Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-20

for the 'scabbies' and $6.25 q hum
drad pounds for grade A potatoes
yesterday. Last year they paid Slips
for grade A.
"Produce stores in other districts
were of course higher in price than
the market men, one store in CAM
bridge asking $3.50 peck for high
grade potatoes.
"The state commission on nec-
>essaries of life, which made re-
port on the potato situation yester-
day, declares that the present high
costs here are due to unjust and
excessive prices rather than an .ac-
tual shortage of potatoes. The
commission charges that farmers
and spectators in the Maine potato
region, aided by banks and fertilizer
!.companies which loan them money,
have taken advantage of the situa-
ton here and throughout the coun-
trv to get q price incommensurate
with the cost of production.
"The commission says that At
present a surplus rather than a
shortage of the potato supply Is
threatened in Massachusetts,.
1.-THE report gives detailed figures
tn show the railroad reports indi-
cate the Boston potato market mas
this season received about 11OO cars
(3. 100000 pecks) more than II nao
received UP to the same date last
year.
"The only sure way to face the
9ntolerable conditions of the pres
emf season is for the people OF
Massachusetts to raise potatoes In
greater quantities within the state
the commission believes. 1t contin-
ues that the present situation In
Mas achusetts is undoubtedly due IN
mart to the fact that the produc-
tion of potatoes in this common
wealth has fallen off oo per Cent III
the past two years.
with your permission wish 10
comment on two staten,ei'''
tanned in the above article.
He states, present high costs,
here are due to unjust and excessive
rrices rather than an actual Short
age" And then goes on and states
how many more cars have been re-
ceived in Boston, in the past season.
than the year Before. 400.
But he fails to state, that the 100
cron. has been sent to Boston, ana
New York, and then reshipped into
other states hundreds and hundreds
of cars), that never saw Maine
potato before.
Every government report publish
ed since September l, 1928, has
shown that this country faced a very
heavy shortage, and as the season
advanced, the shortage increased.
Michigan is eating Maine potatoes
and Chicago is eating Maine and
Col. potatoes, If there is no shortage
in the middle western states. why
do they ship such long distances?
Why did the Maine farmer stop
growing them.
Because they were growing them
at a loss.
Why should we kick because the
Aroostook potato grower is getting
back some of the money he has lost
in the past five years?
When l hear a well-dressed man
whining about the price of an arti-
Gle of food. I feel like cutting him,
and when l hear a lady making the
same kind of talk, feel sorry for
her.
The farmers of New England are
having the hardest time to make
just 1alr living, OF any CLASS OF
people have. Every dollar that we
expend for farm products, goes to
a place. where there is a chance to
get part of it back, sometimes.
The crop (Aroostook County, will
bring into Maine this year Sixty
Million Dollars. and believe me or
not, they are justly entitled to every
dollar of it.
In conclusion, will, add. feel that
every. citizen of this state. should
be proud of the farmer of Aroos-
took County, the gamest bunch of
farmers. that ever held pillow.
- And don't follow the advice of the
writer in the Herald, and plant
largely, as a rule high-priced seed,
brings a low-priced crop.
H. H. LEE.