Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-05
CLEVELAND, MONDAY MORNING. JULY s. 1858.
From the AnerieSn AEriculuTist
GETTING RID OF ROCKS.
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In our primary soils, where large rocks are
imbedded firmly in the soil, and he thiekiy on
the ground, they are great membranes 10 the
cultivation Of the land, aud, If 10 be got out OF
the way are q great expense IN their removal
Many of them are worked into stone fences, but
as better stones fUr such purposes usually
abound on the same premises, these huge rocks
are little less than a nuisance, 70 be got nd OF
in some way and that usually by blasting,
picking up and earn ing away altogether, when
they can be devoted 70 no useful purpose
There is another way # getting nd Of them,
which We { NJ best illustrate by a case IN point.
Some years ago a wealthy townsman bought a
country place-a rude farm, rather, having good
capabilities for fine residenee-a lew miles
out Of town, aud went to WOIk to improve it,
In laying out his building grounds, huge gran
ite rOck, of several feet IN circumference, lay
deeply imbedded in the light yellow loan
where he purpOsed to have his lawn. That
roek be must have out Of the way, and, as he
had no tools to blast it with, he set to work
with his half dozen labOrers, and two or three
yoke Of oxen, to remove it. The owner " bos-
sed' the work himself; but as he knew much
more about merchandise than moving rocks,
the work went on but badly. He ordered lev
ers and handpikes the laborers shOyeled q hole
on one side, to get the lever under the rock
they dug holes on the other side and they dug
holes on all sides the chains were wrap
ped around it and hooked, and the cattle whip
ped up and bawled at by the teamster-all TO
no purpose The chains broke, the work
men gabbled, the teamster seolded, and the
" boss " fumed and fretted. 1t was no go, de-
cidedly, after toiling at the rock half day
There it lay-heavy, sulen, immovable.
As they were about leaving Tor dinner, lank,
lounging Yankee came travelling along. with
stick over his shoulder, and bundle tied In a
cotton pocket handkerchief hanging on the end
of it. Hearing the 'muss' over in the field, he
turned from the highway TO the fence near
where the men were at work, and took look
to see what the men were about. The men had
now scattered, leaving the owner OF the premi-
ses still at the rock where he quietly stood, ap-
parentiy musing on the i'll success of his morn
ing labor. Singing out to him, our Yankee ex-
claimed
'Say, neighbor, what We dewin' on ~
Feeling exceedingly nettled, yet still willing
to receive comfort from most any quarter, be
mutlered, half angriy, yet somewhat cOaIingly,
''Iye been working all day with a lot Of stupid
fellows, and a couple of teams to get out this
rock, and here 1t lies Just as fast as ever, and
believe l shall have to abandon 1t after all"
"Due tell l never !" said the Yankee climb
ing DNtI llit Auu AppIOdGllilH NuE pro-
prietor-where he carefully laid down bis bum
die, containing probably the most of his spare
wearing gear" and what dele ye want to do
with it !"
Nothing in the world but to get it out Of
sight, some way or other, so that l shall never
see it again"
''sartin Never want to see the rock again
SO q"
"Yes, out Of sight; that's all care for l''
"And heOw much'll We give to Pus the Pesky
thi e where ye won't see 1t agaln-nevert"
"Why, I've fooled away five dollars on It al
ready and Ill give five more to any one who
will do the job"
"Sartin !"
"Yes; sartia',
sWeA, throw in my dinner, for I'm plaguey
hungry, aud keep them prsky fellows out .,
The lotand give me good shOVela and I'll dew 1t
for ye this afternoon"
The bargain was struck, the Yankee given his
dinner, and about one O'Clock, p. n he was
seen, Coat of and sleeves r-lled III, ct pleas
ant day in The month OF April, shovelling ava,
like ''all possessed" in sinking a huge hole on
one side. aud partly under the rOck aiorssaiJ.-
The owner, of cc'irse, was not far away, direct
ing his men about other labor, which they pros
eeuied with more apparent success than at heir
morning work, Long before sunset our Yam
kee sung out 10 his employer, and beekOned
with his hand to come 10 the spot. lie was
theIe IN a moment,an found huge hole which
would furnish cellar for a moderate sized
building.
Say mister; you jest take hold O. that
end OF this ere pTy, anu bring it rOund kere.-
while / throw round t'other end, SOS 70 give
the rUcK a jmtle farve, and guess we'll fitch it
So the 'bOss," now PLAYING The workman
did as he was hidden, and the lever was laid >,
that when the Yankee hal thrown OuI q few
shOVels-full more of earth the stone was nicely
balanced upon 1t. and a stout lift would throw
it directly into the pit
but don't we want some helpl Stay
minute, and Ill call my men TO help you"
mot single head on 'em 'thout yew wan
'em buried in that 1.-THE best possible US
r such an idolatrous set o. critters can be pu
. tew Well do it ourselves"
So saying, our Yankee just eased the furthe
end of his lever, while by his direction his EN-
plOyer, with hand spike on the other side o
the rock, gave 1t gentle lift, and over wen
the enormous boulder into the pit, with its up
per side laying full two feet below the suriac
of the adjoining ground. Seizing again tn
, shovel, before the sun was fairly set, the sion
4 was covered 10, and the surface leveled Gu
Yankee rolled down his shirt sleeves, put o
t his coat. and graYeiy turning to his employer
E remarked
Meow, Squire, that ere five dollars, if YOUR
I will. Fair bargain ant iti You'll never Sc
r that ere stone again, 'nless you dig for il"
5 Certainly, here's your money and if ha
to pay you twenty it would be knowledg
: cheaply gained shall know what to do vii
{ the rocks on this place hereafter"
. Mot with them Pesky bog-trOtiers about u
| guess this afternoons work II set me on
5 beOut anothe hundred mile t'rd the West, an
I'll be joggin'. So, good night, Squire
3 And away trudged our hero toward the "a
E West, and to competence; leaving our newly
{ instructed farmer TO vex and fret himself wit
; his woTkmen as occasion might offer