Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-29
Editors Letter Box
Salvaging Maine

Inc kenneDec journal:
Boosting and booming is more OF
less of catch method. 1t is like a
stimulant, when the effect is gone the
thing or Persons suffer a relapse.
While II am in full sympathy with the
publicity work. broadcasting, etc, but
stimulant must be followed by rea
treatment or the patient would die
Every state has had its boom, 1t only
meant a little easy money for the few
Florida is having her day, but soon il
Will only mean lot of good northern
money buried in the sands of thi.
southern state. 1t wasn't boom tina
made California first, it was mining
gold and silver ore but primarily hel
agriculture, fruit, vegetation and alone
with these came industrial life Pros
perity is traced back to the SOIL TIL,
decay of rural life means disaster fol
the cities. The great aftermath OF
inflated land values of the middle
west in 1920 and 81 has left them fiat
One might go on with innumerable in
stances.
AS one travels over Maine and sees
the thousands of beautiful farms with
the fine soil, beautiful scenery, goot
roads, the automobile, telephone, cleo
trio service and everything necessary
to modern life and production, he car
but think what wealth lies buried
here. If carried on intensive enough
one could feed the nation and yet al
most every state in the union con.
tributes largely to our needs. Why
the cause of it all? Possibly many
reasons but incidentally but few rea
ones, we have the finest type of mer
and women here of anywhere.
But with a lack of vision and mi
tiative to appreciate and improve upor
what we have. Men of means are al.
ways reaching out elsewhere for in
vestment, for climate, beauty or some.
thing else. The man or woman who
wins Is the one that grasps the oppor.
tunity at hand and not looking out
beyond their reach for something
The world is full of schemes and
Maine people like to try them. Think
of the millions of Maine dollars
wasted in worthless securities. How
many beautiful homes they would
build, how many fine farms develop
and safe and sane investment. We
have everything here to build upor
and 1t isn't sand, it is something last
ing.
What is our greatest asset? Why
of course it is the many developed
3nd undeveloped farms, manufactur-
ing, fisheries; public utilities are only
accessories or by-products. The
tourists come here for little recrea,
ton, to meet people. to live cheaply
for three or four weeks in the year
He gets what he pays for and some
times more. He is soon gone. What
/ is real asset to our State? What
about the men and women who work
IL to Is hours day on the farms
They add something to our wealth
They make it possible for people to
live here, they feed the employee of
mills, they furnish raw materials for
mills, hands, etc.
They maintain our roads and schools
by paying high tax rate. They al
low the merchant to make a profit on
what they sell and what they buy of
him. They alone make it possible
Tor mill hands to live here by furnish
ing cheap food, etc. They are the
backbone of all civilized nation. A
Few years ago many out of State
people came here and bought farms,
They became an added asset to our
State. They are not coming now. Why
the reason? In the first place they
are strangers to our markets.: they
can raise crops but cannot sell them.
Inc farmers of Maine have learned
now TO raise food but not how to sell
II. Now the natural trend of business
OF professional men is not to think or
worry about other conditions outside