Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-06

found in an area Of similar dimen.
sions west Of the Mississippi river.
Just keep on talking about them and
you viii make people believe in them.
There must be spirit of co.opera-
ton on all sides. There are hundreds .
of industrial and agricultural open
ings here. Thousands of persons are
coming to take advantage Of our soil
and water powers and climate. They
need the advantages and we need the
people. All should work together to
bring about the condition Of develop
ment. Tell the world what you have
got and give the men and women who
come hearty reception.
There is no influence in the world
SO powerful as the local boards Of
trade to hasten the day OF accomplish
ment. You>should cooperate with the
farmers and you should teach the
farmers to cooperate with you. Right
here in Waterville you now have an
opportunity to work with producers
in shaping a condition OF enormous
benefit to this community and the en-
tire State. Central Maine Is growing
every year in importance as potato
StOWllS StCti0As 4HC 4IONCLS HNSC
had bad year in some sections.
have been told. Why? Because the
poor quality of potatoes raised In one
section of the state injured the repu-
tation of those in all other parts and
the innocent ones had to suffer with
the guilty. The men who shipped out
that first poor product did an immense
amount of damage to themselves and
tc the entire State although they
thought their action would be tenn
porarily profitable. 1t may have been,
but they will more than pay for their
advantage in the future. 1t is not
true that too many potatoes were
planted in Maine in 1909 for profitable
marketing. 1t is true that too many
poor ones were sent out early in the
season to enable any one to make sat-
isfactory profits. You should know
the truth and you should tell the
world the truth.
Central Maine was not at fault and
Washington County was not to blame.
The potatoes raised in those sec
tions were up to the mark: they would
have been sold at good profit were
it not for the poor tubers thrown on
the market by short sighted producers
in another section. Too many good
potatoes cannot be raised in Maine.
but few bushels of poor ones are
altogether too many.
Only short time ago I spent a
week investigating the methods of CO.
operative marketing associations In a.
number of the middle states, among
them several potato exchanges. What
/ learned must be told at another
time and I believe it will he of interest.
because I am of the opinion that In
order to make agriculture successful
in any state, up-to-date business
ideas must prevail in the handling OF
the crop and getting it to the dis
trihutors. 1 was told by the manager
of one potato exchange that not one
half the usual amount of Maine seed
lings would be purchased this year,
because Of the damage done by the
first poor potatoes sent out. 1t may
or may not be true. I know that the
situation is one which demands your
earnest attention and 1t should be
considered at this time. t.
Now Central Maine potatoes were
all right In 1903 and you should do
everything in your power to have that
truth known and recognized. You
should go still further. You should
see to 1t that the crop in subsequent
years Is all right. and that tho world
recognizes the fact. Watervillc Is the
natural centre of the central Maine
potato district. You have just be-
vond here the Dover & Foxcroft and
the Belfast Branches, and on those
lines are towns in which the pro-
duction of potatoes is increasing
enormously. There are now potato
houses at Corinna. Burnham and
Thorndike and it is expected that adj
ditional ones will soon be built at
Brooks. Unity and other places. At
Skowhegan two houses, are required
to store the production and Norridse-
wock. also boasts two. with more
farmers growing potatoes on the
Somerset Railway every year. At
Gardiner some of the best seedlings
of the year are to be found and there
are extensive fields at Richmond and
in the great sections on both sides Of
the Kennebec river south Of this city.
Therefore, Waterville Is almost In the
geographical centre of a great pro-
ducing region which will increase in
importance enormously az time goes
on.
Here then, should be established q
potato exchange for that important
section. 1t should be composed Of the
producers and business men. 1t
should have for It's aim the good of
the growers-first, by marketing the
product to the best advantage In the
centres where the highest prices pre-
vail, and, second, by assisting the
farmers to buy certain supplies at the
lowest possible price by purchasing
in large quantities. 1t should also aim
at the production Of the best quality
Of tubers and let the world know that
the hest is raised here. and It should
not be slow in holding the producers
to a high standard. IL can aeconpiish
wonderful amount Of good in every
direction Of affairs relating to the 20
toto industry and pave the way foF the
establishment Of similar societies TOT
other products in Maine. I'LL
propose to go more fully into the
methods OF tco-operatiof IL dpethef
time, because to mention the detaiis
would take a longer period than can
-. s~,ot..7 to the euhfpr,f ON this OC4