Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
A HOPEFUL FUTURs FOR NEW
ENGl AND FARMING.

prehend present conditions and future
prospects at home and abroad, have
greater faith in New England's prosper
ity than ever before. The reason is not
far to see. There is no more western
country to offer free farms, the compe-
tition of which operated to seriously re-
duce farm values and profits in New
England from 1870 to 1890. There has
been slow but distinct turn agricult-
urally in New England during the past
five years, and this is evidently to con-
tinue. Our manufacturing industries
have also adapted themselves to the
changed conditions. While much of
the heavy manufacturing of iron and
steel has left New England to get nearer
the base of supplies, there is general
diversiticatiOn of manufactures in New
England, and an increasing tendency
toward the finer and finer products. In
other words, New England manufactures
are being devoted more and more to the
production of fine goods requiring the
peculiar skill that comes from an appre-
citation of economics bred in and in more
than 200 years, and that also requires
the technical knowledge that is becom-
lllS 81 llipol tttul a. puaoS Va ouuSeeAOh"'
work in New England.
With the rapid increase in this coun-
try's population, and the growing
foreign demand for all its manufactures,
it is easy to see that the future of New
England is bright with promise. The
many influences that are at work to pro-
mote the welfare of our rural cOmmun-
tiles have frequently been touched upon
in these columns. 1t is true that in
many respects country life is not all it
should be, but along sociological lines
the improvement is as apparent as 1t is
in agriculture and other industries.
TO our minds the most serious tend
ency in New England is the as yet un-
checked flow of the best blood from our
farms to the cities. This thing has been
going on for years, and the results are
becoming more and more apparent by
the increasing number of foreigners who
are acquiring the New England farms.
In some sections this has gone on to an
alarming extent. OF course many of
this foreign element are admirable peo-
pie, and if they gradually intermingle
with the native stock, the tendency will
be to perpetuate American blood and
New England principles. Some of the
best farmers and most respected citizens
in New England to-day are of foreign
birth or extraction, notably Irish and
Swedes. Such families are estimable in
overy way, but it is the class so numer-
Gus as to be clannish to which we now
refer.
The farmer who sells his place and
removes to town after years of activity
on the farm, is too often like fish out
of water. In several instances we have
noticed that he does not seem happy
under the change, and seldom lives long
afterward. 1t is comparatively rare also
that farmer benefits his condition
financially by moving from country to
town. These bright-witted people who
are pushing from the cities on to the
outlying farms reached by the trolley, or
who are going still further back into the
country. realize the advantages of coun-
try life. They also have justitiable faith
that both real estate values and social
conditions in our New England districts
are bound to further improve.
Altogether, therefore, we feel that in
many cases our New England farmers
are nJklUS lnlStdhc SOCldiiy anu
financially in selling their farms. Rock
bottom on values was reached some time
since. Many instances of this can be
cited all over New England. In some
sections, notably in the Connecticut and
Housatonic valleys, strictly up-to-date
farms with all modern improvements are
worth more money to-day than ever be-
fore, except possibly during the war
boom of the COS. The situation is dis
tinctly encouraging, therefore, and those
of our New England farmers who are
disposed to take a respondent view of
affairs should realize the situation as
perfectly as do the city folks who have
been SO eagerly buying up farms at low
prices.
Prudent and Industrious New England
farmers are generally better satisfied to-
day than at any time during the past
twenty years, during which we have
been so intimately and widely acquaint-
ed with them. Very largely out of debt,
their places are in fine condition. and
while some have lost all hard-earned
surplus in unfortunate investments,
others are laying up a little money safe
ly each year, besides enjoying the good
things of life rs they go along.-New
England Homestead.