Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-15

orsanizatlon. Or how some commun.
ity problem or misfortune can me
improved through working together.
Inc Iact that lack of place Of meet
Ing Tor community sociability has
been solved by the building Of hum
dreds OF grange halls In Maine is
ample proof that cooperation can
penent locality. So then why IL It
NOT hlgn time to collect actual ex.
perlences or successful cooperative
puylng and selling enterprises. Those
shouid De told in plain language so
tney may serve as guide posts for
tackling the problem that is, most
serious In the Grange community
where the discussion takes place. No
enterprise can succeed without faith
ana how can Patrons have faith
without a thorough understanding of
what the problem Is and how much
and how far cooperation will 20 in
us solution? To illustrate; in 1921,
o9.l percent of the apple crop in
Maine was marketed in CARROTS, in
1917, only l2.5 percent; in 1923 1t in
creased to 2O.4 percent; in 1924 1t
jumped to 1872 percent; and in 1925
keted In carlots may be partly ex-
planned by the increasing use of
trucks this explanation is only a part
explanation. The hard fact remains
that 572,220 less barrels were shipped
out OF Maine in 1925 than were ship.
ped in 1921. The increased use of
trucks cannot wholly account for this
decrease. 1t would seem that either
Maine Is not raising so many quality
apples as it used to OF else the pres
ent methods Of marketing are falling
down on the job. Your committee
strongly recommends discussion of
these problems. The community fruit
packing association may or may not
be the answer. They are worth study.
ing at least. In 1925 one association
paid its members an average Of $3.4S
per barrel for A Grade Baldwins,
Mcintosh, Spys and Starks; and 1929
for the B Grade and Unclassifled of
the same varieties or a net average
of $3.50 per barrel. In the face of
these returns Government Estimates
place the average per barrel value for
the State at $2.73. In other words
the members received Ice extra per
barrel for all fruit sold through the
Association.
While the flock of hens Is usually
looked upon as a side line and Of not
very great Importance still this
means a yearly income to Maine
Farmers of approximately eight and
one half million dollars. 1t is good
question for discussion to find out
why Illinois ships four times as many
eggs to Boston as Maine and Iowa
and Minnesota each ship almost
three times as many. Is it not pos
sible for Maine to capitalize its near
ness to the consuming market by de-
hverlng more quality eggs?
The dairy industry Of our State
Is remaining nearly stationary while
the consuming population Of the
Eastern States Is steadily increasing.
The midwest considers the prices
alluring enough in these markets to
warrant the equipment of tank cars
for the transportation Of fluid milk.
Here then is a high challenge for
Maine Dairymen to dig for the most
up to date and economical methods
Of production and marketing that it
may not be said that our Western
Brothers are smarter than we. It is
surely no time for discussion and
strife among ourselves. Rather should
each community discuss the problem
and In face of information available
take a united stand for aggressive
from rail transportation there may
be ample opportunity for the success
of cooperative cheese factories SINH
lar to that now operated at Monroe.
In conclusion your committee again
urges the lecturers throughout the
State to arrange carefully prepared
cooperative programs. Programs de-
signed to shed light on local difficult
ties. There are truly many hard prob
lenls for Maine farmers to solve. But
as briefly outlined in our apple, poul-
try and dairy Industries there are
ample grounds for high hopes Of the
future.
The stories of successful effort
everywhere are but histories of diff
ficulties overcome. Therefore, this is
no time for sidestepping community
problems but rather a time for tack
ling them with a determination to
find the helpful solution.
Fratercally submitted,
CHARLES NJ. WHITE,
Chairman,
CLYDE Fl. THOMAS,
S. L. HART,
MRS. CORA M. ESTES,
MRS. N. J. CURTIS,
MRS. G. A. TWOMBLEY.