304 Agricultural Manual 



Saranac Lake village, which is a noted health resort, owes much 

 of its prominence to two men. The first of these men is W. H. H. 

 Murray, who published in 1868 an alluring sketch of Adirondack 

 life and pleasures, thereby attracting many visitors to that section. 



In 1873 Dr. E. L. Trudeau of Xew York City, who had become 

 a victim of tuberculosis and had apparently but a short time to 

 live, chose to spend his remaining days in the forests that he so 

 much loved. Since he derived benefit from the surroundings, a 

 number of similar sufferers were sent to be under his observation. 

 The accommodations required for the constantly increasing num- 

 ber of patients formed the nucleus for what has since become the 

 village of Saranac Lake, which is unusually enterprising and 

 progressive. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



The manufacture of starch from potatoes was an important 

 business in this section from twenty-five to fifty years ago. Today 

 the starch business is a thing of the past, and immense quantities 

 of potatoes are marketed for table use. Hops, which were once 

 extensively grown, are now limited to a very small acreage. 



Dairying is the leading agricultural activity, the. spacious dairy 

 barns and the silos now in use bearing evidence of its importance 

 in the agriculture of Franklin Countv. Since the increase in the 

 dairy business less attention has been given to the raising of sheep, 

 although there is an excellent opening for the development of this 

 industry. 



The soil and climate of Franklin County are especially adapted 

 to the production of potatoes, hay, vegetables, and oats. In the 

 census of 1910 the average production of potatoes was given as 

 107 bushels to the acre. In the towns of Bangor, Constable, and 

 Westville small fruits and vegetables are largely produced. 



The largest industry in the county outside of agriculture is 

 probably a wood-manufacturing business known as the Oval Dish 

 Company of Tupper Lake. 



