Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-05-09
FOOD CAMPAIGN.
Morang Writes Open
Letters to Governor Milliken.

The campaign for food production and
conservation in Hancock county is still
being successfully pushed, and gratifying
results have been obtained.
The four carloads OF seed potatoes have
already been spoken for. Three cars have
arrived, the third one getting in this
morning. Two carloads have already
been disposed OF.
An additional fifty bushels OF wheat
have been bought. There Is shortage OF
fertilizer, and the sixty tons purchased by
the committee will not be sufficient to fill
all demands.
Several farmers in the county have asked
for financial assistance in the shape OF
loans, 1t being understood that this would
be forthcoming from the State fund. In
this connection Chairman Morang Of the
Hancock county committee on food re-
sources, has addressed the following open
letter to Governor Milliken:
ELLSWORTH. May I, 1917.
To the Honorable Carl e. Miltiken, Governor
ofthe State Of Maine.
Dear sir:-I have the honor IT being one Of
the sixteen chosen from the several counties
Of the State as . committee on the prod uction
and conservation Of food. This committee
met at Augusta on April IL. Probably the
proceedings of that meeting are well known
to you.
We were led to suppose that funds would
be available to loan farmers who were re-
sponsible and who would increase their acre
age of planting, but who lacked the necessary
cash to provide themselves with seed and
fertilizer This money or its equivalent. we
understood. would be loaned At Q small rate
of interest. probably four and one-half per
cent, to be returned when the crop was har-
vested. thus insu ring the return Of the money
or large percentage to the State.
/ have understood that this plan has been
abandoned, and believe that the State OF
Maine is remiss in its duty Tit SLOWS this
plan to fail, II am right in supposing that
the most important project to help us win
this war Is the increased production of food.
understand that an other meeting Of the
governor and council is 10 be held May II to
further consider this matter. That is too
late. and II . decision in favor Of loaning this
money is not made at once, great part OF the
work done by this committee will be wasted.
/ believe these sentiments are shared by q
large majority of the people OF the State Of
Maine.
My reason. my dear Governor, for making
this an open letter. thus giving 1t immediate
publicity, is this: A printed circular was
issued, an order circulated by the State con-
servation committee. announcing its belief
that "directfarm loans will be provided by
the State, to insure . maximum of crops in
1917" Relying upon this. / have personally
told many persons in this section that such
loans would probably be made. am making
this letter public SO that such persons may be
speedily notified that the State will give them
NO help.
note by the papers that the State win
buy seed and sell IL At cost for cash. In be-
half Of this committee, / am now doing that in
this county, but we have no funds to provide
loans, even to those whose credit Is so und.
have the honor 10 be
Yours, most respectfully.
G. l. MoRASe.