The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-11-27
The Hop FeYer-Its Rise and Fall

The Hop Fever-Its Rise and Fall.
A Wisconsin correspondent of the Utita
Observer is writing to that paper much fact
and sentiment on the subject of hops:
Although / am living in district where
hops are all, and in all, still would not
allow my interest in the fate of the bitter
blossom, nor the sympathy which any one
must feel for the misfortunes of so many
worthy people, render me impervious to
the fact that the affairs of Sank county
have no claims upon the interest of the
readers of the Observer; and that they
would be justified III declaring that if they
pay for their glass Of beer, the hop uestion
has no other claims upon their regard.
Yet an article in the production of which
millions of dollars are invested, and in
the cultivation of which tens of thousands
of laborers, male and female, are employed,
should be regarded with some interest by
commercial people. The moral and social
phases of the subject, too, may be viewed
With profit, bringing to the surface as
they do some strange curiosities from the
deep sea of human nature. Like the oil
business and gold digging it has exposed
many of the weak nesses, not to use harsher
term, of an excited community. Viewing
it from these points [ have felt justified
in occupying so large space in your COL
umns with the subject.
"A year ago the only ely was Hops :
It's hops that brings in the rolls of
greenbacks, It's hops that have dressed
up the women SO fine It's hops that
have changed the face of the country (!
The listner migh be prompted to enquire
what expression the face of the country
gave to the beholder before this change was
brought about. The expression on the
face of the hop grower, as he went by
perched on his thousand dollar load, be-
trayed the vanity and self Importance
ofthe owner. He felt as though mis- position
was envied, and the treasures of his load
were coveted by all beholders. Now, as
these same men take in few bales o. hops
as payment in part of their enormous bills
at the stores, everythingis changed, as from
gay marriage feast to a solemn funel al.
Last year t)p-buyers, as l said, came in
August, eager to buy, and as the same
season approached this year, growers
were full of hope, and prophesied that in
few days we would see them coming
along two on horse, Offering sixty cents
pound. But the hop picking season came
on and no horse that came along the road
bore even one hop-buyer. This looked
rather ominous but the growers would
not admit that their faith was weakened.
Sull, the corners of their mouths had de-
cided downward tendency, for they were
expecting to sell before picking, and re-
eeive, as on former occasions, about five
per cent on their sales. This was their
only reliance for paying their pickers. FL
nally their poor crop of hops was harvest
ed, at an enormous cost, but still no buyers
made their appearance. The pickers were
expecting to secure thoir pay, and were
impatient to be taken back to their homes.
This was sad state of things. The
stock OF provisions was consumed, and
there was no money, and but little credit
to renew the supply. The disappointment
OF the pickers was great, and assumed va
riety Of forms. Many were dependent up
on their earnings to procure the necessaries
Of the coming winter. Boys and girls, the
members of poor families, had been elated
with the prospect of procuring, in an hon
est and independent way, such additions to
their wardrobe as their parents were unable
to supply. There was an unusually large
proportion of men among the pickers this
season, and their feelings we're vented iD
rather violent terms and In some cases no
language was adequate to the purpose, and
blows were substituted. In some cases
their employers we're unable to take them
back to their homes, while In others they
refused to depart without their wages.
AT every turn the evil effects are seen OF
community becoming too much absorbed
in one interest, and solely dependent upon
the tate Of one article. The merchants of
this county are pretty sound set of men
if they were not so there would be general
crash amongst them for their sales for the
last nine months have been made almost
exclusively on credit, and the payment of
nearly all their accounts was dependent
upon the success of the mop crop. They
needed lesson on this subject, but the one
that has been taught has been a pretty se>
we're one."