Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-11-14
cLEARFIELD COUNTY.

CLEARFIELD COUNTY
From an article in the last Lock Haven
Uatchman, with the above heading, we take
the following paragraphs =
GA large portion of the Inhabitants of Clear
field County engaged, more or less, in
the lumber business. Very little land in the
county, except the narrow valley along the
Susquelianna, is susceptible of cultivation
without hard labor attended with great ex-
pcnse to the huSbadman, which oftenilmes
exceeds the value of the whole crop raised by
the farmer. The lands back from the river,
are high and rolling, and the soil is of a cold
clay formation, liable to early frosts.
ssThe formation of the land the uncertain
ty of the maturing of the crops, and the fact
that most of the inhabitants are engaged, as
we said before, in the numbering business, all
combined, retarded the farming interests to
such an extent, that for many years previous
othis, there was not enough grain raised with
in the boundaries of the county to supply its
home demand compelling the inhabitants to
go abroad for many of the necessaries of life,
thereby, to certain extent, impoverishing the
inhabitants of the county to the advantage of
the more fertile districts of the adjoining
counties, made so by scieuti6c farming and
the natural richness Of the soil.
"Some of the enterprising farmers and SUBJ
stantial business men of Clearfield county lead
on by such worthy and practical men ELLIS
IRWIN, ESQ, knowing and foreSeeing the diff.
entities that the citizens of the county had Ia
bored under, and would continue to labor un-
der, unless the cause was remedied, two years
ago undertook the audahe enterprise of stim-
ulating the cause of agriculture, and getting
the farmers interested in scientific agriculture
and notwithstanding;the apparent barenness of
the soil, have to a great extent, had their no.
bic exertions crowned with success, as we are
fE,;c
the inhabitants OF Clearfed county have rails
ed nearly grain enough.to supply the home
demands of the county, and with a fair pros
pect of raising enough next year for the sup
ply of their own market, and having surplus
left for expectation. II this be true, and we
have it from the very best authority, it will
mark new and happy era in the prosperity of
6lcartcld county, for no county can be SUBJ
sfantialy prosperous for any length of time,
whose agricultural interests are neglected.
"Ths fall the citizens of Clearfieid county
held their first Agricultural Exhibition, which
an entire success. They had to purchase
the grounds, make their track and erect their
buildings for the reception of the different
articles, to be placed on exhibition. The
whole receipts of the society were S1896, So
and the whole expense of the society, inclu-
ding premiums was S1o49,9 90; leaving a ball
.ance in the Treasury of the society of $3l6, ,56;
II very good beginning we say, and also excel
lent and honest financering. The expenses of
the Fair, for grounds, &C., were more than
ours, and the society paid larger premiums,
for agricultural productions and machinery,
than the Clinton county society did, and small
Ter premiums for trotting horses. Among the
items of expenses published (for the Treasu-
rer of the Clearfield Society thought it his du-
ty TO publish the receipts and expenditures of
the society we find the following IS. B. Row,
tor printing and advertising, SIC 10; Geo. B.
Goodander 4 Co., for printing and advert
sing, sos 90; For services of Curwensville
Band. 500 90.
"The society fulfilled all their financial en-
gagements, by promptly paying all their obli-
cations, and consequently, every person inter-
ested was we'll pleased, and the cause vastly
benefited. Thus 1t will be with evely agri-
cultural society which is managed and con-
trolled by enterprsing and intelligent farmers,
who always take special delight in jeuing
those who have Just and honest claims against
the socety, down TO half price, and who, after
receiving the funds of the society, will not
condescend to publish statement of the way
the money was expended, or if expended at
all, or how much received by them for the So
ciety. OF course, society controlled by such
persons as those latterly named, would not
give general satisfaction nor would hundred
agricultural exhibitions under their directions
be of any advantage tothe cause OF agriculture.
In order to have any agricultural society ben
eft the farmers, lit must be controlled 10y
Farmers, not by Shyioca>s, and it is the Far
mer's fault if they do not control agricultural
exhibitions"