The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-12-06
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For the Herald Of Freedom.
LAWRENCE, Dec. 4, 1856.

fed that the manufacture of lumber Is
the safest business that can be followed.
Saved lumber brings from $3.50 to
"a, 90 per hundred while the logs can
be.purchased from so cents to 81 %
per hundred in many instances the
mill-man saws for others, in which case
he charges $3.50 per hundred feet
There is do danger of competition in
the business, nor will there be for long
time to come. But" asks one, what
are the saw mills to do when the coun-
try is settled 2" l answer. lumber will
ALWAYS be wanted, but il more saw
mills exist than are needed for lumber,
they can be changed to Touring mills.
Next, the house carpenter and mason
are much needed, and will find plenty
of employment for years to come. The
shoemaker will find men, women and
children, all of whom need soles for
their feet, but not souls for their body ;
their bodies are full of soul, and noble
souls they are. The furniture manu-
facturer. the blacksmith, tin plate
maker, and various other artisans, will
find enough to do, and good pay when
the work is done; or, if one does not
like either of the above he can go into
merchandise, groceries, dry goods,
crockery glassware and hardware, all
look inviting; but I think most favor
able of hardware all kind of goods in
that line sell at large profit, provided
they are well bought. especially, what
are called shelf goods. These, if pur-
chased of the manufacturers Of New
England, or at Pittsburgh, will afford a
profit OF one hundred per cent. Mer-
chants should always purchase as near
the fountain head as possible, for every
man wants his profit.
Should none of the foregoing suit, a
man can take up claim, and his land
will soon be worth ten dollars per acre.
But" says a farmer, "you have no
timber in Kansas, or, at least, many
claims are destitute, and timber lands
taken up. | must buy my wood and
timber, which will be heavy tax" p
Let US go into an investigation: Two
energetic young men start from New
England for the West in the month OF
March. A purchases l60 acres of the
heavy wood lands of Michigan, and B
purchases the same quantity of prairie in
Kansas, on which there is not stick
of wood. Each pays for his land, and
has five hundred dollars in cash left
The first year A cuts down 40 acres OF
growth, which usually costs from six
to eight dollars per acre; but, as he
works himself, we will suppose he pays
out one half of his $500. The next
spring, if he has a good burn, he is
able to plant corn; but as he is COM
PEELED to hire help to chop and pile the
logs that remain after the burn, and to
plant, and as he has to wait till it is
late in the spring before he can burn,
is not always sure to put in his seed in
season for good crop. After his first
years crop is in, he may have $3.50 of
his $500 left !; with this he has to hire
help to weed his corn, which must be
done with hoe; and perhaps he may
be able to cut down twenty acres m ore
of his trees. In the fall we will allow
him forty bushels of corn to an acre, or
l 600; this he sells after harvesting, at
twenty cents, making $500; with
this sum he can, the next year, plant his
sixty acres, provided he has had good
burn on the twenty, and possibly may
be able to cut down forty acres more.
Well, from his sixty acres he will
probably raise 2,400 bushels of
corn, worth 5000; and when it comes
March, three years have rolled around.
A has sixty acres cleared, forty more
ready for burn, on which he hopes to
raise 1000 bushels of corn the ensuing
season. But raising wheat is out OF
the question, till the stumps have rot
ted out. In addition to his improve
ments he has 5000; but no house, no
orchard, no pasture, no stock, and last,
but not least, no wife. He may have a
log cabin, where he eats his sup
per in solitude goes to bed to dream
of bears, wolves and wild cats, and
when he awakes in the morning, won
ders how much longer he is to live in
such a state of wretchedness.
And now for Mr.. B. The first year
he plows forty acres and plants to corn,
which cost him S120 to plow buys
him mule and a few farming tools,
which takes 800 more, and after his
corn is weeded, or dressed, as Western
men style it, he commences fencing his
land. He has to build all alone by the
road, but only half by the side of his
neighbors this makes him four hundred
and eighty rods of fence to build this,
beside what he can do himself. viii cost
him 80 cents per rod, or S240. His mo-
ney is now all used up to $40. This
supports and sees his corn all harvested.
He raises twenty-five bushels to the
acre, or 1000, bushels, which he sells
at twenty cents per bushel, or $3.50.
With this he commences the second
year; plows forty acres of sod, plants
tie whole to corn; raises eighty bushels
to the acre on the old ground, and
twenty five. on the new. He sells 4, 600
bushels for 81, 600, with which he COM
mences the third year. He plows ano-
ther forty acres hires man; buys
another mule, and few farming uten-
sis, and more stock. Himself and man
take care of the corn, with a little as
sistance in planting and dressing, and
have time to assist a carpenter in build
ing pretty house. In the fall he has
], 400 bushels of corn. He sells 1000
bushels for 81, $50, and starts for down
East; visits manufacturing town
goes into a mill looks about sees q