Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-04-19

ArCOstoOk metnO0e are well e9to Dtfone0,
and Waldo, county in which magnifi-
cent opportunities for development exist
in great measure.
As rule, throughout Maine farms can
b purchased 1t . low price compared
with land values in other states, the ex-
ception being the valley. Of the Aroostook
river, in the north GENITAL part of Afoos-
took county, and to some extent in the
Meduxnekeag valley, in the vicinity Of
Houlton. In this section the people are
waking to the real value of their lands.
There is probably no better potato land Of
equal extent in the country, and land
values are here reckoned on the basis Of
the average net income OF the potato crop.
Fifty years ago this valley was mostly
covered with original forest growth.
The advent of the railroad has revolution
lied farming methods Where formerly
the surplus sent out OF the county from
the farms consisted of cattle, clover seed
and herd'sgrass seed, now every farmer
raises potatoes, everything else done on
the farm or any crop raised in rotation
being incidental to the one great cash
crop, potatoes.
| While Aroostook county is admittedly
the banner potato county, Aroostook has
no monopoly OF the good things. Som
efset county is fully as attractive to the
man who wants to raise potatoes for Q
"money crop" and yet devote himself
principally to general farming. Many
! Aroostook farmers have sold their potato
farms and moved over into Somerset
county, where, they say, they find just
a. good potato land at lower prices, ~
sides being slightly nearer the market.
| Central Maine" potatoes already have
an enviable reputation in the large mar
!. kets, largely because OF the introduction
OF Aroostook methods in Somerset and
Kennebec counties. 1t is freely pre-
dicted that the same methods will prosper
equally well in every county in the State.
Somerset county has long been SPLEEN
did farming district, but it is only within
comparatively few years that adequate
transportation facilities have been avail
able. During the last five years 200 farms
in this county have been sold to persons
from other states who have searched out
1 tuc lhuu hIu IOuuu IL kOOO.
Sheep, dairy cattle, sweet corn, yellow
corn, potatoes and apples are the princi-
pal farm crops, while the forests yield hard
and soft woods. The northern part OF the
country is in the great hunting country,
and not little Of the revenue Of many
progressive farmers is derived from the
entertainment of city jewellers in search
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/ is also dotted with manufacturing plants
situated on the water powers, which are
only partially developed. There are ten
weekly papers in the county and one
monthly publication, ten banking institu-
tions and 200 miles OF railroad.
Waldo county is one OF the counties
which has created one OF the richest
agricultural districts in the world, but
which, through continuous unwise crop
ping, lost much of its productiveness. OF
late years, however, the farmers have
taken up more modern farming methods,
and the result has been successful beyond
their widest dreams.
| Here is q typical case. A "run-out"
place was purchased recently by man
Euuuiuk - Skuai luC plhCc
had been cropped for hay until nothing
but weeds and brambles grew on it. The
new owner plowed q portion Of it one
year and harvested 175 bushels OF potatoes
from each OF the eight acres planted.
| That is somewhat less than Names won
derful average, but nearly seventy bush
els more than is raised on the average
4 o. > ha y-tt
strates that the land will "come back"
with the expenditure OF very little effort.
IMMIGRATION IMPORTANT.
Immigration is an importont feature
OF every states development. Maine
has given it some attention, but for the
most part, whatever has been done is
the result of private initiative. The State
is especially friendly toward Scandina-
VANS, due, no doubt, to the wonderful de-
velopment OF New Sweden, Stockholm
and Westmanland by Swedish immi-
grants. The original settlement was
made by g party OF fiity-one in 1870,
under the leadership Of Hon. William W.
Thomas, OF Portland, formerly minister to
| Sweden. The States expenditure
amounted to abou. a 500; the land which
was considered to be worth very little,
was exempted from taxation for ten years.
| The whole section is now veritable
garden, one OF the most prosperous settle
ments in this State.
At West Paris, in Oxford county, there
10 . colony OF Firms, who settled there
largely through the instrumentality OF
Jacob McKeen, who took up an un-
occupied farm about ten years ago. he
soon brought me farm up to paying
basis and, through his glowing accounts
to fellow countrymen, induced others to
share his good fortune. Now the Firms
own twenty or moro farms in Paris and
several In Woodstock and Greenwood, and
are buying all the time. John Hall and
another Finn, bought good farm in
South Thomasten about douzen years
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