SECRETARY'S REPORT. 49 



to improve their condition by subduing tlie forests and carving out 

 homes for them. By a wise provision of Providence, zealous labor, 

 where it is required to support life, never stays at that point, but 

 goes steadily on, and always results in something more than a sup- 

 port for the man ; while, on the other hand, laziness grows worse 

 and worse until it brings up in the work-house. 



Mr. Rogers said labor in Maine would command ample reward 

 anywhere. He knew men in the poor (?) county of Sagadahoc, 

 who began with the sole possession of an axe, and were now worth 

 from two to five thousand dollars — the products of sedulous toil. 



Mr. Cushman wanted no expression of discrimination. He only 

 contended that northern Maine ofiered better inducements to set- 

 tlers because its rich lands were offered to settlers fi'ee of cost. 



Mr. Moore said there were as good lands in northern Somerset 

 as anywhere else in Maine, and whatever of eulogy had been ex- 

 pressed of farming results by others at this Board would apply 

 equally well to the valley of the Dead river. He knew several 

 farms that yielded from $1200 to $2000 worth of hay, besides 1000 

 bushels of oats. One farm 110 miles from here, 15 from the Forks, 

 and 9 miles from a settler, on Parlin pond, produced 60 tons of hay 

 for market j besides what was used, 700 bushels oats, and quantities 

 of potatoes. They raised 400 biishels Jackson potatoes on one 

 acre. There is a farm at the Forks, (Mr. Burnham's,) where 100 

 tons of hay were marketed, at $15 per ton. Communication was 

 direct from northern Somerset to Quebec by a good road. Fifteen 

 miles this side of Canada line was a settlement at Moose river com- 

 menced hy a man and his wife who left the northern limits of Ken- 

 nebec years ago in winter time, taking all their goods, effects, and 

 babies, that were hauled by the parents over the snow, the wife on 

 snow shoes drawing the precious ones, and the husband the per- 

 sonal estate. They camped down in the wilderness, cleared their 

 land, raised their numerous progeny, and secured a handsome 

 property. In that region hay was worth from $16 to $24 a ton for 

 the lumber market. It was true that many people had abandoned 

 good lands in Somerset, sometimes because they were too indolent 

 to comply with the conditions of success, sometimes from intem- 

 perance, and sometimes from too great a tendency to operate in 

 lumbering. But the Dead river settlement was increasing in popu- 

 lation, and would continue to augment as knowledge of its value 

 for settling purposes should be extended. 



Mr. Chandler corroborated the statements made by Mr. Dill, and 

 4 



