Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-23
Maine and Massachusetts
(Boston Transcript

Governor-eIect Frederic II. Park
hurst of Maine Is a believer in the fu-
ture of his State. He sees manifold
opportunities for the development OF
it's agriculture and manufactures. and
he is not slow. when occasion is APP
propriate to express with enthusiasm
the faith that is in him. Thus speak
ing at the meeting Of the Maine So
ciety of New York. he summarized the
elements which make UP the present.
day prosperity Of the State. and which
give promise Of bettered conditions in
the years to come. Some of the things
he mentioned are of especial interest
to the people OF Massachusetts,.
In the first place, there Is the ques-
ton of the food supply. Massachusetts
imports by far the greater portion of
the foodstuffs consumed within the
State, much. of it from far-distant
points. 1t is recognized that here is
a handicap to industry. There is de-
mand for further development of the
agricultural resources of Massachu-
sets In the effort to remove this handi-
cap. Growth of Maine agriculture
should serve the same purpose by en-
larging q source of supply near at
hand. Last year Maine produced crops
of value of more than 500 600.
MFR. Parkhurst believes that this total
may be nightly increased. In that
connection he calls. attention to the
fact that Aroostook County. larger in
area than the State of Massachusetts.
ranks among the first half dozen coun-
ties of the United States ins the value
OF it's agricultural products. Bearing
upon the question of the food supply
of Massachusetts is the further state
ment Of the governor-elect that Maine
has q tidal coast-line practically
equalllng In length the coast line of all
the other Atlantic States, and that
here are facilities for the development
of shore fisheries far beyond their
present proportions.
1t is pleasure to observe that Mr..
Parkhurst Is not numbered among
those who minimize the Importance of
Maine as "the playground of the ma
tion." to borrow an expression made
familiar by railroad advertising. There
have been in the Pine Tree State from
time to time evidences OF resentment
at what was described as over-empha-
sis Of the States scenic attractions
and opportunities for the seeker for
health and recreation. Perhaps there
have been times when less was done
than might we'll have been undertaken
to make known Names commercial
and manufacturing possibilities. but it
would bc unfortunate were there to be
any disposition in Maine to disregard
the possibilities of the further develop
ment OF its many delightful pleasure
That Mr.. Parkhurst is an enthusiasts
tic believer in the development Of
Maine water powers goes without say
Ing, but II Is his faith in Maine as a
State Of great agricultural possibilities
which, perhaps. gives his recent re-
marks their chief significance in Mas
sachusetts. In this. as in many other
things, the interests Of Maine and Mas
nachusetts are Identical. Both have
manufacturing towns and cities In
which the maintenance of reasonable
prices for food, as compared with pri-
ces paid In other sections of the coun-
try. is essential to the continuance Of
prosperity. II Mr. Parkhurst is right
In his conclusions. and there Is no APP
parent reason for questioning them,
Maine should be State with a large
surplus of agricultural products avail
able for use beyond her own borders.