248 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



not exercise their imagination about what goes on, except 

 in their own town or perhaps in the immediately adjoining 

 towns which they have heard about. 



In every town along the coast of the State there has been 

 during the last few years especially an incursion of people 

 from outside, for the purpose of acquiring ownership of 

 land. Some of the citizens tell me they are buying for men 

 in Xew York, for men in Boston, for men as far West as St. 

 Louis and Minneapolis, even ; that they have been employed 

 by a company here or there to acquaint them with any 

 opportunities for the quiet acquisition of land. Of course 

 these purchasers do not wish to come into competition with 

 themselves, they do not wish to have it known that they 

 want to buy eligible places, they do not wish to have prices 

 advanced upon them ; but in all the shore towns of the State 

 there is something of this movement going forward, — in 

 some, of course, much more than in others. If we could see 

 all the people as far West as the western side of the 

 Mississippi valley who are setting their faces towards the 

 shore towns of New England, it would be a charming and 

 impressive spectacle ; but of course we cannot see how many 

 they are, and they are buying our land away from us almost 

 without our knowing it. In several instances which came to 

 my knowledge the old holders of the land were very much 

 astonished that anybody should want their land at all, or 

 offer any price for it. They found it very difficult to realize 

 that it was worth more to anybody else than it was to them, 

 and they were rather surprised that anybody should think of 

 giving the sum of money that they were disposed to sell for. 

 Instances like this exist in many of the towns of Massa- 

 chusetts. People who own an acre or two on the shore do 

 not think much of their ownership ; but when men come to 

 own three or four miles of shore land they think it almost 

 invaluable. The way in which we treat our roadsides is 

 <ro'm<x to have much to do with this movement. If we can 

 add to their beauty, we shall increase the attractions which 

 we have here in this beautiful State of Massachusetts. 



The Chairman. ^Yc are very glad to hear from Mr. Har- 

 rison ; and, if there is any other gentleman present who is 

 inclined to speak from the same stand-point, we shall be very 



