than hat Of the individual or
even Of a class and iurt her teaches hat by
beneftinG the many, the plane OF society
is raised, he welfare of all is advanced,
and that the individual shares in the sd-
yspcement and Is made more prosperous
and happy thereby.
The farm. in he present as in he past j,
is acknowledged to he the source from
" hich the primal necessities OF man are
derived for his comfort and ell-being
and the need to cultivate the soil for that
purpose Is urgent necessity to-day
as it was hen Adam WAS driven from
Eden ITO till the ground, and to eat OF
he herbs OF the field in the sweat of his
face.
But while this is true, we must admit
that conditions and methods have radi-
csliy changed. By methods and appli-
ances made servicesble through mans in
ventive genius, not known to our hers,
tilling the ground is much less labori
Gus work than it was in the boy hood OF
many persons now within the sound OF
my voice.
The ring OF his metal tools, the sounds
which greet his ear from he steam pillow,
reaper thresher and from the locomotive,
as ii tugs and pulls the heevilyIaden
train over the network OF rails which
cross and recross our fair land, bearing
his products to msrts Of trade and traffic,
are reminders to the farmer that he shares
in benefits derived from the labor OF
others, and hat they tend TO lessen 1.-The
sweat Of his face"
In order O bring about these changed
conditions be bowels of the earth were
made to bring forth it. ores; smelling
furnaces, foundries, machine shops and
factories were called into being to work
them; the forests were made TO yield
mater ials, which when brought toget her
I Il
artisan, became tools, implements and
appliances OF beauty and utility for the
farmer 70 tue laborers employed in
those fields and in countless others, the
agriculturist is joined in Il network of
reciprocal interests.
improvements in met hods have not
only lessened 1.-THE sweat of the face" OF
/ him no cultiyates the sofia great boon
in itself-but they have made 1t poss bic
I for him TO produce many fold more, and
much more han he can consume; there
fore, he looks beyond the borders OF his
own domain for market for his surplus.
The surplus products Of farm, factory and
workshop would be of little value with
out markets in which TO sell or exchange
them.
! REACHING THE MARKET.
Markets may be near TO or far from the
place OF production, but in either case The
facilities for transportation and cost OF
same must be considered and carefully
computed before the net value can be de-
termined at the point OF production or at
the place OF consumpto ion.
Railroads are modern appliances for
transportation. The first road built in
this country was in 1927, and to-day we
have 10000 miles of rails--a distance
equal to seven and half times the cir
conference OF the globe at the equator
all laid within the lifetime OF persons
now living.
1t IS popular in some quarters to in
Weigh against railroads-and We admit
that some have been grossly mismanaged
but how shall We get on without them?
We cannot go back to the ox-teams and
stage coaches OF our grandfathers' time,
TO more than We can call our honored an
cestors from their graves to direct our
present affairs. Time is too important
factor to permit Us to entertain the
thought of such a retrograde movement.
1--WE might as well try to put the last
years chicken back in The shell again"
/ have never owned share OF railroad
stock and am under no obligation, finan-
cial or otherwise, to defend railroads, but
| recognize that they are the outgrowth
OF the nineteenth century, and neces-
sity of the times in " hich We live
Farmers are yitally concerned in mat
tiers of transportation, its facilities, and
the cost of sending their products to mar
ket. The old modes by cart and wagon
over dirt and corduroy roads, have given
place to canals, amboats and railroads,
the former being too expensive and slow
| To meet the demands of be uresent. fnl