Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-18

ton, is commercial. The COM
merce of the nation begins at
the far and the people. as n whole, not
the farmer alone, are vitality concerned
in transporting the produce from the
farm to the consumer at the least pos
sible cost. The people are also vitality
interested in the secondary problem of
facilitating the transfer of individuals
and the mails necessary to that COM
merce. This is the true basis Of the
peoples road Improvement. study
of conditions and methods must con-
vince any one that our present system
| of maintaining roads is wasteful, un-
| businesslike and a menace TO agricul-
tural development. Fer several years
we have been building Stata roads at
Il cost of from $4,000 to $4,000 per mile
! and only a very few towns have APP
propriated or expended anything in
/ maintaining these roads,-a condition
| that ought not to exist, and never
would exist in any well organized
properly managed business enterprise
| The night theory of road Improvement
! is 10 SO locate improved roads as to
connect the farmer with the
| final markets by the cheapest
and most direct route, and to so
maintain such roads as to give best
/ possible service.
| 1t is evident that no statewide gem
eral system of road Improvement can
| be inaugurated with the amount of
money available at the present time,
| to be used for that purpose. The ar
guments in favor of larger state aid
fer poor towns and also in favor of
Federal appropriation for the improve
ment of roads is so conclusive that it is
not necessary to refer to them in de-
tail. The agricultural transportation
question begins at the farmers front
gate and if there is a valid business
reason Cor granting great appropria-
tons for building railroads to trans
! port farm produce from the railroad
station to the final markets, there GER
tainly is as valid an argument in ia
vor Of federal assistance III furnishing
cheap transportation facilities on the
first stage of this journey.
I If it is necessary for the govern
ment to finance great irrigation
schemes for retaining arid lands
west of the Rocky Mountains. it is
certainly just as necessary in any
scheme for agricultural development
to provide better transportation
/ facilities for this increase in agricul-
tural products. There is no question
which more nearly concerns the
farmer, no reform which will so ma
terially develop our State as will bet
ter roads.
Organize and agitate for better
roads. l would recommend that every
Grange institute a campaign of re-
I search and education to arouse pub
lie sentiment for better road mainte-
nance and every farmers organiza
| ton should identify itself with this
| campaign to secure legislation looking
/ to better conditions. The voters of
one State by very large majority
have decided that it is wise to amend
| the State Constitution authorizing
the issuing of bonds to the amount of
| 100000 for the purpose of building
and maintaining roads.
Protection of Birds.
] We are assembled in this annual
session of the State Grange to try to
devise ways and means to promote
and develop agricultural interests in
Maine. More than thirty millions ut
people are either directly or indirectly
engaged in agricultural pursuits in
the United States. n In Maine we have
approximately sixty thousand farms
and most certainly the best possible
protection and development of our
agriculture is of the utmost impor-
lance to our people.
A movement is on foot looking
toward improved conditions. A bill
has been introduced in Congress by
Mr.. Weeks for the protection of mi
gratory and insectivorous birds. The
Grange, in a marked degree, can
furnish the avenue through which
public sentiment may be aroused
which will ultimately result in the
| enactment of the desired legislation.
| The National Grange.
| The 46th annual sessions of the
National Grange were held in
Spokane, Washington, commencing
Nov. 10, the final session closing the
evening of Nov. %. A cordial well
come was extended to visiting Patrons
in the Armory Building on the eve
ming of the 18th. The Governor in
behalf of the state, and the mayor if
behalf of the city, gave eloquent
words of greeting Excursions were
planned and carried out, giving visit
ors an opportunity to see something
of the beauties and possibilities of the
great inland empire Everything
possible was done to make our stay
pleasant and profitable.
The sessions were characterized by
an intense earnestness on the part OF
delegates, and an obvious intention to
place the National body on record as
standing squarely for principles SO
vitality important to the welfare of the
| farmer.
The following are some of the
resolutions adopted. One authorized
! the appointing a committee of three
to wait upon President ELECT Wilson,
for the purpose of urging the appoint
ment of a practical farmer as Seere-
! tary of Agriculture.
! A resolution urging all state Grang-
ers to use all honorable means to
bring about the election of United
States Senator's by direct vote.