Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-10-08
TO HELP THE FARMER.

/ lftkeS Ua agriculture
| Ever since the reorganization OF the
Boston Chamber OF Commerce in 1903, it
I has been felt that it could and ought to
4. help in the development Of agriculture,
/ which Is one a New England's larges.
/ industries. in 1909 there were $50, 600
| invested in farms. and the value OF pro-
ducts for that year was SIS, 90, 600.
The Chamber has recently Programmed
| its committee on agriculture, and secured
as chairman Theodore y. Vail, who be-
sides being president OF the American
| Telephone 4 Telegraph company, has, at
| LyndonviIle, Vermont. large farm and
one Of the most practical agricultural
schools In the country. Associated with
| Mr.. Vail on the committee are Nathaniel
/. Bowditch, William II. Bowker, DIR.
| Kenyon l.. Butteraeld, Charles Nj. Cox,
George II. Ellis, Harold L. Frost, Richard
Hittingsr, John c. Runkle, Walter Z.
Smith, Charles r. Whiting aud wickliFe
| J. Spauiding. John c. orcutt has been
engaged as permanent secretary.
| The present conditions in agriculture
are Of great concern to farmers manufac-
tarers aud business men Of New England
! A good many farmers claim that on &C.
| count Of not being able 10 get good help
and because of no adequate system OF
marketing, there is little money TO be
made in farming at present.
| Manufacturing depends on labor and
/ labor in some form constitutes the great
| est element of cost IN this production OF
manufactured articles. The cost Of labor
| is regulated, generally speaking, largely
by the cost OF food. AT present IS per
cent. of New Engiand's food supply comes
from outside her borders. New England
can and ought to raise greater proper
tion of her food-supply; and il is of inn
portsnee TO manufacturing and business
interests that she should.
Sixty years ago New England produced
nearly as much as she consumed. The
cheap lands OF the West attracted her
more progressive people. As soon as the
railroads were built the land which they
had taken up rose in value and when sold
made them handsome fortune. The
many railroad lines furnished good trans
portatiou, and as the LAND was new and
easily titled, crops could be raised much
more chesply than in New England.
Now the free land OF the West is all
taken up and the virgin soil is being
gradually reduced; the price of land has
risen and the amount OF production per
acre has decreased materially. To fertil-
Ire this large area of land and bring ii
back to its original productivity will cost
a large sum Of money snd require g great
deal Of labor. The agricultural products
OF the country have greatly increased in
total amounts produced, but the produc-
tion per acre has decreased except in few
sections.
The committee believes that New Eng
land has many acres OF land that are cap
able of being developed into q state of
high production; that farms can be
bought in many of these sections for less
than it cost to erect the buildings; that
this land can be developed at small cost;
that this land is right at the door of the
worlds best markets, furnished by people
having the greatest purchasing power in
the world; that transportation facilities,
city and town highways, electric and
steam roads are unsurpassed.
The committee has made q preliminary
survey OF what is now actually being done |
in New England agriculture. This shows |
that, generally speaking, the state depart |
ments of agriculture, state colleges, ex-
pertinent stations and private agencies |
are perhaps covering the field of expert |
mentation and production very well, but |
that there has been very little done in the |
way of improving transportation faeiIi- |
ties, distribution and marketing. These, !
with the change Of attitude in regard to |
the possibilities in New England farming, |
are the greatest problems that confront |
New England agriculture to-day.
The committee viii not undertake to do |
directly constructive work that is now
being done by existing agencies, but will |
work with sII these agencies to improve |
New England agriculture. II will try to |
secure the corporation and support OF |
the business men and transportation COM
panies for the development OF New Eng |
land agriculture as a business industry. !
Ii will mostly confine its activities to |
working out, in corporation with the |
New England lines Of railroad, state and |
private agencies, some of the most prac-
ticsl problems confronting the farmers
to-day, and will announce its detailed
plans from time TO time.