With the plans for the building of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad came a number of so-called “investors” who sought money-making opportunities in the Lykens Valley. At a meeting held in Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in February 1911, one of those investors, Finley Acker, of Philadelphia, proposed plans for the valley which included an amusement park and resort at Sacramento, Schuylkill County, demonstration farms in the valley, a printing plant in Gratz, and opportunities for farmers to purchase small, “guaranteed fertile” plots of land were scientifically determined as profitable when used for a certain type of agriculture. Were the residents of the Lykens Valley being conned? Or, were the capitalists who descended on the valley honest brokers who had the best interests of the residents as the central selling point in their sales pitches?
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 15 February 1911:
GREAT FARMING DEVELOPMENT IN LYKENS VALLEY
Finley Acker and Party Buy Land in “Back to Soil” Movement
WILL FIRST TEST IT
Then It Will Be Laid Out For Intensive Farming
HAVE A NEW PLAN
Purchasers Will Know Exactly What the Land Will Do
by Robert F. Gorman
Gratz, Pennsylvania, 15 February [1911] — Since the big Board of Trade at Sacramento on Monday evening everything in the Lykens Valley has been a hustle and bustle. People are still commenting on the great speech made by Finley Acker,of Philadelphia, in which he portrayed the future development of the valley and in businesslike way told of the “square deal” principles which will be used in every new undertaking through the beautiful valley.
Yesterday morning Mr. Acker, George B.Wells, A. M. Slocum, R. H. Sexton, W. W. Cole, D. W. Guise, of Philadelphia, and J. Irwin Miller, of Springville, who are back of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad now being built through the valley, and who propose to lay out and sell a large number of fruit and other farms in the valley, comparatively small tracts for intensive farming, made an inspection of the newly acquired farm formerly owned by Edward Shade, near Springville. The farm has been purchased by the Lykens Valley Development Company and will be used as a demonstration farm. People in all parts of the valley proclaim the farm the worst in the valley and this statement makes the members of the company happy because they propose to show that the worst farm, with proper caring, can be made the best in the valley. Several of the fields will be sown with wheat, rye and other cereals. On other fields alfalfa will be grown. Fruit trees of all kinds will be planted and on a pretty hillside grapes will be grown. A winding stream of pure water flows through the farm and will greatly add to the future attractiveness of the place. The old buildings on the farm will be town down and in their stead beautiful new structures will be erected.
At the present time the farm implements are allowed to stand in the elements. For these, sheds will be erected.
Will Buy Farm
During the inspection trip, Mr. Acker, who is vice-president of the development company, stated that it was the intention of the company to secure numerous farms throughout the valley. “We will buy these farms and at our own expense ascertain what can best be grown on them,” he said. “After we learn this the farms or tracts will be divided into ten=acre farms and sold.
“Proper fertilizers will be used on the ground and the farms put in the best possible condition.
“Many developers simply obtain lands, divide them into plots, and sell them, allowing the purchaser to run a risk of securing a good farm. Our plan is new and altogether different inasmuch as no farm will be sold until it has been tested. With only a few exceptions, where we know that the farms are fertile and what they will best produce, will there be any land sold for at least a year. In that time the farms can be examine and put in good condition.” Mr. Acker went on to say that every transaction will be absolutely on the “square,” so that people will have confidence in the developers of the Lykens Valley.
Another Tract
Prior to inspecting the farm a tract of land just south of Sacramento was gone over. This tract will be utilized for park purposes and in it there will be placed all kinds of amusement features. Beautiful trees and pretty streams give the place the appearance of a natural park.
The party, after making the two inspections, went to Gratz and at the Rogers Hotel dinner was served. After an elaborate feast the party was received by a committee from the Gratz Board of Trade. The committee offered the Philadelphians a site for the new printing plant which Mr. Slocum will open. A building will be erected just opposite the site on which the railroad station will be built. As a temporary location the second floor of the building now being erected by the Odd Fellows will be used. Gratz as a whole is proud that the first printing plant in the valley should be established in that town. After the sites had been discussed the men left for Philadelphia and this afternoon a meeting of the executive committee was held in that city to determine just how soon the new printing establishment would be opened.
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