Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-25
Where Maine Comes In.


The Boston Chamber of Commerce
has opened a campaign calculated t.
bring a larger measure of prosperity to
the city it represents. This end cannot
be accomplished without bringing a
larger measure Of prosperity to the
rest of New England. On this account
the report of the Committee on Agri-
culture of the Boston Chamber of Com
merce, Submitted to the parent body
last Friday evening, is of unusual in
terest to the people of this State. In
answer to a question, Can New Eng
land compete successfully with the
West in agriculture?" the report says
that an investigation of the situation
shows that new opportunity had been
| opening before the farms of the East;
to shift in land values and to an ex-
pansion of New England markets; that
| a man can purchase good farm land in
New England for SIS per acre which
| cannot be duplicated in the West for
| $50 per acre, and that reasonable
expenditure of energy and intelligent
fertilization will cause the SIS land TO
yield more than that which costs $3.50.
1t is pointed out that within 800 miles
there are 2%ooo,0OO of people. The
greater part of Maine farm lands come
within that radius and in that portion
of Maine which comes within the radius
are the best farms in the country. No
one of the Maine farms is 600 miles
from the consumer. Compare that with
the fact that we are consuming Oregon
and California fruits which are trans
ported across the country and must be
picked before they are ripe, while the
Maine farmer can produce fruit, permit
it to ripen upon the trees and yet sell it
cheaper because he can raise it cheaper
and can ship it cheaper giving the
consumer better product at less COST,
The Committee calls attention to the
price of land in the following para
graph.
How about the price? When the
best and most favorably situated
land in the West was to be had for
the asking, it was not to be Won
dered at that many of New Eng
lands keenest boys followed the
advice of Horace Greeley-all very
well for it's time and generations
and went West
But times have changed. Fertile
land in the West, adjacent TO the
railroads, may no longer be had for
the asking. The Secretary of the
Massachusetts State Board Of Agri-
culture reports, as the result of a
recent visit to western states, that
land in Oregon or Washington, rea.
dy to set to orchard, costs from 5000
to $1,000 per acre. New England
land for the same purpose can be
bought at prices varying from S. to
$50 per acre. And no country in the
world is so gifted with ideal Or
chard sites as this same New Eng.
land.'
The Maine farmer cannot enjoy these
eN " lilC Iull value uHlCSS h.
combines hard work with an intelligent
use of his land. He must supplement
them by the latest methods and must
not lose, in marketing, the ADVANTAGE
he has gained through cheaper land
and better land and better transporta-
ton facilities.
Ifere are many who contend that
the soil of New England is run out"
says the report, This is refuted by
report Just issued by the Bureau of
Soils by the Department of Agriculture
which shows that Vermont as an ex-
ample has produced during the past 40
years an average of 50 bushels of corn
per acre under cultivation, whereas In
Illinois, which as every school how
knows stands high on the list of farm.
ing states, they yield per acre durine
the same period only 80 bushels "
Maine is not far behind, if indeed she
does not lead. 1t is true that Maine
land requires constant fertilization, br,
IN Maine the problem of proper fertil,
eaton is rot an acute one. Indeed
Maine is the best situated of anv state
in this union to furnish twenty per
cont. of the entire population of this
country with farm products
The white plague is no more serious
q menace to our future welfare than