Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-01-15
NAMES GREAT CREATIVE
INDUSTRY.

qeet rendered Governor POwers.)
1t Is fitting on an occasion like this
when we are gathered to do honor c,
our retiring chief magistrate, one who
coming from the people, has given the
state a grand administration, one whit
has seen his times filled with more tina
counts for progress along all industris
lines, and more of that true moral ad
vancement as well, than often comes
into the administrative life Of any man
that something should be said of Maine'
great creative industry.
As we travel over the state we fine
everywhere, in every township, upor
every hillside, in every valley, evidences
of the thrift, the sturdy industry, tht
unselfish perseverance Of the farmers o1
Maine. These evidences are shown ir
well-kept fielGs, valuable flocks and
herds, comfortable, pleasant homes, and
last, but not least, in the earnest. sincere
faces of the people, and In the young
men and women who are being educated
and fitted in these homes for broader
life there, or for positions of usefulness
and honor elsewhere.
There are $1,000 farms in Maine. On
these farms nearly one-half Of the people
of the state find their occupation and
their homes. The farm and the home
are inseparable. The more the one Is
developed the more the other Is strength
ened. The more the one is appreciated
and honored, the more the other Is ex-
tended. As townships are opened for
settlement, as young men become more
interested in farming, as the business
becomes better appreciated, we shall
find our strength increasing and our
state advancing in intelligence and In
true prosperity.
We produce, annually, one and one
half million tons of hay, which, sold at
present prices, would be worth to the
state not far from S27, 100000. The ost
crop Of the state is worth $1,000, 900.
The wheat crop $S00,0O0. Aroostook
County ground more than 10000 barrels
Of flour from wheat of her own raising
in 1900. Our crop of Indian corn was
worth in 1890 SS,5Sl, ,730. We grew in
1900, II 900 acres Of sweet corn repre-
senting gross value Of 100000. Our
orchard products are worth S7,204, ,lS4.
Our potatoes S4,S33,076. Our dairy
products 81 100000. Making a grand
total of S50,6lS,260 produced from our
Maine farms, annually.
The agriculture of Maine Is not Of the
past but Of the present. lt Is alive; 1t is
active. IL summons to It's aid the in
ventive genius of our times, the greatest
thoughts of our scholars, the most pro-
found researches Of our experimenters
and Investigators.
Emancipated from the manual toll of
the past, IL comes to the front with
the more powerful weapon of thought.
Ii is studying, not alone from natures
open book, but from her hidden pages
as well. In no fields of research are
there greater scholars or more self-sac-
rificing. An Experiment Station work.
er, after years of laborious toll, perfects
a machine for measuring the butter value
of milk, then refuses a patent and royal
ties, which would have made him the
possessor of great wealth. Another
spends months of incessant labor watch
ing new insect pest to learn its life
history, and the point at which 1t can be
best combatted, and brings to light the
true life of the Trypeta Pomonells. One
weighs and measures and analyses, and
figures over and over and over, knowing
that it means something to prove q
thing, and gives to the stockmen of the
world the digestion coefficient and the
nutritive ratio of cattle foods. Another
studies and delves and digs, experiment.
ing on himself, and places before the
people the best and cheapest foods in the
dietary of man.
The farmer, whether in field, orchard,
stable or home, is always a student. The
triumph Of mind over matter is CON-
plete. This is truly history making
epoch, and as the scroll Of time unrolls.
and the pages of history are written, l
believe agricultural progress will I'LL
its full share. The tide OF western
emigration has ceased. 1t is the
precious stones near by that demand at
tention now. The faces OF our young
people are rather set toward the rising
than the setting sun. More fields
are to be made productive, more food
for the world is TO be produced, more
homes are to be created, and, as our
forests, mines and quarries yield their
increase, as our spindles hum and our
anvils ring, as our Maine built ships
carry the starry flag across the stormy
seas and into every port, as our magnifl-
cent scenery, pure air and sporting
attractions bring wealth to our people
and fame to our state, so shall our agri-
culture. shaking off the fetters which
have bound her in the past, rise tri-
umphant, outrivslling the agriculture OF
the west, and from the fertile fields OF far
Aroostook to the ses-girt shores OF old
York, there shall arise an industry OF
renown and people Of honor, wealth
and usefulness.