The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-07-20

the exception being the valley of the
Aroostook river, In the north central
part of Aroostook county, and to
some extent In the Meduxnekeag val
ley, 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 po-
tsto crop. Fifty years ago this val
ley was mostly covered with original
forest growth. The advent OF the
railroad has revolutionized farming
methods. Where formerly the sur
plus sent out of the county from the
| farms consisted of cattle, clover seed
and herds grass, now every farmer
raises potatoes, everything else done
on the farm or any crop raised in
rots ton being incidental to the one
great cash crop, potatoes.
While Aroostook county is admit
tedly the banner potato county,
! Aroostook has no monopoly of the
good things. Somerset county is full
ly as attractive to the man who wants
to raise potatoes for a money crop
and yet devote himself principally to
general farming Many Aroostook
farmers have sold their potato farms
end moved over into Somerset coun-
~, where, they say, they find just as
good potato land at lower prices, be-
sides being slightly nearer the mar
ket Central Maine" potatoes al
/ ready have an enviable reputation in
the large markets, largely because of
the Introduction of Aroostook meth
DDS in Somerset and Kennebec coun-
ties. 1t is freely predicted that the
same methods will prosper equally
well in every county in the State
Somerset county has long been a
splendid farming district, but it is
only within comparatively few
years that adequate transportation
facilities have been available. Dur
ing the last five years 200 farms in
this county have been sold to persons
from other states who have searched
out the land and found it good.
Sheep. dairy cattle, sweet com, vel
low corn potatoes and apples are the
principal farm crops, while the forests
yield hard and soft woods. The
northern part of the country is in the
great hunting country, and hot a little
of the revenue of many progressive
farmers is derived from the entertain
ment of city dwellers in search OF
recreation in the fall Somerset
county is also dotted with manufac-
turing plants situated on the water
powers, which are only partially de-
veloped There are ten weekly pa
pers in the county and one monthly
publication, ten banking institutions
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
cropping, lost much of its productive
ness. 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 a typical case A "ruh-out'
place was purchased recently Ey a
man running a small dairy farm. The
place had been cropped for hay until
nothing but weeds and brambles grew
on it, The new owner plowed a por-
ton of it one year and harvested l7j
bushels of potatoes from each of the
eight acres planted. That is some
NuttN lNco tllhI .hdillC > NOhoSiit III a.
erage, but nearly seventy bushels
more than is raised on the average
farm of the United States. This dem
onstrGtes that the land will come
back with the expenditure of very
little effort.
IMMIGRATION IMPORTANT.
immigration is an important feat
ure 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 to-
ward Scandnavians, due, no doubt, to
the wonderful development of New
Sweden, Stockholm and Westmanland
by Swedish immigrants. The original
settlement was made by party of
fifty-one in 1870, under the leadership
Of Hon. William W Thomas, of Port
land formerly minister to Sweden.
The States expenditure amounted to
about $500; the land, which WAS con-
sidered to be worth very little, was
exempted from taxation for ten years.
The whole section is now a veritable
garden, one of the most prosperous
settlements in this State.
Al West Paris, in Oxford county,
there is colony of Firms, who set
tied there largely through the instru
mentality Of Jacob McKeen, who took
up an unoccupied farm about ten
years ago. He soon brought the
farm up to paying basis and,
through his glowing accounts to fell
low countrymen, induced others to
share his good fortune. Now the
Firms own twenty or more farms in
Paris and several in Woodstock and
Greenwood and are buying all the
time. John Hall and another Finn,
bought a good farm in South Thorn
aston about 4 dozen years ago and in
creased its productivity. He, too,
called his countrymen, and they pur-
chased some of the best farms in the
district, until now large number Of
places are in their hands. Quite re-
Gently Firms began to purchase farms
in South Waldoboro and Friendship.
At present they have large holdings
in two towns and in the adjoining
town of Warren, The Firms make
excellent farmers and good neighbors,
while their children, through the
agency of the public school, readily
accept American ways and standards.
While it is true that the State of
Maine is no longer in a position to
give land to settlers, there is hardly
a district in the State where several
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