Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-01-09
Great Prosperity Of Its
Rural Sections.
"A Talk With One Who Knows
Its Farms and Farmers.
Western Men Coming Here TO Get
Rich by Farming.

The State of Maine is being flooded
this winter with highly decorative lit
erature, by which means the Western
ana thinly populated states are set
ting forth in suspiciously attractive
form, the advantages of their farm
lands, and their agricultural possibili-
ties. 1t seems rather futile for states
like Iowa, Nebraska, the DakOtas. and
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, to at
tempt to gain converts to this new
land from within the borders of Maine.
or even New England. TO determine
the actual advance of agricultural pur-
suit in Maine. Il Journal man enjoyed
q long interview with w. d. Hutchins.
the district manager of the f. y.
StrOut Farm Agency. yesterday, and
when the reporter got through with
Mr.. Hutchins. or rather, when Mir.
Hu:chins got through with the report
er, the latter's head buzZed OF potatoes
in millions, of corn in billions, and of
money in all kinds of figures and
mighty denominations.
.''The State of Maine stands without
n peer today" said Mr. Hutchins. land
it is certain that with its wealth of
natura! advantages, together with the
giant strides that it has made within
the past five years, it will not be many
years before farms will not be for sale,
save on rare occasions, in our State.
am an enthusiast on the subject of
Maine farms, and I'll tell you in as few
words as possible. just why my enthu-
siamSm is justified, and of the lasting
quality"
II,,f foI, ,inc f,,r nor
the Journal man with figures of the
crops of our Maine farms, and these
statistics furnished from sources whose
authenticity is above question, proves
cCnclusively, as Mr.. Hutchins stated.
that Maine is right at the top of the
list of comers-or to be more fair to
the State, she has already arrived.
There are several cardinal princi-
pies in the claims of Maine, that COM
pletely eclipse the claims forwarded
by our Western sister states. For con-
venience of locality. climate, rich soil,
and modern convenienceS. no state can
hold a proverbial candle to the Pine
Tree State. 1t is only in the most re-
mote sections. far into the heart of the
woodlands. that Il rural free delivery
pOstOtfice carrier does not make his
rounds, daily, and as faithfully as the
sun itself. 1t is in little less remote re-
gions that the farmer is not connect
ed with his neighborS and the sur
rounding cities and town by Il rural
telephone line. for the farmers lines
are now nearly as frequent as the ru-
raj free delivery routes. There is not
a farmhouse in ten that does not sport
in ...ittinD-ronn1 fine
piano. or at least costly organ. and
il is indeed rare instance that Il
Maine farmer cannot ride to church.
or to the county seat in his fine bike"
buggy, with his sleek fat horses. So
much for the existing prosperity in
Maine, and in the farming districts.
''Are the farmers in this section of
the State generally prosperous at
present." asked the Journal man.
Are they prosperous" repeated Mr..
Hutchins. well let me tell you of ole
or two of my friends that are in my
mind at this moment. | know Il man
down in Cumberland county who in
the year of 1903 cleared in actual profit
$2100 from an eight-acre lot of pOta-
toes. You know that these Western
states claim that il is possible to clear
$3.50 on an acre in this country. under
the most favorable circumstances. |
know another man over in SagadahOc
county who cleared $50 an acre on Il
50-acre patch of potatoes last year"
How about hay?' quired the Jour
nal man.
Hay" CALCULATED Mr.. Hutchins.
Here's a pretty fair example of the
Ihav raising business in kennebec
county. Two years ago an acquaint-
ance Of mine paid ten dollars for some
grass tanding on farm property.
Later he bought up the farm, and last
year plowed and fertiiZed il. He cut
20 tons of hay on that little place of
not over 81 acres. and cleared $500
Let me tell you. young man, that there
are men right here in this county who