Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-24
maine FARMS
In Plenty for Return
ing Soldier Boys
Secretary Of Interior Lane Promises
Our Delegation Names Full Share
If His 100000, 900 Farm Bill Is
Passed by Congress

Portland, Me. Dec. 23-The men,
bers of the delegation who visited
Washington. at the suggestion Of the
Maine Agricultural and Industrial
Lane Of the Department of the In
terror about his soldier settlement
proposition and to impress him with
Names agricultural resources and
opportunities, have arrived home.
They are all appreciative Of the man
ner in which they were received and
confident that Maine will be given
due consideration in whatever the
Federal government may decide to do
| toward assisting returning American
soldiers in agricultural pursuits.
The committee, which left Portland
Wednesday noon and Boston that af-
ternoon by Federal express, arriving
in Washington Thursday morning. III.
Guided Dean Leon S. Merrill Of the
University Of Maine, DR.. G. w.
Woods of the Maine agricultural eX-
pertinent station. Maj. H. A. Phil
brook of the Maine Department of
Agriculture. Manager Charles II.
White of the Maine Agricultural and
Industrial League, Traffic Manager
George S. Hobbs and Industrial
Agent William G. Hunton of the
Maine Central and John A. Mckay of
Portland. Gov. Milliken was al
ready in Washington.
FL dc, OF ho 01y.
cultural section of the United States
railroad service and accompanied
them to the Office of Senator Hale,
where they were joined by Senators
Hale and Fernald. Congressman
Goodali, White. Peters and Hersey.
and the entire party proceeded to the
office of Sec. Lane in the Department
! Of the Interior building.
The conference with Sec. Lane oc-
cupied a full hour. He is a good lis
tener, but after he had heard the
Maine story in instalments from sew
eral members of the delegation he
announced that it would not be neees-
sary fef him to interrogate them all.
and that nothing Is gained by arguing
q case after it has already been Won
He seemed greatly interested in the
presentation of Names claims to
recognition and said he was con-
vinced that Maine Is as well equipped
with agricultural opportunities and
resources as any other-state that had
shown interest in his project. He gave
assurance that IL the pending act
passes Congress, Maine will get It's
fun share Of the 100000. 900 appropri-
alton NH.
The committee emphasized. the gen
eral Maine sentiment that instead OF
spending money in retaining waste
lands due consideration should be
siver the individual farms which
could be purchased for soldiers, and
on which they could Immediately set
tie. Refernce was made to the large
number Of unoccupied farms in
Maine. They cannot be rightly termed
abandoned farms, for their taxes are
paid regularly. and the grass on them
is annually harvested, For one rea-
son or another their owners do not
occupy them, but very many Of these
farms are fertile and simply lack
operation to become productive.
Secretary Lane outlined in detail
his plan to encourage community
farming. He questioned the commit
tee about si1eable tracts Of unoccu-
pied land in Maine and said that a
special representative Of the govern
ment will be sent to this State to
investigate the conditions. make an
alysis Of soils. etc.
At the request Of Sec. Lane the
committee next visited the Office Of
Agent Davis OF the reclamation de.
partment. That official gave the
committee two hours hearing and
expressed himself as pleased with
the facts presented. A list Of avail
able farms, reports relating to -hs
productAveness Of Maine soils. a bum
die Of maps and other data were
filed with him.