Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-21

meeting was held In the aldermen
room at the City hall. delegates from
nearly every town in Kennebec county
coming in to attend the conference.
The object of the meeting was to
arouse interest and call attention to
the necessity for immediate action
among the farmers of the country to
insure increased crops this year, and
also to make arrangements for thor
among the farmers of the county to
sources in land, seed and labor. Hon.
w. J. Thompson, master Of the State
Grange, was the presiding officer, and
in opening the meeting he explained
to the delegates that both the Prest-
dent Of the United States and the Gov
ernor of our own State have already
issued calls for assistance in this vital
matter of food production and conser-
walton, and he impressed on the
members the difficult position in which
New England would be placed if any
thing occurred to cut off the Transport
tation facilities.
He stated that the New England
states are situated about 1000 miles
from the food centers of the country,
and that these states raise only about
ID pei tSltl vi tiiC lccb NAlA-t tiiS
6. 1000, 900 people who live in them con-
sumo. He also explained that the
committee of safety of Maine has ap-
pointed sub committees to attend to
the details, and that one of these COM
mittees is the committee, on food pro-
duction and conservation. He stated
that it has been proved in the present
war that it takes from five to ten men
at home to adequately supply one man
in the trenches, and that the food
problem is very likely to be the deter
mining factor ip the war.
He added that for the past four
weeks he has been travelling in this
and neighboring states. studying the
conditions closely. and that he now is
confident that for the next five years
at least food will be scarce and high in
price.
He stated that the government and
the State would do all that lies in
their power to furnish needed seed
and fertilizer, and that credit will be
extended in deserving cases at low
rates of interest He then went on to
explain the cause of the meeting, say
ing that he wanted each town dele
gate to come forward and fill out a
blank, signing his own name. and the
name of a citizen in his town who
would serve as chairman for q town
committee on production and conser-
walton of food. The work of these
committees will be to locate all avail
able land, seed and labor, and to fill
out blanks stating just what the re-
sources in each town consist of. as
we'll as showing where seed and fer
tilizer and labor is badly needed.
In this way, he explained, an ef-
ficient organization can be formed,
and conditions can be studied in
tensively, and the results will be OF
great value to the State and Nation.
The presiding officer than called on
Mayor Willis Swift, who welcomed the
visiting delegates and gave them the
freedom of the building for meetings
at any time, and gave very pointed
talk on the food situation as 1t now
exists. he read several letters from big
concerns to the Holiness Swift Co.
showing steady and rapid advances
in the price of staples and he said that
in the mornings mail here were let
tiers from nine houses showing big ad-
vances in different foods that are In
daily use.
He said that oatmeal has advanced
sharply, and that spring flour Is now
being quoted in carload lots at $3.50
per barrel He concluded with rev
words on the necessity for large crops
this year, and predicted that the gov
eminent and the State and county Will
in some way assist the farmers in the
matter of labor which appears at pres
ent to be the most vital factor under
consideration.
1t was found that a large percentage
of the towns in the county had dele
gates present, there being about 40 In
attendance, and the town representa-
tives all nominated the chairmen for
their town committees, and promised
to do what they could to further the
work.
Mr.. Soule of the agricultural depart
ment gave a brief but very illumlnat-
ing talk on the present food situation,
saying that the United States cannot
afford to make the mistake which was
made by both Germany and England
in not organizing their food producers
at the very start of the war situation.
and he also said that the nation is
now in a position where the lack OF
funds will not be allowed to interfere
with or curtail the crop production.
He said that plans are being formed
to maintain a price for the crops, and
he urged the members to instruct their
community not to neglect one product
in favor of another. He stated that
| staple crops are of the most vital i'm
portance. such as corn, oats and wheat,
and that the protein foods, which are
most expensive and also perishable,
should be of secondary Importance, as
| they are of less value.
| He also warned them against neg
lecting their livestock on account OF
the increased cost of food, and advo-
Gated the raising of grains and other
stock food to a large extent. He told
the delegates that he knew of cases
where laying pullets and brood sows
had been disposed of because of the
high cost of feed, and added that in all
probability feeds will go still higher.
The next speaker was Field Secre-
tary A. l.. Deering, who made few
remarks about the work which is be-
ing planned for the town committees,
in determining the increased acreage
as far as possible. and in locating the
places where assistance will be most
needed. "In less than 80 days, most OF
our crops will be in the ground, and