The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-06-30
Hnrd Times.

sshard times'' which. meet US from all
quarters, we are inclined to believe that
the people of our town and county have
abundant cause for thankfulness. Du-
ring the paralysis of every branch of
business consequent upon the monetary
pressure, whish has not even yet spent
its force, our people have always had an
abundance of the comforts of life, and
although our merchants have been COM
PEELED to tax their energies and Ingenuity
to raise money to meet their engage
nIents, they have, with very few excep-
tons, been successful. Our town is i'm
proving more rapidly than ever hereto
fore-our mechanics are all employed,
and at very liberal wages-our farmers
are very little ia dcbt-the prices of
Wool, Wheat and other Staples are ad-
vancing, and the prospects of a bouutiful
harvest were never more cheering. In
addition to all this, a few months, we
have every reason to believe, will soc a
large force engaged upon the line of the
Atlantic and Great Western Railroad,
which will give a new impulse to every
department of business.
Now, per contra: In ell our principal
| cities, East and West, we hear Of large
masses cf men without money and with
out employment, and those who are en-
ploycd are receiving a mere pittance for
their toll. During the past winter, an
immense number of the population of the
large cities wero dependent upon chart
ties for their daily bread. 1t was hoped
that the return of Spring would bring
relief, but this hope fai'ed-and Spring
and one-third of Sammer have passed,
and the bitter "hard times" continue
with undated severity.
In Buffalo a few days since, we read
that a thousand orderly, sober and able
bodied laborers, willing and eager to
work at almost any price, but having no
money or bread, waited upon the Mayor
to lay before him their grievances. Of
course that functionary had no power to
grant relief.
In Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit, we
are informed that there are more mon
unemployed o than were ever known
before. OF the condition of things in the
former named city, the Plaiadealer says:
"WANT WoRK.-There are more men
out of employment in Cleveland now,
than there ever. was before at this sea-
sou. They must live, and are willing to
work cheap. Something should be done
Immediately towards providing work for
the needy and deserving mechanic aud
laborer."
TIE condition of the laborer farther
West is equally deplorable. Az ex-
charge says that "in Chicago there are
ten men seeking employment where only
one can get it. The city laborers there
are now working for half a dollar a day,
and thousands are almost starving for
want of work. Farmers 10 Northern
Illinois are hireing men at eight dollars
a month"
The land-speculating mania, which re-
ceived such n~oxious stimulus by the ru-
nous land plumber policy organized by
Judge DOUGLAS in Congress. is working
out its fearful results upon the business
interests of the whole West. The Kan
sas Herald Of Freedom draws this fright
full picture of business, which we pre-
sumo is not overdrawn:
Eve pity the nan who is compelled
to raise money now in Kansas. We
we're told by a money lender, the other
day, that he was receiving from 10 to
20 per cent. per month Tor the use of
money. and had been paid at the rate of
20, 25, and 80 per cent. per month to
discount rotcs. The lowest rates, on
good security, for the usa of money seem
to range between three and FIVE per cent.
per month. Business in all our Kansas
towns is nearly suspended. Men with
twenty or twenty-five thousand dollars
cannot sell property at any price to re-
alize aver a few hundred dollars. Real
estate can be bought at r%uinous rates,
persons IeeIluS compelIeu VI seli " lCai
ize ready money, perhaps to save their
credit. Hardly any branch Of business
is sustaining ITSELF"
A friend connected with an extensive
New York jobbing establishment assured
US the other day, that all efforts by east
ern houses to make collections of their
debtors in the States and Territories
west of Ohio and Indiana had been
abandoned.
In addition to other calamities, recent
floods have destroyed millions of dollars
worth of property in the West and South
West. 3
Looking, then, at the condition of the
country, East and West of US, we con.
clude that the population of the "back
bone'' counties of Ohio have as good cause
for self graduation and thanksgiving al
any other people of equal numbers upor
the face of the earth.
sN"H So