lO AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



cause Auburn has a larger rural population than any other city 

 in Maine, a large contiguous territory in which agriculture in 

 its varied forms is the leading industry. Last, and not least, 

 because Auburn is a good city in which to hold any meeting 

 which has for its end the promotion of good. 



Auburn is the largest city in Maine, and with few exceptions 

 in all New England, when regarded from a territorial stand- 

 point. We have a population of about 15,000 people, and an 

 assessed valuation of over eight millions of dollars. We have 

 located here quite a variety of industries. We have a cotton 

 mill of no mean proportions, giving employment to some five or 

 six hundred people annually and putting out a product which is 

 recognized for its quality throughout the world. We have lo- 

 cated here one of the largest institutions in the country engaged 

 in the manufacture and the handling of dairy products, the Tur- 

 ner Center Dairying Association, having an output of more 

 than a million dollars annually. We have here one of the largest 

 meat packing establishments east of Boston. We have another 

 large food producing institution here in the T; A. Huston Com- 

 pany, noted far and wide for their fine biscuits, crackers and 

 confectionery. We have one of the largest last manufacturing 

 e.'^tablishments in the country, and in that institution may be 

 found machinery which is the product of the inventive skill and 

 industry of the proprietors. And we have many smaller in- 

 dustries. 



While we are proud of these industries, the principal industry 

 which has made Auburn famous throughout the length and 

 breadth of the land is the manufacture of boots and shoes. Here 

 we have nine large modern and up-to-date shoe-shops in which 

 are manufactured shoes enough annually to give us fourth or 

 fifth rank in all the world in this important industry. While 

 we are proud of our industrial prominence, and perhaps satis- 

 fied with our commercialism, we are proudest of all, I believe, 

 of the high moral plane upon which Auburn has ever stood, 

 making it the ideal place of homes, in which to rear and educate 

 our children. We have here eight urban churches, we have ten 

 suburban churches, all supplied by pastors of recognized ability, 

 and well attended by liberal and intelligent parishes. We have 

 a high school of which we are justly proud, four grammar 

 schools, eight primary schools, one parochial school and fifteen 

 mixed. We have a fine library in our midst. 



