River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-11-28
The Late Crisis and earning.

The Late Crisis and Farming
Under this head writer makes the fol-
lowing seasonable and well considered re-
marks;
Failures in business have been in order
for several weeks, but among the many who
have thus given mp all their creditors, how
few Of them have been farmers 1t Is a
good time 10 repeat what we have often
said before, that there is no pursuit which
offers so certain living as that in connec-
ton with land-gardening farming, or
fruit growing. We suppose NJ one objects
to this. We never heard any one but would
readily agree that farming, or its allied oc-
equations, were more sure TO bring in a fair
competency but it il said one can't get rich
at it; and then IL is said TO be such a dull,
plodding business. But this is just as peo-
/ pie make it. 1t is plodding because, as a
rule, 80 many undertake to push it with
too small capital--that is to say, try TO do
too much with too little to do it with TAX
ing perhaps hundred acres when fifty
would have been better for them.
In this respect farming is not different
from anything else. Any one can look
around and see men who have started into
business without much capital, and who
have to work hard all the days of their lives
This is particularly the case with storekeep-
ers. We know of men of this character.
who supposing farming was but ploddingo
| along, started to keep store when compare
| lively young, and who have succeeded so
well that they are considered well off-and
so they are in some respects That is to say
they own store and an extensive stock,
worth perhaps so many thousand dollars
But it is question whether it is not rather
the stores which own them For wears and
years they had to be about from early morn
ing till late at night, most of the time a
prisoner between the four brick walls.
| They have plenty 10 eat in the meantime,
and wore tolorably good clothes, besides,
| perhaps, having good seat for themselves
or family in the church or meeting house.
Many of them are now grandfathers, and in
the natural course of events must die, and
the only satisfaction they have in looking
back over their long, hard-worked life is
| that when the stock and fixings are sold
there will be perhaps "a trife left for their
families. The sons and daughters have to
begin again-not where their fathers left of,
but very nearly where the father started.
| Yet, after all, farmers life need not TO
be dull and plodding. There are few per-
suits which have so much leisure. True it
is that at times there is great pressure OF
things to be done, and hard work is in or
der; but, as compared with the store-keep-
ers, it is nothing near as regular tax ON
his attention. The pressure over, compare
tive leisure returns; at least though there
is always something to be done, it is never
so Immediately pressing and pushing as II
is in other occupations. The opportunities
for study and for social enjoyment-obiects
surely as well worth living for as a mere
leaving behind us a mass of acquired wealth
are much more surely within the grasp OF
those who cultivate the soil than those who
are tied to these never-endingcalls To be
sure there has never been much attention
given among the farming community to
cultivate society" among themselves, but
there is no reason why they should not.
They could, if they choose, so organize
matters among themselves that both young
and old could enjoy themselves together in
an agreeable manner, with more pleasurable
, results than any fashionable set in the city
ever dreamed Of
And as to wealth, depend on it, there is
just as much to be made at farming as at
any other pursuit, if it is followed in the
same business way. If a man starts farm
ing with no capital, he is, of course, little
more than a laborer, and has little right to
expect more than laborer's pay in the re-
suit. If, when he makes a few hundred
dollars, instead of improving his farm with
the money, and making it work, as it is the
object of most commercial business to make
capital work, he puts it into some railroad
stock, bank stock, cooperative machine
shop, transportation company, or other
similar schemes, which are ever awake to
catch up his small change, he will always be
among those who had no money in farming