152 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



My return trip East included visits to other western cities, 

 each growing rapidly and yearly becoming of more and more 

 importance. In the Mississippi Valley I found almost every 

 one talking about the value of utilizing the great Father of 

 Waters as an immense thoroughfare for the transportation of 

 agricultural products from the farms of the Central West to 

 export points at tide water. One cannot travel to any consid- 

 erable extent in the United States without being overwhelmed 

 at the immensity of our nation, its phenomenal growth and its 

 unimaginable possibilities. 



But all this wonderful advance appealing so loudly both to 

 national pride and to loyalty, has a serious side for a native 

 New Englander. With the development of the West, with the 

 making a great thoroughfare of the Mississippi, with the addi- 

 tion of new States, the East is losing and will continue to lose 

 its relative importance. 



Though the population of New England may increase, though 

 manufacturing interests may grow, though commerce and 

 exports may hold their own, though agriculture may develop 

 and become more profitable, this section — territorially so small 

 by comparison — must retrograde relatively in amount of busi- 

 ness done and in national influence ; the future has much uncer- 

 tainty for us. As in the growth of New England the develop- 

 ment of manufactures meant loss of prestige to the hill towns — 

 so national growth must be accompanied by shifting of centers 

 of activity and influence. 



But pessimism is unnecessary. Though changing conditions 

 may jar our pride by lessening our opportunity to use the big 

 adjectives in boasting of our great importance nationally. New 

 England will continue to offer increasing opportunities for good 

 homes, profitable occupation and lives of usefulness. 



Possibly the outlook is even better than that. As the great 

 western country becomes more closely populated and its cities 

 more numerous with more non-producers to feed, there will 

 be a home market for increasing amounts of the farm products 

 of that locality (especially those of the dairy) and it may be 

 that in the future our competition with western butter, beef, 

 and other articles will gradually grow less and New England 

 producers will have their home market more entirely to them- 

 selves. 



