The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-02-17
Do You Want to Make $50 a Week 7
(By r. T. Patten)

The above question is asked of
the farmers Of Somerset County. Some
of them already have an income of that
proportion from their labor and other
wise; mahy do not. Many are SO
situated that they cannot well take
advantage Of the plan / am about to
suggest, but there are many others
who have the right outfit to enter
up this proposition as sure thing
for the months Of June, July and Au-
gust next summer.
Now, usually when these things are
put up to you, they require a change
OF residence, upsetting of your present
plans in some way, additional capt.
tai, or an investment which may or
may not come back. In this one,
you can stay right where you are.
no plans need be materially changed.
no additional capital is required and
the slight investment necessary will
be made and paid for by the Inde-
pendent Reporter, entirely without
expense to you. Would you call that
a good thing? To most wildly put
the proposition before you, let me tell
what someone else has done.
Last summer, I was out on a one
day trip in an auto party, and about
noon was in the vicinity OF one of
Names swell summer hotels. If 1t
had been operating on the European
plan, we probably could all have gone
there, made our noon meal on a plate
of soup. or crackers and milk and
paid the bill put unfortunately 1t
was strictly an American institution,
and we knew that dinner would be
from ~ to IS plate. Our Yankee
caution linked with an instinct of
economy lesd ds to search for some
thing else. A little way off we found
a farm house where they lawn was
covered with summer boarders. We
approached the proprietoress and
while she stated she did not intend to
do any transient business, she consent
ed to give us meal; a very nice one.
and at an entirely reasonable price.
This proprietOress was an Auburn
schoolmarm. Her business from
about September l to June was
teaching. During the summer she
ran this farm boarding place-had
done so for several years She got
SIG week and as l remember it
she had about dozen patrons. Said
her place was full all summer long.
If you have a farm home where
you could shelter in neatness and
comfort from one to a dozen guests,
If the lady of the house is good cook,
If you can raise good vegetables, and
If you can produce fresh milk, cream
and eggs, you can enter upon this
proposition with confidence.
Supposing you were interested in
this proposition and should decide to
take city boarders next summer. How
IS anybody going to know about it?
There's where the Independent t-Repor-
ter comes in. We are entirely will
ling to do the necessary advertising.
we reckon 1t won't cost us more than
S1OO to keep some ads running in the
papers of Boston, Providence and
New York from April until June. To
begin with however, we want to know
that there would be somebody ready
to do the business If we get it. You
could let us know, (right now, not
next May) If you will take summer
boarders if we will find them for you.
Please report your name and address,
also the location of your farm home
Give distance to two or three near
by villages. Give distance to yari-
GUS ponds, streams, and lakes with
kind of fish to be caught in each,
II any. Name prominent hills or
mountains to be seen from your home
or immediate vicinity. Mention kind
of vegetables you know how to raise
and propose to serve on your table.
Name the berries which grow in your
locality, and tell the season in which
they are harvested. Mention apples,
or any other fruit which mature in
time to be of interest to summer
guests. Give us any other informa-
tlon which will enable us to write
truthful, satisfactory description of
the price you propose to ask
the proposition you have to offer. Give
board, which, ii you are allowed to
advise, should not be less than $12
nor more than $40 a week. State
whether or not you have barn or
other suitable buildings into which an
automobile could be run for the night.
Now, we are in dead earnest about
this matter There is not the sligh-
test doubt of its practbility. We ought
to have on file reports from SO diff
ferent people within ten days. Who
will be the first one?
ROLAND T. PATTEN