Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-10-03
Aroostook Never More
Prosperous Than Now.
Record Yield Of Potatoes Raised
This Year In That County.
The Whole County Is Booming As
Never Before Known.


county has entered upon and stands
face to face with the most rosy outlook
in it's history Never was the prospect
spread before it more alluring At least
s10,OOO,000 in cold cash is already be-
ginning to sift it's way into that
garden spot of Maine--into the hands
of the farmers, alone-to say nothing
of the added millions that will be re-
tained by the railroads and the shiI.
pers and buyers. A big hay crop har
vested in remarkably quick time and
in perfect condition. an abundant crop
of oats and above all and before all, a
bumper yield of potatoes, that will ag-
gregate in volume the record crop of
1906 and so way beyond it in quality
and market value. are what ArOostook
people have occasion to thank nature
and science for in this year of grace.
1908
And to say that these people are
happy doesn't half express it; the most
of them are plumb abstracted and daz-
Zled by the immensely of the outlook
If one but cares for the study of op-
timism let him go into one or all OF
the big towns of the county and there
find it being dealt out in rich volumes
bound in vellum with gilt tops and un-
cut edges and completely illustrated by
natures most competent designer and
engraver.
IN my 30 years experience" said F.
j. Cleveland, head of the great see"
potato house. II have never seen such
rosy outlook for AroostOok" This
he said as an Introductory remark in
a courteously granted interview, to
Commercial representative this week
And what Mr. Cleveland so modestly
sets forth as the condition of things
there hundreds and thousands of
others are replying in like to the ques-
ton: How fares AroostOok thi~
year,"
It may not be generally known but it
needs be said in the beginning that
through all the season Aroostook has
been favored above all other sections
of the country in it's climatic condi-
tions While the coast and midland
counties of the state were scorched
and blistered by hot sun and scant
rainfall, Names northernmost county
was-gaining in verdancy and develop
ment because of frequent showers and
Ideal conditions prevailed throughout
the entire season, from the time the
ground was made ready to receive the
seed until the present time. when pro-
bably over half the potato crop has
been harvested and such a crop as was
never heard OF in the history of the
now wonderful industry.
But to continue in Mr.. Cleveland's
words: while ideal conditions have
prevailed for the growth and develop
ment of the crop. in addition to the
enormous yield. the table quality of
the stock is such that it will make
everyone smile. when he comes to peel
an Aroostook potato at his dinner
table this fall and winter"
Then Mr. Cleveland made his re-
mark quoted above about this being
the best year he had ever seen in his
30 years experience. And he re-
viewed the conditions leading up to
this grand result.
There was an abundant hay crop.
he said. "and ideal conditions prevailed
for harvesting it. The hay, in fact.
was never put into the barns in better
shape than this year. The oat crop
also was a large one and again ideal
conditions prevailed for it's harvest.
the threshing machines being able to
work in the field after the grain had
been cut
"All these crops are big in the ag-
gregate ana secured in best possible
condition So far as the potato out
look is concerned the condition TINS
year is out of the usual. There was a
severe drought in the western states
and we are already shipping stock for
table use to New York, New Jersey
and New England points as well.
Carload after carload has already
gone out to Louisville. KY. Indiana
polls. st. Louis, Buffalo and only today
have I had occasion to look up little
town in Vermont where a carload has
been ordered
Several carloads have also been
shipped to Burlington. condition
most unusual. for Vermont can most
always be depended upon to grow
enough potatoes for it's own consump-
ton
"On account of this shortage in
other parts of the country. many
buyers from these various sections
have come into the county and forced
prices up to an unhealthy condition
At just about this point. Mr. Cleav-
land was interrupted by an associate,
who came into the private office to see
if his chief would authorize the pur-
chase of fine lot of tubers at some
up-country station at s1.40 per barrel.
1T is hard to determine at just what
value the product will rum he said, IN
continuing but it is certain that 1t
will be at a comparatively high lever
on account of the shortage in other
places"
Continued on Page Twelve)
CAlllS AND RONE.ACHES