Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-01-20
Letter from GAINESVILLE, Wisconsin.
JANEsyILLE. Jan. Ia. 1871.

Letter fsor, GAINESVILLE, Wisconsin.
EVANSVILLE, Jan. IA, 1871.
DEAR JuDoE:-That ga prophet is
without honor in his own country
is more than implied in Il maxim Of
high authority. Tie fact that one
is domiciled for short time in an
other, and with less than usual to
occupy his time, would hardly in it.
self be a warrant for ilflicting my
squibs upon your numerous readers;
but rs they have to go through the
crucible OF acceptance Of a verita-
bic ex.judge, who may be supposed
/ to he discriminating as well rs just,
l forward you another, embracing
the statistics of what l gave you the
gencralities in my first.
The Evansville Gazette of the 9th
inst. has a review of the industrial,
manufacturing and mechanical es
Establishments OF the city, which have
been ut the foundation Of it's growth;
Il growth that has had reflex in
fuence on the prosperity Of the
farming community in the county.
1t requires but small number of
non-producers to carry forward the
strictly commercial relations that
exist between seller and buyer. 1t
must be obvious to every one, that
other things being equal, the nearer
any article can be produced to the
consumer, the better it is for him
and the producer. Take, for in
stance, the article Of farm imple-
mcnts. There is one firm here that
have made the past year:
| 1900 Sceders valued at ........$ $4,000
400 Reapers g ....... 10000
Other machinery ..... 10000
| Total. Observation-Disclosures. 900
Now it is of no Importance to the
argument to know how much of that
comes to Buchanan, as we very well
know that there is vast value of it
comes from somewhere, and that it
employs large number of middle
men in handling and transportation
who have got to receive pay for
their services. Now, two or three
resident non producers will readily
perform all the commercial part be-
tween the seller and buyer Of this
large amount of machinery, while
its manufacture here gives direct
employment to l25 men, besides it's
collateral influence on other me-
chanical employments. Now these
l25 men with their families have
got to have their necessities sup
piled by the farmer, the mechanic
and the merchant. You will notice
that there are 1900 sceders sent out
from this shop valued at $50 apiece.
Now is there farmer in Bnchan-
an who has used Whitney & Clark S
seeder, but what believes that it is
as near perfect in principle as a
secder can be, and sold by them for
s75-proof positive of the principle
which l would illustrate. And al
low me here to say to those gentle
men, that l think they would find it
for their interest to put up at least
a part of their machines of the same
width as those with which they
have to compete from abroad.
There would be less tapping over,
or blanks, and still be sufficicntlv
light on the team, and in my view
he every way preferable.
There is another establishment
here for manufacturing agricultural
machinery that employs 80 men, and
turns out $50 machines valued at
100000. a man engaged in manu-
featuring doors, sash and blinds,
employs 80 men constantly. The
machinery is driven bv an 50 horse
power engine, which drives also the
machinery for making the first men
toned agricultural implement, the
buildings being on the opposite side
of the street and the shafting run
ming under it. There are other diff.
fercnt branches OF manufacture that
employ in the aggregate l25 men.
There is one shop where were made
10000 -four barrels, and there are
five Touring mills that turn off over
100000 barrels of flour annually in
addition to the custom work done.
One Of these mills has a capacity OF
making 800 barrels q day, and made
in 1870 in their shop connected with
their mill, $4,000 flour barrels.
have before said that it was the
ideal of the first settlers of Indcpen-
i Hcnce, that it would he place equal
to this. Surrounded by a better and
more extensive farming country that
is. and always must be tributary to
| it. if it rightly and well improves
its natural facilities, there is moth
ing to hinder its becoming all that
its early founders Anticipated. As
the basis of this accelerated gro ,vth,
improved facilities of transportation
are a necessity. Manufactures can
not flourish without them. But
there is no class so directly inter
ested in having competitive route
to the east and the south as is the
farmer. Time is the essential elc-
mcnt of success with the merchant,
rs expense is to be added to the
original cost Of his goods. Not so
with the farmer. Every cent saved
in transportation is so much added
to the net value of his crops, and in
an equal proportion lessons his bills
PAYABLE. 1t is Il fact that NAV not
he known to all of that class, that it
costs more for our lumber mer-
chants to get a car load from Du-
buquc over the Illinois Central than
it does those in Waterloo over the
same road to the Mis- issippi. There
seems to be little doubt but what
iudicious action of the citizens of
Buchanan at this time will secure
to them all the benefits that another
road would give, both direct, and
as a stimulus to draw in additional
capital.
The first Sabbath evening I was
here I had very pleasant surprise
nv cordial shake of tie hand from
Frank Barnett. His many friends
there will be glad to know that Me
| is very pleasantly situated in store