Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

oecretary Lane OF the Federal Inter or
department has suggested to Con-
gress the wisdom Of redeeming waste
lands and making 1t possible for return
ing soldiers who are interested In farm
Ing to take mp homestsads under favor
able conditions. The National Grange
has taken the position that such q prop
osition is uuwise and should be opposed.
The State Grange has taken similar
action. And last weak at meeting OF
the executive committees Of the State
Grange, State Pomological Society,
Maine Dalrymen's Association, Seed I'm
provement Association and the State
Department of Agriculture, according
to the report of the secretary 1t was
"Voted that 1t 10 the unanimous opinion
OF this committee that the reclamation
plans Of the Department Of the Interior
at Washington are impracticable and not
applicable to Maine conditions" The
position of the National Grange Is
detendable and may be the best thing for
the country. But 1t would be perfectly
possible to put Secretary Lanes program
into action in Maine. It may not be
wise. No Maine man at the Washington
conference with the secretary advocated
the scheme. But without committing
themselves to the advisability OF the
general program, q number OF Maine
men went to Washington short time
since to lay before the secretary what
Maine has to offer, in case Congress
should decide to make appropriations
for reclaiming lands to provide possible
homes for soldiers.
The following outline was prepared by
the Director of the Maine Agricultural
Experiment Station as terss statement
of the opportunities offered by Maine.
The State of Maine offers opportunities
for homestsads for return soldiers OF
two types,-unsettled, undeveloped lands
similar to those in Washington. County
and Aroostook County, and low priced
lands in central and southern Maine
formerly settled and productive, and
now owing to reduced rural population
frequently valued less than the worth Of
the buildings standing upon them.
These lands both settled and unsettled
have great variety of soil for crop pro-
duction and for psstnrage. All sections
of the state are we'll wstered and have
ample rainfall for maximum production.
While there are thousands of acres in
the state that would be improved by un-
draining, there is large acreage of un-
improved land that is ready for use with
only minimum expenditure OF money
or labor.
Maine has good highways that are be-
ing yearly improved on broad, compre-
hensiye scale. 1t Is also we'll served by
railroads. For these reasons IL is in
touch with the best markets in America,
with short hauls and reasonable rates.
market are well worked out. 1t has bad
State Department of Agriculture for
70 years, College of Agriculture for
80 years and an Experiment Station for
95. These three agencies have helped
develop and stabilize Names agriculture.
They are respectively equipped for ex-
ecutive functions, teaching and investi.
CATION. The Department Of Agriculture
promotes agricultural organizations and
affords protection from frauds in fertil-
izsrs, feeds, foods, tungicides and insect.
cides. Through its bureaus OF market
ing, dairying and horticulture, it offers
help in the production and sale OF farm
crops and products. The College OF
Agriculture of the University of Maine
is the teaching branch OF the three agri-
cultural organizations. Not only has u
large body of students In its balls, but
its students in the farm homes of the
state is far larger. Through its county
agents, boys and girls clubs and other
forms of extension work it is In close
and vital touch with all sections of the
state, The work of the Agricultural
Gkoktnn In nnndnnfad af
Orono and on it's two farms, one in the
western aud the other in the northern
part of the state. These three institu-
tions function in the closest harmony
and without overlapping. The station
investigates, the college teaches and the
department administrators.
Efficient rural free delivery, telephone
and postal service, numerous granges
and their large number membership all
tend to make the social side OF the farm
life in Maine attractive and abiding. 1t
is very likely that New Highlander,
particularly an enthusiastic Maine man,
Is prejudiced, but In the speakers judg-
ment there is no part of the country
which offers better place for the max
ing Of q home, q comfortable mainte-
nance, and provision for spending the
declining years in comfort, peace and
security than do the farm lands OF Maine.
The Maine delegation did not commit
itself to the policy of redeeming lands
now unavailable to agriculture. But
they were solid on the point that II
Congress made an appropriation for this
purpose that 1t should not all be spent
In opening up new land in the South,
but that Maine should share in any
development looking to the increase of
arabic land and desirable colonists.-
Chas. D. Woods, Director.