Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-12-10
GIVES UP FARM.
New Haven Railroad TO Abandon
Biueberry Land Farm.

New Raven Railroad to Abandon
Biueberry Land Farm.
The New York, New Haven & Hartford
II. II. Co. has surrendered the option Ii
took in the fall of 1911 upon 3s 200 acres of
agricultural lands in the towns of Cherry
field and Dehlois, having decided TO
abandon its project of giving great OBJ
iect lesson in farming, owing to the many
Investigations into the affairs and methods
of the company and the attitude OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission toward
railroads, especially in the matter of en-
terprises other than the business of trans
pertaiion.
This great tract OF farm lands Is owned
by Jasper wyman, Of Milbsidge, and the
Freeman estate. represented by George s.
Freeman of cherryfieId, from whom, in
1911, William r. Carrau and Cyrus r.
stsespole, of Bangor, secured an option,
which they in turn transferred to the
Maine Central raiifoad, which company
passed II along TO the New York, New
Haven & Hartford.
The New Haven officials. President
Mellen in particular, manifested much
interest in the property, which lies close
to the Washington County railroad, and
at once entered upon a project to demon
strate the productivity of the land, as a
means of interesting farmers, the plan
being TO divide the territory into ioo-a acre
tracts and dispose of it to settlers, with
the expectation that thereby a large
amour, Of traffic would be developed for
the railroads.
On this 36,ooo-acre tract, which is d.
videa into two plateaus, almost perfectly
level and entirely clear of woods, the New
Haven began farming operations in a
small way in 1912, in which year 100 acres
were planted to potatoes, with a yield of
over 100 barrels to the acre, high record
Tor quantity, while the quality was de-
cided TO be the finest. In 1918 like area
was planted, with a repetition OF fine
crops.
Prof. J. A. Bonsteel, who has charge of
the department Of soils OF the U. j. de-
parsment of agriculture, examined the
land for the New Haven, ana declared it
TO be admirably adapted to general agri-
culture loose loan, with subsoii an
advantageous formation in either drought
or excessively rainy weather. Predictions
seemed to be very favorable for the sue
cess OF ths New Haven's project, and
President MeIlen had fully made up his
mind 10 purchase the land when difficult
ties and disasters crowded thick and fast
upon the New Haven, leading TO his re-
tiremeit.
The management OF the road has now,
for the reasons stated, decided to abandon
the enterprise as one of the side lines
against which there is so much objection
Messrs. Curran and Stsckpole are now
conducting negotiations with several par
ties outside of Maine for the purchase OF
the land, and II not successful in this be-
fore the expiration OF their option, on Dec.
81. they propose TO organize a syndicate to
purchase the property outright and de-
vslop it sgrieulturaliy on a large scale.
There are about 5000 acres OF partially
burned over bIueberry land, the other
5000 acres being entirely OF natural
grass land. 1t is believed that potato Gull
ture can be carried on with as much sue
cess in Washington county as in Aroos-
trOlr