The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-06-26
From An Old Farm Paper


The Agricultural Editor has lately
come into the possession of an edi-
ton of the Turf, Farm and Home.
which was published in Wateryille
years ago, with Il. p. Mayo as manag-
ing editor. The date of the paper
was apparently that of July 18th,
1897. There were several old items
of interest in the publication and an
illustration shows Agnes Wilkes, who
was then apparently in her prime. 1t
also says
There was no race at Show
hogan Saturday. Friday morn
ing, the owner of Keel Croix, dis
covered that someone had disabl-
ed his colt so that he was entire
ly out of condition. There is no
clue to the perpetrator of the
cowardly act
The Maine State Fair at Lewiston
has startling announcement to
make in the issue with big headlines
First and Only Chance!
Horseless Wagon Race
The ad continues to speak of the
greatest invention of the age Eyi-
IDENTIFY, automobiles were in their in
fancy.
Announcement is made that Som
erset Pomona Grange will hold its
next regular meeting with Starks
Grange and the following program
was published: Opening ceremoni-
es; song by the choir; business; adj
dress of welcome by Sister Maria L.
Hilton; instrumental music, Nelson
HolBay and Chester Emery; reply to
the address of welcome by Mrs. Hor-
ace Eaton; reading, Susie Fletcher;
paper, Carrie S. Allen; music by
choir; recess; 100 p. m, music; pa
per, Angler Lc, Goodwin; recitation,
Kate Butler; question. How to Make
farming pay in Maine?" discussed by
John II. Nichols. r. w. Ellis, George
Flynt, l.. c. Jewett, w w. Russell,
Stephen Merrill and others; song by
George T. Tibbetts; recitation, W. l..
Walker; reading, Elmer Nichols; pa
per by Alonzo Smith; music; remarks
for the good Of the order; closing
exercises. c. H. Allen was the Po-
mona lecturer at that time.
There is a fine illustration of the
Hobart residence at East Madison.
In speaking OF the farm, the Turf,
Farm and Home says: That it is
large and productive one. Their
ten Jersey cows and six Jersey hei-
fers are good ones. They have a
flock of fifty very nice sheep, two
large White Chester sows and some
good poultry. They have large
number of horses, among which are
the following: A pair of Locomo-
tive mares, good ones for business,
four year old All SO mare, very
promising, a redwood gelding, four
years old a six year old mare by
Cunard, Jr., that is great roadster,
a four year old by Allturus, he by
All So. This is gelding and all
right; also a three year old by ALL
turus, out of a Locomotive mare. This
is a great gated colt; a five year old
gelding by Gideon that stands sixteen
hands and is a noble horse. They
have three good ones away to pas
ture"
The Hobart farm is now owned by
the Hobart heirs but is unoccupied.
At the time the foregoing article was
written, Joel w. Hobart occupied the
property. His two sons. still live in
Skowhegan, Willis S. Hobart, being
town clerk and tax collector, while
George Hobart is janitor at the Court
House and Jail.
The following article, 1.-THE Drift
From The Farm" written by Alonzo
Smith, our townsman, was also pub
lished in the paper.
Among the many problems that
are presented for solution and have
engaged the attention of thinking
men. some probably have a more SER
ious outlook and is reckoned great
err evil than the drift of population
from the farm to the city. The mag
nitude of this tendency is greater
perhaps than is commonly imagined.
A reference to the census tables
shows the evil to be widespread and
exists in all sections. In the four
great agricultural states of Ohio, In
diana, Illinois and Iowa. half the
townships were less populous in 1890
than in 1880, while the large cities
had vastly increased in size. As q
consequence there was large de-
crease in the productive enterprises
carried on in the rural districts.
In New York state two-thirds of
the townships became less populous
and more than one-third of the coun-
ties, while the population of the cities
increased immensely. In New Eng
land the change was still greater
and in Maine hardly any rural town
retained the population it had in 1880
The result we see is abandoned farms,
smaller schools. fewer school privi-
leges, poorer roads, decaying mills,
increased taxation. reduced valuation.
lack of interest and much discomfort
Various causes are assigned for this
state of things. To combination of
causes may be attributed the unneees-
sary conditions we have to meet and
which we seek to modify or remove
Many. If not all of the causes are the
outgrowth of our modern civilization.
or they are thes result of traits of
character transmitted along the line