Litchfield enquirer., 1872-04-04
WooDBURY, March 25th,. 1872

MR. EDrToR:-My attention has been called to some strictures in your last issue, on communications in the Waterbury American. You say there is opposition to the scheme. "Plainly 8 mistake" We are ''ot opposed to having railroad to Woodbury, but we are not in favor of compelling large class of our citizens, farmers, widows. and others who would. not be benefited by it, to pay for it. You Gas' ~--' --.--Aha& fha Woodbury farmer cannot compete with the western farmer in raising grain, &c., is false, and yet, in almost the same breath, you admit that in the city mar kets, where western grain is stored, and where the Woodbury farmer should have easy access, he can bug his grain cheaper than he can raise it. Before the era of railroads, our hills and valleys we're thickly dotted with stately farm-houses, and our young men looked forward to farming as the most honorable and profit able of occupations; now, we find them turning to all other employments as more lucrative and desirable. Valuable farms, within radius of two miles of our cen ter, are offered for sale at prices much be- low that of former years. Do you think you could find a purchaser in Litchfeld county? Will any man invest his money so as to realize only minimum per cent. on its Such investments would probably bring from two to three per cent. Add to this, say, 8 five per cent. tax, or an equiv alent interest on such tax, and you have added the straw that breaks the camel's back. The truth is, no man can afford to buy a farm under the present condition of things. Our farmers, with few exceptions, have inherited their farms, and those who have bought, and attempted to pay for them by the products of the farm, have found it difficult, if not Hopeless un- dertaking That railroads by developing the resources of the west, and bringing them into competition with us, have wrought this change, it seems almost needless to assert. What in the name of common sense is the use of railroad to farmer if he raises nothing to sell and what has he to pay, for grain and coal, even though they be. ''cheaper than he can raise them. !" You say he must turn his attention ''to the raising of tobacco, dairy products, and the sale of nnilk": Dairy products, like grain, are cheaper in market than here What would be the effect if all New England farmers were to turn their attention to the raising of to- bacco and milk? Where would they find a market? This may be, 'sin short" the high road to wealth, but s'don't see il. The statement in regard to Morris was made on the authority of selectman of that town: he was understood to say that the unusual expenses" of that town were directly chargeable to railroad inter- ests." c. J. MINOR
 During class meeting held several years since by the Methodist brethren of Southern village, Brother Jones went among the colored portion of the congre- gation. Finding there an old man noto- rious for his endeavor to serve God onthe Sabbath and Satan the rest of the week, he said: a 'sef ss= s.s.st 2.
 .sWell, Brother Dick, I'm glad to see you here Haven't stole any turkeys since saw you last, Brother Dick ?,'
 @sNo, no, Bruder Jones; no turkeys.'
 '.Nor any chickens, Brother Dick ?"
 'sNo, no, Bruder Jones; no chickens.
 ssThank the Lord, Brother Dick That's doing we'll, my brother r said Brother Jones, leaving Brother Dick, who imme- diately relieved his oYer-burdened con science by saying to near neighbor with an immense sigh of relief: s
 'sEf he'd said ducks, he'd had me P
 A little daughter of c. c. Corbett, of Norwich, fell into tub of hot waters Tuesday, and was so badly scalded about the limbs that her recovery IS considered doubtful. %-
 Mir. Bayard Henderson, the American Livingstone and New York Herald cor respondent, twice killed by the Lowery outlaws in North Carolina, and several times drowned by the Barnum cannibals, has rstnrned in safety with fifty five cents k 4