Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-08

RIVER FALLS, May, 9Th 1868.


JOURNAL in reference TO the natural re-
sources Of this section Of the country, and
the best means to dcvelope the same,
have created quite an excitement: in GER
tain localities. But an ominous sign of
the times is in the fact that the greatest
uneasiness is manifested by class of
men who produce littIo or nothing, and
propose to live by their wits, and that is
always at the expense of the laborer.
These witty fellows are rather hard TO
please. and, while. one complains and
says that Foster does not show single
argument in favor of consolidation, the
other is disposed to abuse the Editor Of
the JOURNAL for allowing me SO much
space. To the first l would say that
some things are SO plain that they need
no argument and statement Of fects is
sufficien! for those who are not so blind
thoy won't see; while 10 the other /
would suggest that the breadth of his
liberality, as well as bis understanding,
might be explained with entire safety.
This foxy" family is rather restless
any way, but who would have thought
that they were burrowed so shallow that
by simply walking over the ground their
| fears would Lave been aroused and
found vent in such despairing walls.
While the Editor of the Times says that
now, since the matter of consolidation is
settled, it is good time TO discuss it,
free from all personal interest, Mr..
Ames says it is fine time to talk the
matter over. Now, gentlemen, since
your Interests are the same, you ought
to agree better. But since you are un
fortunate in this respect, we will endeav
or to please both of You, aud while we
pursue our own course and attempt to
show the electors of both Of these coun-
ties, by facts patent and fair argument,
that consolidation will be an advantage
to the majority, let one hold the candle
while the other looks on.
And now, Mr.. Editor, / ask our tax
payers to use as good judgment in loca-
ting their County Buildings as common
farmer would in locating his farm build
ings. Ii lie has n fine tract of land
Il Ii -. 1
prairie, with fine stream of water near
Iy in the centre, easy of access from the
outer portions to the stream, and all the
advantages of lime and building rock
there, no man Of sense would ever make
two farms oft and locate two set Of
Of farm buildings remote from such nat.
ural advantages.
But suppose through SONS freak of
speculation such thing should happen,
should bis heirs or legal representatives
be eternally bound to such folly? No.
Their first work should be to break up
such an establishment.
Consolidation has been termed plot
or scheme by those opposed to it, but let
me tell your readers, and all others in
terested, that this IS question of moro
importance to them than any other that
will come before them for years. The
fiends of disunion aud plumber are con
troled By one set of tactics, while those
of consolidation are impeled by another
set, and Just the reverse; and each re-
duces to practice in business transactions.
tho motives and principles which gov
ern him. On one side of us are those
loud in their praise Of wheat raising and
shipping, just for the narrow margin of
profit it affords few individuals,
{ while on the other side are found the
timber destroy ers, who are sapping the
real wealth of Pierce County. Both are
like the fur traders who once infested
this section of country, who encouraged
the Indians to Lil the deer and throw
away the venison, and then sell the
hides for powder, tobacco and whiskey.
At Hudson they fell us how much
wheat they have shipped out of the
country, leaving the farmers cattle aud
sheep to starve and die for want of the
coarse feed that could and should have
been saved in the country by manufac-
turing it here. In the timber they boast
Of the amount Of pine, oak and butter
nut converted into posts and sold for less
than q song TO Minnesota farmers, while
every load was worth at least six dollars
to have been. sawed into lumber. Then,
too, that lumber should have gone
through the hands Of mechanics, by tho
aid of water power here. when its value
could scarcely be estimated. 1t SO hap
pens that this state of things is formed
BY the anti consolidationists. They ia
vor temporary relief or money making
for few, and are, or seem to be, against
. the greatest good of the whole; while
those opposed to them favor consolidation
and consequent retrenchment, wheat
grinding, feed and timber saving, and a
railroad policy that shall insure the
growth and prosperity of the country
generally.
1t has been estimated that the two
t, counties shipped about one and halt
million bushels of wheat last year, and |
think it safe to estimate ;hat two mil
hons will be shipped the present season.
The shipper pays the farmer his money,
and there is the end of it with him. The