Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-15
FERvcR AND FREIGHT

piOC-S.ti Continuing l4!C H-1>N 80 ti4S
matter Of food supply under the con-
dition Of high freight rates. Sub
sides were discussed but the likeli-
hood of obtaining them was seen to
be extremely doubtful with the only
possibility Of success in the far dis
tant future. Meanwhile what'to do?
While this is going on We are eat
ing apples from Oregon, which could
be shipped more chelply Via the
Panama Canal to London than they
are by rail to New York. The
western ranges are fenced in and the
Dakotas cannot place their meats
and cereals in the eastern markets
as cheaply as can the farmers in
South America. The East fed itself
before the Civil war Since then
many have died on the New England
farms and no one has taken their
places. The land is there, though
run down; many Of the homes are
left in fairly good condit!on--and the
market is not far away, the market
that either must so hungry or pay
cXorh!tantly for its food under pres
ent freight rates. which Will un-
doubleday be lowered little but
which those. who ought to know, say
will never go bacl; 10 what they were
before the war.
Such is a brief view Of the food
situation in the East and of the land
which may be bought chcaply and is
already served by schools, telephones
and comparatively easy of access to
markets. In the West lands are
high and those which are available at
any prices approaching what We
might think reasonable are distant
from transportation and offer little
ii anything in the way OF sociuI at
traction to the home builder.
To which Of these opportunities
would the thought Of al enterpris-
ing, shrewd Young man With little
or limited capital turn, to the West
or to the East? The logical answer
would be to tie East. All. but in
the West everyone is boosting; talk
ing of that beautiful! future full! ard
splendid to their vision, which is
lifted above the obstacles under foot
In the East the majority of farmers
seem to be rather inclined to pessi-
rlisnl. Some of them it is true are
not able to use machinery as extern
s!vely Or advantngeously as are many
in the West, but few Of them would
be willing to live under the condi-
tons that many in the West have to
live and if they were confronted by
the long and difficult distances from
market as in the West, some Of them
at least would lie down and hold UP
their feet to be tied. In some parts
OF the West the climate is warmer
but the chances of crop failure are
much greater. If the young man
could find here the same sort Of
contagious enthusiasm he finds IN
the West there is little doubt but he
would choose the East. Can't we
supply it? Must We wait for the
outsider to come N here and by SUI
perior Judgment make a success
nnd warm to life our enthusiasm +?
1t would seem so.
Such men have come, are succeed
ipg and are boosting. One of them
is Philip r. Park of Jefferson Farms,
Inc, Jefferson, Maine. The Journal
has had the privilege of presenting
some of his views in the past On sew
era! occasions, also, we are happy tc
say. evidences of the success he is
making. He saw at the outset the
possibilities lying in this inevitable
increase Of freight rates. He is Iiv-
ing up to"his convictions.
A few days ago 4 pickle manufac-
turer was telling Of a shipment he
recently had occasion TO make from
Portland Name. to Michigan. The
rate on ii gallon keg weighing 125
pounds and shipped in carload lots
was S1.2o per key This reminded us
OF what Mr.. Park had been saying,
although he was interested in supply
ing the New England market rather
than the Michigan market. His re-
ply the Journal prints elsewhere
We hope cur readers will consider it.
We have big advantages lying fall
low right here in the East We have
every facility for getting togethe,
and making cooperative effort tc
meet the demands Of the best mark.
ct in all the world, provided We send
it what it wants and educate it te
understand that we have what i,
really wants. Mr.. Park is raising
some Of the best beef in the worlc
and at profit. He is<glad to have
all see how he does it. We have thu
best Favored apples IN the world bu