Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-03-23

Otner lnouetr1oD combined.
The national census Of 1900 shows that
much smaller percentage Of our total
population was engaged in farming than
In 1880. In fact, this percentage has been
gradually decreasing since 1850, taking
the United States a. whole, while it Is q
weil-known fact that multitudes Of rural
dwellers have heard the .'call Of the cities''
and found homes within their gates.
The result OF this great trend from
country to city on farm values il shown.
when We learn that from 1880 to 1900 the
farms Of Rhode Island shrank in value
5000, 900; of Connecticut, $4,000, 900; Of
Maine (let Us be grateful it was NO
worse), 100000, while the Empire state
capped the climax Of farm loss by
shrinkags Of e16s, 5000 And while this
great shrinkage Of farm values was taking
place, the cities in these and other states
increased greatly in population, and the
property in them increased often many
fold in value during these two decades.
II this state Of affairs continues, there
can be but one result deserted farms and
uncultivated lands on the one side and
still greater congestion at our already over
crowded commercial centres on the other
side. This condition has already been
reached in Great Britain, the country
which for many years held the proud
position Of being the greatest manufacture
ing centre in the world. But thousands
upon Thousands Of its rural population
left the farms for city life, whore now
multitudes, whose ancestors made more
than comfortable living filling the soil,
are calling on charity for their daily bread
and because unable to obtain it, many
have become criminals. It is claimed that
the percentage Of paupers in Great Britain
Is now larger than that Of almost any
other European country, and so serious
are the conditions to-day that they are
receiving the most careful consideration
of her wisest statesmen.
Little Denmark presents most striking
illustration OF what the intelligent Guilt
walton Of the soil will do for country. A
generation ago, Denmark, located as it is
far north between two cold seas, possessing
an inhospitable climate with an unfruit-
full, sandy soil, on an area about half the
size OF Maine, was one Of the poorest coun-
tries (per capital Of Europe. To-day she
is one OF the richest. This great change
has been brought about by a most careful
cultivation Of the soil by linked" farming
which admits of the successful operation
OF some / 800 cresmeries, from which mil
lions Of pounds Of the worlds best butter
are annually exported, and to which may
be added immense amounts Of live stock,
eggs, poultry, hogs and other farm prod
nets.
Minnesota used to receive some OF her
most desirable emigrsnts from Dem
mark, but Of late years very few have left
their native shores, being well content to
remain at home and partake of the pros
perity their county now enjoys on ac-
count OF intelligent and scientific agricul-
ture.
Are there not hundreds Of farms in
Hancock county, once productive, now
yielding only few tons OF hay, which are
only waiting the hand OF the skillful
farmer to produce bounteous crops?
1t was my pleasure few months ago to
be delegate to the National Farm Lands
Congress which met in Chicago. The real
object in calling this great convention OF
more than 1,50O men, representing twenty
states, was to devise means for peopling
the unpeopled land and repeopling the
abandoned farms. The watchword OF this
congress was: "Land for the people and
people for the land"
How can the farmers son be induced to
remain on the farm? And how induce
the city dweller to cultivate the soil?
More than at any other time in the his
tory OF our country are these vital ques-
tions engaging the attention of our most
prominent and able citizens. Would not
q discussion OF this subject be OF interest
to the readers OF THE AMERICAN? Who
will be the first to open such discussion?
CHAs. P. DELAITTRE.
THE AMERICAN cordially invites the
discussion suggested in the last sentences
of this excellent letter.-ED.