The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-10-08

NOW Tue w estern States have one dollar
Invested in machinery for every twenty
eight dollars In farms. 1t requirs some
intimate knowledge of machinery 70 keep
10 repair aud manage these improved
farm imp ements economically and sue
cessfully. So that in addition to his
knowledge Of the principles OF tillage,
ths Farmer must be something OF ma
chinist, a1d in SO far as he masters his
limpleme ats, he is wiser man than were
i his ancestors.
The cloud that overhangs the Western
farmers armament. to which I have
alluded, is we'll recognized by then. They
have endeavored to ward off the threaten
ing storm by organization tor advice, for
improvement, and for mutual protection.
This is certainly most worthy move
ment. There is rothirg better adapted 10
advance the welfare of any class Of So
clety having the same interests at stak
than wise and judicious association. All
hail then to the rapid growth of those Or
CARNATIONS through which 50 many thou
sands are seeking aid But that they may
be most wieely and carefully managed :.
The enc for which they were created
n'ust never be lost sight of. To gain this
end, will require good pigment, careful,
honest and deliberate action, Intelligent
and passionless discussion, recognition
OF the equal rights of property, however
vested, and road comprehension of all
the causes at work for, as well as against
the farmers true interest These are
rather words of caution than of accuse
ton, Yet you cannot fail to have recog-
nlzed during the past two years, some
what monotonous cry against railroads
aud commission men, while scarcely
word OF counsel or advice, so far as nv
reading has extended, has been uttered to
| prevent the constant violation Of the law
1sf supply AMI demand, that has been
undermining the foundations off prosper
Gus agriculture.
As we are gathered here then, after
rea ping the years harvest, i. benooves us
as rational men to take our bearings anew
and to change our course, if there are
dangers ahead, rather than b!lndly close
our eyes while the wind and tide are car
rysng us on to certain destruction. What
Is the outlook to-day for the farmers of
the Western States What are the dan
gers they need to AVOID, and what means
necessary to shun them?
have endeavorcd to point out one
great reason why farmers are not now en-
Joylng as great prosperity as they were
ten years ago. Besides over production
there are other causes more or less re-
mote, and amoDg these I may mention the
and the extremely rapid settlement of IL
wide extent of territory. For, paradoxical
as it may seem, this rapidity of S, ttlement
has been hindrance to its own prosperity
by keeping the West overwhelmed with
debt, and weighed down by exorbitant
taxes for buildings, improvements
and railroads, in short, for much of that
which is at the same time the cause of
tue rapid development, and the thing
itself
For the many hardships that are now
expressing the farmers of the West, no
one class of men is wholly responsible
But, unless Congress is held accountable |
Tor them, because the public lands were
sold 80 cheaply, or given to the actual
Sattler, farmers must themselves bear the
burden Of the blame.
But the case is not hopeless one.
When one is lost in the wilderness, it IS
wiser to look for q way out, than to waste
time in attempting 30 find the man who
directed him in. The way out of the
present trouble is Tor farmers to make
themselves masters of the situation This
mastery can only be gained by an intelli-
gent knowledge, not only OF the daily
routine of their business, but also of all
their aelations in life as producers aud
citizens. have often thought that of all
professions the farmers is the one in
which there ismost need of that thorough
mental training which gives b man the
most vigorous use OF all his faculties. His
calling stands upon broader foundation