Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-11-16
MAINE NEWS IN BRIEF:
ABOUT ABANDONED FARMS.
Scenes OF Desolation Where Once Were Happy
and Prosperous Homes.

The rural deSolatiun of the hilly re-
Elohs OF New England, particularly
Massachusetts. has been subject of
comment for several Years. A finely
Illustrated article in the November
number of Country Life in America
throws some new light on the status
OF these abandoned properties and the
changes which are likely to reclaim
many of them. The economic side of
the question has nothing particularly
disturbing or regrettable about it, as
the energy which once wrought on
these farms has not been lost to the
country; hat a tour in certain regions
Of Massachusetts. for example through
neglected old settlements where some Of
tive best types of New England physical
and mental ViSor We're developed, is
apt to cause melancholy reflections
upon the fact that there should Dc such
decay and solitude i'll districts where
stubborn conflict with nature once
transformed the forests and hillsides
into productive farms.
Such reflections are. Of course, senti-
mental. The sight of deserted home
steads with sagging building suggests
departed happiness. a failing struggle
for comfort and an I'M American con-
fession of defeat.
We are thinking of the human lives
that have been lived in the stark old
houses, where the winds blow through
he creaky roofs and into the openings
that once We're windows and doors. We
are impressed by the ancient orchards.
! With bleaching limbs ana rotting
t.r1S A.rl,
good man and his wife hewed the farm
| from the wilderness, erected the labor
ious buildings and planted the cider
! apple trees between the rocks. a lit
tie brood was reared. one by ona
the children went cut over the hills
and made homes for themselves. but
one of them remained on the old farm.
cherishing the old rocks and living
| ccntcnt under the old roof-tree. The
! clI place became more hallowed with
the years. Even the decay of the old
! house passed unnoticed. What was
neglect and dilapidation to the visitor
from the city was the object Of Ven
Grafton and sweet memories to the
owner But finally no younsster chung
, to the homestead. one went 10 tn
| city store another on the railroad. an
| her took to sea and another went
/ West Age overlook the old folks.
The bushes encroachod on the back
lot. The stone walls went TO ruin.
Tho kitchen roof tilted and fell in.
Tho old folks died. The house was
closed. The STRIPPING forest has now
cver,un the orchard and the garden
Swallows arc resting in the broken
chimneys.
This picture is Il true description Of
the evolution Of New England farm
life up to the opening and settlement
of the rich lands of the West and the
absorption OF the village craftsman by
the factory. Another stage OF evolu-
ton viii apparently repair to CON
siderable. extent the local ravages
which western settlement and the de-
yelopment of manufacturing have
wrought upon New England farms.
To understand how this repair is 70
be accomplished il is only necessary
to recall that New England is mighty
llIy,. cf manufactures, and that the vast
urban population is overlooking into
the country again and occupying many
81 thu, farms that We're abandoned.
Other farms are being utilized for stock
.ais;nr. some are being worked Tor
their timber, and better farming meth
DDS ara making paying properties out
Of LANDS that We're abandoned only be-
.auee unsl<illful tilage did not get good
results from them. BY these varied
deyalopments of the new order the Ga
deserted favmsteads are being grad
iuaIIy but surely apporti0ned between
productive woodlands. arabic lands ana
summer homes. 1t is admitted that
much of the hllly region never Woulu
have been devoted to farming had not
rho original settlement occurred Whe!i
ma West vas unknown and when, even
if known. it could not easily have neeh
reached by the settler.
1t is pointed out that the large ur-
nan nopulation of New England - u
self sufficient to readjust the Whoie
IIitficulty satisfactorily Inc la
i,itfec and innumerable towns ana VI
gos are an ample market Ior an III"
the farmers can supply, anu y -
nay, door market. The lfst luSh -
western settlement has long Pass'o'
,,,opufacturlng conditions are Stapie'
land the New England farmer. isiIoi ~
nc lands which never had tEe p''
nititv of good farming values. HaS 80
20 nay more attention TO the Soo" IA
-o,,oining in order to have reiiluiie'
,.,,nrns II is not claimed yet pS
those epeCially Interested III ''c 20
;ac+ that all the eXpedlen'S haNe o''''
axhausted for utilizing these o'u - ''io,
The process has only fairy oeSuli' ANY,
IN The last 10 or 20 years nav
., steady abandonment OF NeN
Iond land which was once ap"i.'o'
E.v York Commercial AoNer'9'