Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-30
PRESCOTT, WIS. THURSDAY.

come as thriftess and never ending as those
of Sysiphus hence tisc desire to leave for
British Columbia. Salmon River, and Ca.ifof-
mia in search of remuenrative labor. All
wealth is the result of labor, either physical
or mental and whatever place or country it
is best paid for, thither it tends. Indeed
strong is the desire for accumulation that
| neither the cold or SHOWS of the frozen nor
| the heat of the torrid zones, or the dangers of
the sea can deter those anxiOusly in pursuit
of wealth. With greater diversifcation Of
EMPLOYMENT this county could greatly en-
hanc, its prosperity instead of exporting
grain let but the flour be exported and we
have made one step i'll the right direction.
( With water powers that for centuries have
run uselessly along their bed or dashed them
selves wildly over precipices Offering their
services equal to thousands of horses in
! their power. We import much from the east
that could infinitely be better or cheaper
done here. Flows, wagons drills. reapers.
threshers. wooden goods, even wooden ware
/ tubs pais etc. are made and imported from
/ the east with cost of transportation ad led to
be paid by the purchaser OF consumer To
import what can Is well Do male mt home,
is TO set at defiance all laws of political econ
! omy. Let MS for a moment look nationally
| at this subject and see the advantages attend
| ing it.
| 1t is manifest thai the producer of wheat
receives at this village but the price current
of wheat minus the profit Of the buyer. or
/ minus the freight by steamer and rail to New
J York. OF market 1t is equally manifest
that we must pay to orr merchants here the
cost of the goods in New York or Boston
| plus the profits necessary to carry on the
mercantile business, with these deductions
/ Of commissions. storage, insurance and freight
taken from wheat and the same list added to
/ l., L., flo Far
mer finds wheat growing profitless.
1t is not that the northwest has not advan-
| tages f,,r wealth and happiness. but we fail
/ t. see them. Wheat is king at the north. as
was cotton supposed TO be at the south. We
| grow no wool, but wheat, no sorghum but
more rheat, no fax, but all wheat.
To increase the prosperity of the north
west is not to add to it more grain growers,
but mechanics and manufacturers. Let the
agriculturests diversity his productions by
growing sheep. horses. flax. and neat cattle.
| We shall then not only produce our food, but
our clothing as well. farmer cannot afford
/ 10 stand on the corner of the street in Janu-
airy without coat to chatter about the price
| of wheat Let him raise his clothing as well
| as mis- bread,
Let it not be understood that I aim any
thrust at wheat dealers or any merchant en-
| gagged in Legitimate business. Ny only aim
is TO bring the producers and consumers so
near each other that the products be not en-
trely swallowed up by costs OF transporta-
ton. commissions and storage. Instead of
waiting for the railroad, of which we have
long since despared. let us learn to do with
out it, as did the fox without the grapes.
who declared them sour and Ct no practical
utility.
An original essay read before the Farmers Cub, at
| River Falls, by WIN. Barker, ESQ.