Ellsworth American., 1921-02-02
Maine's Abandoned Farms,
Aitkin, Mimi, jan. 6, 1921.
10 the Editor of The American.

L z l..
To the Editor of The American:
On our various visits to Maine in
recent years, while we have been
pleased with the signs of prosperity
in villages and cities, we have been
panied to note the number of aban-
doned farms, not only in the seacoast
counties but in the interior as we'll
have no statistics at hand to
prove the number of such farms. but
1t is safe to say there are thousands
of them in the State that a genera
tion ago were under cultivation,
yielding a fair return to their occu-
pants. now either wholly or partly
abandoned
This condition has been brought
about largely because the young men
have left the farms, some going to
what seemed the land of opportunity,
the great West" others entering
the professions; the majority to the
cities to enter the various industries
Many of the sons of Maine farmers
may be found as workers in shoe
factories, conductors on the electrics
and in similar occupations in the
cities of Maine and Massachusetts.
and apparently not as we'll to do nor
enjoying the comforts of the fathers
on the old homestead.
Some one has said that "all wealth
comes from the soil" and while
Maine has many valuable manu-
featuring industries. it has been true
of her, that in point of value and the
| number engaged, agriculture is. the
most important of all her industries.
No loyal son of Maine, living in the
State or out, can view the desertion
of these many farms without feel
ing of sadness and apprehension.
| The question is, what can be done
to remedy this unfortunate condi-
ton? Many states, like Minnesota,
have immigration departments to ar
range for settlers While Maine
now has no lands for prospective set
tiers, should the legislature create
such a department it would seem
feasible way to re-people these aban-
: doned farms
How could this be worked out?
Have this department get in touch
with as many of such farm owners as
possible; get their lowest prices and
terms of sale and take written op-
tion on them for a stated time The
department would then be in a posi-
tion to advertise for purchasers, SELL
ing to farmers only and not specu-
| lators.
Where find such purchasers?
Some at Ellis island when they land,
others through our consuls in Europe
and also through friends of foreign
citizens desiring homes in this
country. You may claim that this
will cost a considerable sum. We
admit that, but who can measure the
difference in value to the State be-
tween few thousand wide-awake,
successful farmers on one hand, or
that number of deserted farms whose
acres are fast returning to a wild
state, with buildings gradually going
to ruin.
Everyone knows that the man who
cultivateS even small farm, making
a good living for his family, is, from
the standpoint of usefulness, the peer
of any citizen of this community and
adds to the beauty of the landscape.
Maine has, in many parts, fairly
fertile soil, sadly needing men to cul-
tivate it. Is there anything more i'm
portant for the good old State than
this re-peopling the many farms, now
fast becoming blot on the land
scape? Some one may have better
plan; if so, let us hear from him.
CHAS. P, DELAITTRE,