Missourian View of Potato Bake

Waupaca Post

September 24, 1908

A MISSOURIAN’S VIEW ON OUR POTATO BAKE

Another word of favorable comment on the question of future potatoes bakes is contained in the following personal communication, received by the editor from a relative residing in Missouri. The writer of this letter has been a close observer of agricultural and industrial progress, and speaks from practical experience.

“St. Joseph, Mo.

September 21, 1908.

Brother Loren:

Have read with much interest the account in the “Post” of the Waupaca Potato Bake. I can foresee excellent results from that movement if followed up by other similar events in the future. ‘It pays to advertise’ is an old saw that has been cutting away these many years – nevertheless the edge is still keen, and is as true today as ever it was. It not only pays a merchant to advertise his goods, but pays also a community – and pays well, to advertise its advantages and its products.

You will recall how back in the fall of 1890 you and I were somewhat instrumental in establishing the now famous, Melon Day at Rocky Ford. At that time, you will remember, Rocky Ford was but a patch of a place, probably less than five hundred people; and that the melons raised, while as good as those grown since, were practically without a market beyond a few local shipments by express to near-by points. Melon Day at Rocky Ford has become a fixed annual event for Colorado. The production of melons in that section has multiplied many times over, and all raised now find a ready market, not only throughout the United States, but in Europe as well; and at prices attractive and profitable to the grower. And Rocky Ford, the patch, has (figuratively) grown into a full sized pair of trousers – big enough for grandpa – and incidentally into a thriving little city of five or six thousand population. Melon raising still is the leading industry there.

I know full well that in your section are grown the finest potatoes produced in this or any country; that it is the principal market crop, and enters vitally into the industrial welfare of your people. What Rocky Ford has accomplished for her melons, through the advertising secured from “Melon Days”, Waupaca ought to accomplish for her potatoes by pushing and enlarging her “potato bakes”. If the excellence and superiority of the Waupaca potato over the soggy, starchy sort grown in the heavier soils, was known generally to the consumers, there is no reason why they should not command a more ready market and materially higher prices than the others. To put it another way; the Potato Bake looks like a good thing, and something it will pay to push along.

By the way, speaking of “Pushing”, when any of your people get to pushing westward, they should not overlook Saint Joseph – another good thing. So good, in fact, that today it is making greater advancement and offers better opportunities than any other city in the Central West.

With best wishes,

H.G. Krake”