St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-07-26
A Railroad Suggestion.


developing the agricultural inter
ests along their lines and max
ing their profit on the in
creased freight traffic which fol-
lows. Reports made to the govern
ment in response to requests for the
cost and results show this practice
to have generally been profitable to
both the road and the farmers. This
form of work has taken several
forms, In some cases demonstration
trains are operated, lecturers are fur
nished, demonstration farms are
aided in getting the farmers prod
ucts to the most profitable markets.
No such work has been undertaken
in this section, but there are some
suggestions on the subject that seem
timely. The upper Connecticut val
ley should produce all the potatoes
that are consumed in the great man
ufacturing cities in the lower Con-
necticut valley. 1t should prove the
most profitable route for the railroad
it would be down stream all the way.
The first step in the increased pro-
duction of potatoes should be a fer
tilizer especially for that purpose. We
have them already that are marked
especially for potato culture, but the
farmer buying in the market is not
sure he is getting what he is paying
for. The railroad might be of great
assistance to the farmer by having
agricultural experts prepare large
quantity of fertilizer the best adapt
ed to the growth of potatoes and so
assure the farmer he is getting the
right quality of goods at the begin
ming of the experiment. The distri-
button of this fertilizer would bring
the road some traffic.
A pamphlet of instruction in the
proper cultivation of the potato
would make the farmers efforts more
sure.
Then an agent to place the pota-
toes in the most profitable market in
quantities that would be convenient
and profitable for the railroad would
ensure the farmer of compensation
for his efforts. The agent should be
employed and his salary and expen-
ses only deducted from the market
price of potatoes. This would be Co
operation that would be as beneficial
as cooperative efforts among the
farmers themselves would be.
Another suggestion is the prepara-
ton of fertilizer that will increase
the production of clovers. Much Of
the soil in this section is in such a
condition that clover will not grow.
Consequently a very valuable feed for
dairymen is not produced nearly as
much as it should be. If the pro-
duction of clover could be increased
the dairy products would be increased
and the railroad profit again.
The last suggestion is the estab-
hshment of farm laborers' bureau
in Boston and perhaps some other
large cities. Once a week during the
spring put a special car on a train
and transport the laborers into the
farming sections at a special rate.
Have such thing advertised among
the farmers and ask them to send APP
plications for help to this bureau so
the railroad could deliver the men
where they are wanted and they
could be assured of employment on
arrival. Where necessary the farmer
could compensate the railroad for the
transportation of the laborer and de-
duct it fom the mans wages.
To put these suggestions into prac-
tice would require much study and
hard work The results might not
prove profitable at first, but we be-
lieve tnat if persistently followed
there would be great development
of agricultural and railroad interests
in the Connecticut valley.