The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-19
DIR. SMITH ON S0MERSRTS
RESOURCES.
(Continuer from first page.)


one billion four hundred million dol
lars. For the most rart, these prod
ucts must be transported thousands
of miles before they reach the ulti-
mate consumer. Here, then, is the
great economic Interchangeable
expensive transportation with which
| the West, the land of magnificent
distances, has to contend against
this. however, is the affecting adyan-
tage of a virgin soil, from which
! heavy tribute can be collected at
minimum expense, yet in few locali-
! ties can opportunity be made symon-
nous with success, except by real
effort, enterprise and skill on the
part of the land-worker. 1t is be-
cause | appreciate this as true in
| the West, that l am led to suggest
| how i'll my view of the East, of
Maine, of the Upper Kennebec Val
ley the advantages d disadyan-
tages weigh up against one another
The reader of the Independent-Re-
! porter may remember that few
weeks ago | expressed my opinion
of the advantage Somerset orchard
| lists possess over the Western ran
cher by reason of the formers near
ness to market. This is In part off
set by the partially worn out
condition of much of the Maine soil
and after seeing the apple exhibit
at the Somerset Central Fair, | am
inclined to believe that skillful Gull
tivation in picking and packing can
give Somerset-groWn apples place
- fhN in 10
market. In that connection, let me
suggest that our apple growers re-
serve that brand Somerset County"
for their select fruit and make the
name mean something.
In the northern part of Somerset
county the agricultural possibilities
are less. Mountains and hills
crowd close upon the Kennebec so
that farming land above Bingham
is confined mostly to the narrow val
leys of river and streams. Early
and late frosts also discourage the
culture of all but hardy crops.
Yet two weeks ago | was pleased
to notice that these northern farms
are far from being of The abandoned
type, and it seems PROBABLE that
they can furnish with profit to any
near home market
When we come to consider manu-
featured products it will be noted
that the principal factors faYoring
success and profit are nearness to
source of raw material, cheap power,
cheap labor, and nearness to mar
ket. Few localities possess all of
these advantages. In many cases,
the raw material is moved nearer
the market, in others point of
manufacture 9 sought that may be
euuidstant from the sources of the
different raw materials used and
also near distributing point for
the product; of the former class
our pulp and paper industry would
be an illustration, while the great
steel works at Gary and the Oil re-
tinery at Whiting, both in the vicin-
ity of Chicago, belong to the
other class. AS rule, it will be
found that the cost of transportation
is the deciding ia tor, and this re-
ducing necessary transportation to a
minimum is true conservation, even
if done by U. S. Steel Corporation or
Standard Oil Co.
Now, apply some of these prin-
ciples to the undeyeloped resources Of
the Upper Kennebec. Our soft woods
find a ready market because the log
driving companies are able to fur
nish cheap transportation for the
raw material. This the hardWoods
lack and recourse must be had to
the more expensive rail transporta-
tion for either the logs or the manu-
Sinpa tho IL
featured product is less bulky, here
is one argument for manufacturing
the hard woods near the forests. An
other element which so often con-
trolls the industrial situation is
cheap power and it happens that I'M
developed water power are to be
found almost everywhere in the Up
per Kennebec Valley. These fall
into two classes the smaller
streams with large head and the
main river with its greater volume,
the lower gradient. Such a stream as
that draining Pleasant Pond is well
adapted for the development of
small powers suitable for local use,
while the larger and more expensive
development necessary for the util-
ization of the main river would lend
itself better to hydroeectric genera
ton and transmission. With these
two possible sources of power it
would seem that nature had done
its part IL making possible a large
wood working industry on the Up
per Kennebec Everyone at all
familiar with this region knows how
abundant is the untitled hard
wood, raw material that would be
valuable in other localities, even in
Maine.
The inquiry becomes pertinent
whether the time isn't at hand for
the timberland owners and all
others interested in the development
of all the resources of Somerset
County to unite with the Maine Cen
trail management in inviting capital
to establish some industries that may
utilize all of these forest resources.
There are tracts of white birch, for
instance, that wnl soon be over
mature, SO that no time is better
than the present to start something
We're there any similar opportunities
out here in what they like to call
the land of opportunity it would
be safe guess that more publicity
would be given to the matter
Throughout the West, excellent
water powers remain undeveloped,
but this is largely because of
lack of present and prospective
market. Hitching I'D the northern