The Republican journal., 1910-03-10
Maine Farm Values.
Reported to be Increasing in Many Parts
of State Fewer Abandoned Farms.


For 30 years previous to 1890, although
one-third of it's total population was en-
gagged in farming, and one-sixth of its
area was occupied by farms, Maine had
been steadily decreasing in agricultural
Importance.
In 1890 there were 230 abandoned
farms, aggregating Al, 420 acres, in Ok
ford county alone. Somerset county had
1873 such farms, with 81, 349 acres; in
Franklin county there were 1856 abandon
ed farms, representing q, 497 acres; Pen
obscot and Piscataquis counties came
next in order, each with more than 20, 900
acres of waste fields which had once
been farms. Upland towns like Temple,
Denmark, Greenwood, Hebron, Lining
ton, Lyman and Parsonsfelds each had
more than 20 farms which had been aban-
doned. The Kennebec valley towns of
Bowdoinham, Richmond and Bowdoin
each had more than Is such farms, left
by their owners who had sought more
remunerative occupations.
From all parts Of the State came the
report that the selling value Of farms
was lower than ever before. Farms were
offered for sale at less than the cost of
the buildings, and there were no pur-
chasers. In some school districts the
population had decreased so that there
were not pupils enough to support a
school. The outlook for farming was
deplorable. Farms which 20 years pre-
vious had sold for $4,000 or SO, 900 had no
purchasers at $4,000. Complaint was
made that in the northern part of the
State the lumber regions were so near
that wages in that work were high draw
ing workers from the farms. A total of
1894 abandoned farms in the State, repre-
senting Ia, 1856 acres, was demonstra-
ton that Maine was not progressing ag-
riculturally.
From 1890 to 1900 progress marked
time on the Maine farms. If there was
slight gain in some towns it was offset
by losses in others. In 1902 the situation
began to improve. About that time there
over the country. Maine farm lands be-
but perceptible. People, however, did
not believe the Improvement would last.
In 1906 even the most conservative be-
gan to realize that farm lands were con-
stantly increasing in value. Real estate
men made money selling Maine farms; in
1907 the prices of nearly all kinds of farm
produce began to go Up by leaps and
bounds and this fact increased and is now
increasing the value of farm lands.
The latest data in connection with the
rural communities of Maine is interest
ing. The figures for 1909 are Just at
hand, and they show that the farms of
Maine are again coming to their own.
Aroostook county has made the greatest
gain; this empire county has grown from
60, 900 in 1900 to 1900 in 1910, and the
valuation has increased from $18, 600, 600
to nearly $2l, 100000. Every town in
the county except seven of its 43 has
gained in population during that decade,
and all except five have gained in valua-
ton, many having doubled and trebled
in the ten years.
The indications are that the coming
census will show that Piscataquis coun-
ty, next to Aroostook, has made the
greatest relative gain in population and
wealth, in its farming towns. Every
farming town in the county but five has
increased both in population and in
wealth. The great increase in the num-
Der of farms and the prosperity of the
farmers in Aroostook and Piscataquis is
significant. These two counties contain
the greatest area of wild or unincorpor-
ated lands of any counties in the State.
1t is therefore apparent that the wild
lands are steadily, if slowly, being opened
up to farms, one new town. Westfeld.
having been organized in Aroostook
county since 1900, and Bowerbank, which
has ceased to exist, having been revived
in Piscataquis county.
Of the 400 farming towns in Maine 125
have gained in population during the past
ten years. The remainder have prob
ably averaged nearly to hold their own.
In Knox and Hancock counties the farm
ing towns have not as yet felt the inn
petus, which has been given to agricul-
ture, while in Lincoln and Sagadahoc and
Washington the towns are just beginning
to feel the changed conditions brought
about by the increased values of farm
lands. The situation is forecasted as ex-
ceptionally encouraging to Maine farm
ers and when the census enumerators
shall have made their report and the ag-
ricultural experts shall have digested the
returns it will be shown that Maine has
made good gain. Maine has soil that
grows in fertility with intelligent cult
walton and has the advantage of low raj
and water rates to the great cities of the
south, so the State seems destined to be-
come leader among the farming State.
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