Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-17


owes to its Grange and to your society
debt of gratitude. Your works have been
good in the past, your influence broad in
Sustaining and restoring the sick and
discouraged agriculture. And this must
always operate as an element of your
welcome wherever you may meet We
are all aware of agriculture's deep de-
preston during the past years in this
our farmers to maintain themselves, IF
their trials and discouragements. We
have deplored the fact that some of them
have felt forced to abandon their homes
and seek other occupations. We have
felt sad to know that our rural popula
ton has been constantly decreasing. The
night has indeed been dark, the prospect
gloomy. But We believe that brighter
day has already dawned. The law Of
compensation applies. During this very
depression the old system of farming has
passed away, a system of theory, of IN
certainty, too often of ignorance with
all its weakening and disastrous results.
And on the grave of that old system
has sprung another, a broader and bet
ter one. a system which requires thoE
oughness and practical and scientllc
knowledge of the subject system wnlcn
exacts that the successful farmer shal
be man of thought and of study as
well as of labor. system which ordains
that he shall be a comprehensive man,
that he shall look beyond the boundaries
of his own fields. participate earnestly in
the affairs of state and see TO IL thdt ms
States laws are wise and Wholesome aiiu
not injurious to his Interests iha ar az o.
culture has had this new birth, thal We
have, today. some prosperous farmers
among us. that we feel and have faith
TO believe that there is coming 70 f,t tnr III
telligent farmer in the near Iutuie
prosperity, the like of whlch mas n.y. ,r
been known. is due to some eNtelt SUI
we think largely, to tb me grange ran ' and Your
societv We therefore hope that you VIII
.niov your visit with us and that your
good works ana mn l.iu commmn d and thu
whole State shall blossom like the rose
md shall contain a dense population of
prosperous and contented farmers. Iheh
and not until then shall your mission be
performed.
Dr. G. NJ. Twitchell of Augusta, was
the first to respond to the able well
come given by Mr.. Sanborn. DR..
Twitchell said in part:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle
men: Secretary Cook of this society.
will respond in behalf of the society.
so / wish to speak for the people. who
appreciate the welcome here. In the
midst of the decorations of the hall we
are reminded of the painstaking work
of the ladies of Sebasticook Grange.
Only those who have acted in the ca
pacity of members of arrangement
good work they have done for this two
DAYS meeting. Let us each give per-
sonal thanks to the grange for all,
Il was glad to hear of better days
spoken of by Mr.. Sanborn. He who is
conscious of farming interests, is aware
that the pendulum is swinging again
toward agriculture. We have passed
through the depression and are enter
;nu of There
have been more calls, in the past three
months, for good farming property than
in a long period of time before.
Here in Newport you have grown
prosperous The managers of the CON
densed milk factory. and the corn fac
tory. each point to the two industries
as the one that has brought about the
change.
AT the same time the fruit interests
are not what they should be. BY these
meetings we get the stimulus to push
the work harder.
Prof. Robinson, the dairy commits
sioner. gave in Boston, last week. as
the reason for the advance in agricui-
ture. the work of the press. The ques-
ton is as much with the farmer as with
the press. If we stop complaining and
determine to advance. we advance. and
a song of thanksgiving will be sung.
Let us sing that song.
Prof. Elijah Cook of NaSSalboro, who
is the secretary of the association. said:
1T gives me great pleasure to have an
opportunity of thanking the gentleman
who has so ably welcomed us. | have
been pleased since ] stepped off the
train and grasped Brother Libby s
hand al the manner in which all seem
to welcome us. All the people of New
port seem to want to make this a sue
cess. and we cannot help being CRATE,
full. Every tiller of the soil needs en-
enlargement and inspiration. We hope
TO help to enlarge the profits of the
farm in this favored section of the
State by giving you genealogical
science.
In the great depression, none suf-
fered less than Maine; none have more
courage to take hold anew. The law of
compensation is true. We have gained
much in the depression. The old
methods of farming have passed away.
We must use intelligent thought and
investigation all the time. We hope by
this meeting to increase the pomologi-
cal interests If we make part of you
raise two trees where you now have
one. we shall feel that we have accom-
plished much