Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-12-24
Machine on the Brain.

Various have been the estimates OF
the amount of patent machinery pur-
chased by the people during the cur.
rent past year, but fair average
reckoning puts the amount at a mil
lion and half dollars to each hun>
dred thousand inhabitants.
At this rate the State Of Wisconsin
expended last year about fifteen nils
lions for machinery, aud Grant coun>
w about halfa million dollars, or ST.
so to each person, reckoning great
and small.
We have also seen it estimated , AZ
the average net amount of income
these times to each hundred thousand
inhabitants not far from two millions
of dollars, or say something above
three-quarters Of million to Grant
county.
This calculation has nothing to do
with excited prices and speculations,
but is made upon net earnings and
profits growing out of legitimate bust.
ness and labor.
The material point we wish to no
tice is the vast proportionate outlay
for machinery, very much of it en-
tirely worthless-the outlay being
above half the net income Of the peo>
pie, and the profits arising from the
best machinery not being above me-
dunn equivalent for the cash expense
Every note shaver and dealer in
business paper, or promises to pay
given by farmers to patent right
agents, is full of such promiscs-thesc
falling due constantly and swallowing
the thousands of loads of farm stutfs
now being marketed. These prOmis,
es have to be paid at maturity. All
other debts may stand or be fixed up
for future day. The result is, the
merchants and mechanics arc short
some of them in bad way for want
ofmoney to pay up their debts.
We have barely noticed some ofthe
evils OF o too liberal public support OF
the Patent Right machinery business
We can think Of no remedy, except
our advice to everybody to be far
more cautious in the future in this
matter of buying machines We can>
not advise against the purchase OF
such machines as are known to be q
success and to save many times their
worth in labor, rs the grain reaper
and mower, the planter and cultiva'
tor, the sewing machine and clothes
wringer, &c. These machines are as
essential to the farm and household
as the old plow and wash tub,
1t would certainly pay very large~
ly to appoint and pay a public exam
ming committee Of farmers and me-
chanics, whose business shall be to
meet once month for passing their
judgment upon any new machinery
offered, and that such committee
shall ordain such rules and regula-
tions as would protect the public from
imposition, and check the machine
agents in their irresponsible raids on
the weak minded and inexperienced
And, suppose the expenses Of such
committee were a couple of thous>
and. What oft? There would be
one hundred thousand dollars less
outlay each year for worthless ma
chimes not purchased, and so one hun
dred thousand dollars more money
kept for better use, and also one hum
dred thousand dollars more for tax
basis than what there is-provided
the assessment laws are lived up TO-
But we do not recommend the APP
pointment OF such committee. The
public mind is not prepared for the
like there would be great cutlery, es
pecalIy by those oftenest cheated by
Patent Right agents, who still claim
the ability to manage their own con
Germs better than a committe could
do it.