Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-09-20
THE SANE STORY.
A CONNECTICUT FARMER SAYS MAINE Is
No INCEPTION IN BEING ovHR-rAxED.


Under the heading 1.-The Boys" q
Maine farmer, ID. +. H." wrote inter.
estingly in the .New England Farmer
recently concerning the conditions At.
tending farming In this vicinity ut the
present time. The article reveals the
workings Of q mind not satisfied with
a superficial view Of things. He thinks
Maine ''over lswed," and that Farmers
paw an unjust proportion Of taxes"
Don't they everywhere in New Eng
land. The farmer Is estimated to own
25 per cent OF the property and pay so
per cen. OF the taxes, not because he Is
more public spirited or more honest than
his fellows, but because his property
lies spread out before the tsxgstherer's
eve. Go into almost any town with \
village large enough To have metropolitan
ambitions, and the village wants ex-
cellent roads, well kept side walks,
lighted streets, fire engine, and all
these are legitimate wants, but people In
the outlying portions OF the town, who
receive little or no benefit, should not be
compelled or asked to help paw for them.
In some Of the towns the village graded
school IL sustained by taxes raised 10
q district which embraces large por-
ton of the town.
The farmer may, Of course. educate
his children there, but In addition TO his
school tsx, IL will cost him $40 TO go
according 10 distance, TO get his children
to and fro through the school year.
SO in many ways the agriculturist Is
continually contributing
MORE THAN HIS JUST SHARE
TO the public funds. In the state, in the
cities and In the towns, II they raise
public money enough 10 make Ii an
object, there is always a class seeking To
shape legislation so As to ''create offices
and draw salaries"
In Connecticut, five or six years ago, q
law WAS enacted creating = peach tree
in every county, whose duties IL should
be 10 examine all the peach trees and
cause the destruction Of such as iu the
examiners Judgment showed signs Of
the "'yellows." The compensation un-
der the law Was TO be "five dollars per
day aud expenses" for the time spent.
Perhaps every one Of those commits
sioners were conscientious men and
made no unjust expense 10 the state, but
such Law has no business on any
STATUTE BOON.
believe then as now, that there Is no
such disease as ''pezch yellows." The
sickly sprouts, the small. highcolored
aud premxturely ripened fruit, are only
manifestations Of starvation and i'm
proper cultivation. On any suitable
soil, in this climate, IL had the time TO
spare from other duties, | could plant a
peach orchard and permit Ally one 10 set
therein one or more trees that had the
"yellows" and would challenge him 10
communicate the disease 10 my trees.
And more than this, | would-if his
trees were not so far gone that the wood
had turned dark. and had not reached
the zone OF lif,-bring them back 10 Wig
orous growth and luxurisnt foliage.
The Connecticut legislature, at Its last
session, concluded that not 80 much was
known about peach yellows" as was
thought and repealed the law.
An UNJUST THEORY.
Every few years an effort Is made 10
some form 10 get representation sc-
cording TO population. theoretically,
that is right Of course, but practically IL
sometimes works hardship. IL success
ful ia this state The cities and large
towns would completely control legis-
lation. and rural communities would
hardly get the consideration they de-
served. How would Rhode Island,
Delaware and Conn, ctieut relish having
but one United States senator between
th, IN, as against two from New York
This fairly illustrates the situation.
Other states beside Maine become
"honey-combed with law" through the
Incorporate zeal OF those whom much
learning hath made mad"
take exception 10 ID. +. H.'s" "scre
Of beans; not In regard TO labor,
product or price, but TO the implied con-
clusion that nothing MAS gained but the
mouey received for the beans. All the
fertilizing elements contained In ''25
double loads OF manure" and loo pounds
OF commercial fertilizer, ought not 20 be
taken away in the ~ bushels OF beans.
| think such additions and sub,rsctions
often repeated would make quite pro-
ductiye acres.-C. c. Perry, Stratford.
Conn, In New England Farmer.