Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-09-19

pensive In the end. Owing to the
scarcity of lumber, it costs more to
build good log rancho and fence a
few acres, than it would take to buy
good sized farm, partially cultivat-
ed and with some improvements,
east of the Missouri. Men used to
productive fields and lunning
streams cannot take kindly to bar
ren tracts, scarcity of water, and
short seasons, where irrigation keeps
them constantly employed, and they
then find that, for all their time, la
Dor and expense, they have but
about one-third. of an eastern har-
vest. 1t is true that sometimes a
few passable acres are found near a
mining-camp, whose proper cultiva-
tion enriches the owner; but such
are the exceptions, as a mining re-
gion is seldom an agricultural one.
Colonies fare no better than indi-
viduals; and those best known, and
with the greatest names, are no ex-
ceptions. Owing to the high price
of labor, and the enormous sum ne
cessary for the proper irrigation of
their lands, 1t will be ssme years he
fore the amount invested can be re-
turned; and it cannot be otherwise
than a poor prospect for farmer
to know that he must pay for every
acre watered by artificial means;
that hereafter his work must be more
of scientific than practical charac-
ter; that the visionary theories held
by Agricultural College Professors
are to be put in operation by him, as
he is one of a jOint-stock company,
to which he bears the relation of
being a part owner in, and slave
to, at one and the same time.
There are spots scattered through
out the Far West, which, for agri-
cultural purposes, will rival any in
the East, but their distance from
civilization renders hem, at the pres
ent time, impracticable for cultiva-
ton and dangerous for settlement.
Time will give them occupants, but
not until it becomes necessary for
farm-labor to look for lone and oc-
cupations outside of the Border
States, and as they can, for years, of
fer better inducements than the Far
West, we cannot expect it soon.
The very reasons that 90 far to
keep small farming Improbable
prove to be favorable to The man of
capital, but only in one way, he must
invest in
CATTLE, HORSES OR SHEEP,
and give his time and attention to
;hem. Money, and plenty of it, is
required to build ranches, stock farms
and hire sufficient number of herd
ers to prevent any attack by either
white or red thieves. Those who
have tried it have been amply repaid
and have found that the Far West
affords, at least, one opening for
speedy fortune. The parched, sandy
soil of nearly the whole country
west of the Missouri, which proves
so detrimental to agriculture, gives
growth to an abundance of strong,
good grasses, of such excellent quail
ity that countless herds live and fat
ten on them the year round. The
short seasons and severe climate
cures them, with all their nutriment
intact, on the stalk, thus making the
best of uncut hay, and affording fine
winter-grazing. The deep canons
and high bluffs gives shelter from
the periodical snow storms, which
are nothing strange on the Plains
even during the summer months.
With all these natural advantages,
stock raising cannot but pay.
"a ''It takes money to make money!"
the world over, but more particular
ly at the present time in the Far
West. The good old days of placer
diggings and pan-mining are nearly
at an end, and to make either gold or
silver mines remunerative takes the
best of machinery, and the cheapest
of labor. To obtain q good and pay
ing mine, already topened and in
working order will take more money
than would buy whole county of
the best land in Kansas, while to
turn prospector and discover a claim
for oneself will soon eat up the val
ue of good farm in Ohio; and in
nearly every case, the search must
be given up, as every available foot
of land has already been explored.
The wages paid to laborers in mines
averages from 50 to So per day, and
it is only men who thoroughly un-
derstand their business who COM
mand the latter sum. The high
price of all necessary food, clothing
and shelter, when taken in connec-
ton with the daily pay, does not JUS
tify the immigration of any one who
is forced to become a worker instead
of the owner off mine.
.9is TRADEsMEN AND MECHANICS
fare better than any other class
their various avocatlons being al
ways in demand, not only in the
principal towns, but in every mining
camp. There is no scarcity of work
for builders, stone-masons, black
smiths, etc.; and they are paid far
better than in the States. The nu-
merous military posts scattered
throughout give employment to ma
ny; but every vacancy is soon filed,
as. Government situation is prefer
red, on account of the eight hour
law, the permanacy and lightness of
the work, as well as the surety of the
pay.
Tie-camps, lumber regions and coal
mines offer high wages and steady
work to laboring men; but they
must be strong of body TO stand the
roughness of their surroundings, So
Der if they want promotion, and in
dustrious if they want success.
On the whole, the Far West proves
to have plenty of employment at
rough, manual labor, but very few
openings where bread can be earned
by less than "the sweat of the
brow"
The extravagant opinion hei9
years ago by many, that goid co'lu ~
be had for the picking up, Is now IT,