The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-03-28
A Vital Problem.

About fifty Mayors OF New England
cities were asked to tell the Worcester,
/ Mass, Magazine what they consider
the most vital problems confronting
New England cities at the present time
The replies were published in the Feb
! ruary number, and in a predatory note
the editor says: 1--WE elsewhere allude
to these letters. that from the Mayor
of Belfast in particular" Mayor Poor's
letter was as follows:
| consider all minor questions absorb
ed in the greater one of how to make
cuniarly, and otherwise, that the young
CT generation of farmers will wish to
remain and cultivate them, instead of
! drifting to larger centers. Our coast
cities are largely dependent for bust
ness upon inland towns, and it is an
alarming state of things, as one drives
through the country, to notice the num-
Der of abandoned farms. Our great
need is to increase this producing power
and keep the young men at home.
This letter and the letter from Mayor
Hart of Boston were selected from all
the others for editorial comment. Mayor
Hart said: ''The vital problem facing
New England cities is the restoration
of home rule" The editor warmly
commends the letter, of which we have
quoted the opening sentence, and then
says:
In quite different vein is the letter
from another mayor, which should at
tract serious attention. The mayor of
Belfast. Maine, opens a pregnant field
for consideration when he suggests that
cities endeavor to make life on the
farms more tolerable, in order to induce
young men to remain on them. Here,
indeed, is very great opportunity for
useful enlightenment, which this maya
zine hopes to carefully consider in an
early issue. 1t is almost an axiom that
farmers are not aware of the wealth
that awaits them in their land. But
conditions of life on farms are likely
to be revOlutioniZed during the first de-
cade OF the twentieth century, to the
end that the farmer will be transform
ed INTO a business man, much of the
| drudgery of his life removed or mitigat-
ed, and a future opened to him such as
he could not have even dreamed of I'M
til few years Slnce-almOSt, we might
say. few months since When New
England enterprise resolutely turns to
the land as a source of wealth, to farm
| ing as a business, rather than for mere
| livelihood, then there will be hope for
! the young men without sending them to
the cities. There is great lesson to
| be learned in this direction, and it is,
q q IF
that is important to cities in a special
sense.
Mayor PoOr's letter is certainly sug-
gestive; but how are the farms to be
made attractive, pecuniarily and other
Wise?" We fail to see how this can be
done unless by the cities furnishing
better markets in which to buy and
sell, better facilities for communica-
ton, for education, and for rational
enjoyment. Good roads, good schools,
libraries, rural free delivery and trolley
lines are among the essentials to make
the farms attractive and profitable, and
the cities must supply these to a great
extent. So far as our own city is con-
cerred we have some of these things,
and the establishment of a creamery
here is already showing good results.
The greatest need now is for hotel
that will attract summer visitors, and
make known the natural advantages
and attractions of Belfast and its sur
roundings.