The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-03-01
The gedfura Gazette.
Local and Personal.


THE WESTERN FEvER.--We have
frequently adverted to this subject, by
way of cautioning those who are dis
satisfied with their comfortable homes
in old Pennsylvania and are moved to
emigrate to the West. We find an ar
ticle on the same subject in last weeks
Inquirer, and as we are glad to find
something in that paper which we can
endorse, we transfer the article to our
columns with our special commenda-
ton. The Ipquirey has the floor:
Every few days, some one of our
subscribers drops into our Office to or
der lot of sale bills for himself or his
nelghbor preparatory to moving west.
When questioned as to his motives for
going west, the reply is, land IS cheap
er, opportunities are greater, the people
are more enterprising. These people
looking west ward are always OF one or
the other of two classes. Young per-
sons who, to use their own language,
want to go where the people are wide
awake; or older persons, who lacking
enterprise themselves, hope by getting
into live communities to 'be waited on
to fortune on the current of other peO-
pies energies. To both classes we
would say, look before you leap, think
befOreyGu move. Besure that the same
labor expended, the same energies put
forth and the same hardshipS endured
here would not yield you the same re-
turn as there. Thousands yearly leave
good farms, comfortable homes and
kind friends, in this and other parts of
the State, to seek their fortunes in the
far west. Many, dissatisfied with their
western experience, return in few
years to find their former homes Occu-
pied by more prudent and thrifty men,
while they themselves are poorer than
when they first left the old homestead.
Others succeed in their new homes and
write glowing letters to old friends and
acquaintancesO of the tempting prospects
of the great west, but if they, wonder
ing at the stoIidity that keeps people a.
mong the hills of old Pennsylvania,
conclude to visit their old home and
see what is wrong, they generally find
the friends they left behind them, quite
as we'll off as themselves and some
times little better. Distance lends
enchantment to the view in going
west as well as in many other things.
We would not deter any one from GO
ing where he is convinced he can sue
ceed. best in his calling whatever it
may be. But Pennsylvania has not
yet reached the maximum density Of
population consistent with the highest
prosperity This is the case not only
in agricultural and mining pursuits but
in the numberleSS other attending
trades and professions. Even Bedford
county is capable of sustaining double
her present population and giving to
all advantages of every kind superior
what the present population now en-
joys. We are calledslOw and old fOgy.
So we will continue to be while the
young and enterprising portion of our
population yearly emigrateS west. 1t
IS to the young we must look for enter
prise and not to the old. Itisthe great
er preponderance of young men in our
WeSvern States that give them their
character for thrift and energy. There
is not a farm in Bedford county on
which twice as much labor and capital
could not be expended with two or
threefold increase of profits. There is
not factory of any kind in the county
possessing the requisite power where
the machinery and hands employed
might not be doubled with profit to
the manufacturer, his employees and
the community around about him.
Energy in one branch of business be
gets energy in another, so thrift begets
thrift. If our young men will stay at
home and devote their time, talents
energies and capital to the develop
ment of our own resources we will
soon cease to be called old fogy."