The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-03-07
Letter from California.

Holt. +. I. Burlel2n are Negdr0eQ on
me Pacific Coast. A Great Engineer
ing Work,
r.. THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL. |
,s.,,s he Journal regular each week
s- s.a indeed glad to get it for | have
saa,s regarded your paper as one of
.,. r.anest and ablest weeklies in the
c-s Maine. To me it is like new
..res Zach week of a dear friend from
a.rs State and read every thing in
.--r the first to the last page. AS l
...- my desk in my shirt sleeves in our
-.. 'sr1. on Wilton Place this beautiful
..-ror and look out of the window at
..s Ners, and the birds flying here
s- here. | can only say that it is de-
a,ot-l for a man from Maine, accus
.5r. 10 the rigors of our northern
,,re 10 BE- living in this land of pure
-a..l. with warm sunshine, flowers
81. a5siaess to match. Van Dyke says
more Of his lovely poems:
.- lwers rejoice when night is done,
/. their heads to greet the sun;
SIS eetest looks and odors raise,
In silent hymn of praise"
Rrr what interested me more than
2sg,lloE else in the February 9Th issue
Of In Journal was the article "Maine
". California," from the pen of my
Rood friend C. E. Smith of Thorndike.
fssrrs smith | always liked, and many
s,. the friendly chats we have had on
aQItical and moral issues of the day.
Pa. see him now as he used to look
r.srs ago when he came into my fathers
carriage shop in Freedom village, and en-
-s4I INTO a warm political discussion with
ag. Father was a Third Party Prohibi-
-5-.st and Mr.. Smith Republican, and
both " ere well posted on public questions,
.s-c.aly Mr.. Smith. l tel! you it was
mighty interesting, as well as fun for
r- ao,s and men of the village, to listen
% r-lr heated, yet friendly discussions
of ,.e political issues that have stirred
n grand old State of Maine in the days
g-.s by. But however we'll posted my
.rt smith is on public questions and
saeutural topics in Maine, l shall be
zel to inform him, with all kindness,
m there are a number of expenses at
urr to the development of land in
mia that he cannot well under
M wing as he does in the far dis
state of Maine In speaking of
v...r % seems to think that it is a real
s-p for the farmer or rancher in
e. rnia to get sufficient supply to
-f- his crop. Now the method of
| ig-srjon out here is not very we'll under
l. by our eastern people and | will
| t. riehy upon this matter and make
- plain as can. For all grains and
al winter crops irrigation is not used;
f.r torn is successfully grown in many
:r-ls without it. But of course it is
t-'--r Tor the rancher to have his land
9sr irrigation, because the products of
TIE soil are enormously increased with a
gHflful supply of water. Land under
lTeation in Southern California brings
l'n $50 to 5000 per acre, with all water
as1ts Now to most farmers in Maine
tsse prices will appear high, but water
but 1,re is as much a part of farm
1a,'Inery as is tie pillow, the reaper and
IT, .ams; and when ranch lands are
ase up in Southern California and
9FUlgAt to a high state of cultivation
aH9 Effectiveness under irrigation such
alls Yield the rancher from 25 to so per
so- year. The dairy business is get
ting to be very profitable here. These
farms can be SO regulated as to grow
sIata and at the same time keep the
N"s and small stock in the best of condi-
Tor by dividing the alfalfa lands into
~.lIors and letting the stock Craze over
eriaIn portions. In this way the alfalfa
STowing and the animals are well sup
Piled on the sections in which they are
ga2Hg The average profit of this
Kind of dairy farm is about 500 per COW
Tor the year. The average yield Of po-
'''oes here is $50 bushels per acre. They
Tenow selling at cents a pound, which
Would he $l.2O per bushel. Then two
crops are harvested, instead of one crop
d IN Maine. Then again there is no
'a't no rot and no potato bugs to fight,
o' are there any mosquitoes or black
vs. to poster the life out of a rancher.
ts cultivation of caulifower is very
To1table, yielding $3.50 an acre, or $500
Fi acre for the two crops. The sugar
Tsls Of Southern California lead the
''a IN quality. Some recently raised
@..' am told, contained rs per cent
'%af Now, in comparing the value OF
q'Fs IN California with those of Maine
10 so with no disrespect for my native
gsle-l love the grand old State OF
'ahe IN spite of her disadvantages, as
~-e7 as Mr.. Smith or any of her citi
aS' but when you compare the value Of
crops with those of California, Maine
ea', certainly take back seat. an
asking Mr.. Smith to take my wore
WIT when ! state that California leads
The States in the value of it's crops
that is necessary for him to do is tt
VIZ at the records for 1911 of the U. S.
spaEtment of Agriculture and he will