The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-19
PRIZE MANUSCRIPT ON "DEVEL.
or SOMERSET
on by Local Man

The Independent-Repo is pied
ged to assist the State Agricultural
and Industrial League in the promo
ton of better marketing, better farm
ing, better business, and better living
in Maine We are intensely interested
In the idea and intend to do every
thing possible to help it along.
In a recent issue we offered prizes
for the best idea on advertising the
resources of Somerset County. We
should have been flooded with ideas
but they did not come in so fast
but that We were able to handle them.
We are publishing the manuscript
which contains the best ideas recei-
we'd to date. and while there will be
no more prizes offered for a time at
least. we should be pleased to publish
at any time ideas relative to the de-
velopment of our county.
1T is with the anticipation of much
pleasure that | undertake the writing
of this article to help promote the de
yelopment of my native state and
county. To develop means to unfold;
to lay open to view 1t is the evident
purpose of this advertising campaign
to unfold, or call to the attention of
the people the great natural resources
and almost unlimited possibilities of
achievement contained in our section
of the state and this | shall endeavor
to do, 1t is never a good plan in adj
vertising to depreciate the goods or
assets of a competitor, and thus, many
general points mentioned herein may
be applied to other portions OF the
state Yet | shall endeavor to dwell
with particular emphasis on those adj
vantages which nature has bestowed
along the old Kennebec; or that por-
ton of 1t known as Somerset County
The most of the stately trees which
originally covered our hillsides have
disappeared. In their places may be
seen magnificent dairy herds, broad
fields of sweet corn, potatoes, etc,
while every where there meets the eye
the orderly rows upon rows of apple
and plum trees, loaded in their sea-
known; celebrated by its particular
flavor throughout the world. Crisp,
frosty nights, followed by bright sun
shiny days through September brings
out not only a perfection OF coloring
but also a richness and spiciness of
flavor not to be equalled elsewhere.
Somerset has long been noted for
its fine fruit. and the amount and
quality of its dairy products, yet more
recently other branches of farming
have been extensively taken up. The
sweet corn industry is steadily gain
ing in Importance. The many pack
ing plants throughout the county are.
each year, taxed to their capacity, and
new ones are being built; and the
brand Maine Corn as we'll as maine
Apples" is the favorite everywhere
each bringing top prices in all mar
kets.
Still more recently many farmers
from other parts of the state, partic-
ularly Aroostook County, have come
into our midst and demonstrated that
potatoes may be successfully and
profitably grown on a large scale
here. Why, think you, did those hard
headed practical farmers. sell their
fine farms. which were located in the
Garden of Maine, and put the pro-
ceeds into Somerset County real es-
tate? 1t is not reasonable to presume
that they realized and appreciated the
advantages possessed by this partic-
ular section Of the state?
We are located within a few hours
by rail. of a number of the important
cities of New England; within 8 hours
by express to Boston; an important
condition to be considered in the ship
ment of perishabe products. 1t may
be well here to ennmerate some of
the most important products which
are shipped from Somerset. Many of
them to the amount of hundreds of
car loads each year. AS products of
the farm. they include apples, pota
toes, the different dairy products,
(butter, milk and cream) hogs, wool,
hay, etc. OF the manufactured prod
ucts there might be mentioned; wool