The Grange advance., 1874-03-04

n railrosd Suo,oed in-zxnsbrota, it,
Grosoth, Schools and Churches, M;zls,
Cheese Factory, &c., &c.
With the object Of seeing and reporting
how railroads are built, looking upon the
growth one Of the richest wheat growing
| sections of our State, and calling upon old
and new friends, We left our editorial
sanctum, and with the ribbons in our own
fingers started for Zumhrota, where was to
be held according to the papers, but which
wasn not held by reason Of the weather, the
meeting ofthe Faribault, Wabashaw & Green
Bay r. R. Co. On the way we were glad to
notice the thrift manifested in the fine new
houses, barns and buildings. There pro-
badly never before has been year in the
history of this section Of the State when
there has been SO many good barns built,
during the past year. 1t is pleasing evi-
dence of Improvement among the farmers
The principles of economy and care.
fulness, with regard to the products of the
farm, and humanity to the dumb brutes are
working themselves out into practical re-
suits. 1t used to be saying, when we
were a boy, among the farmers Of Illinois,
that the good farmer always built good
barn before he built his new house There
is certainly nothing more essential to a farm
than plenty of good secure barn and stable
room. Here as elsewhere in the State we
noticed number of pleasant farm houses.
beautiful and even elegant in their finish and
the completeness Of their appointments:
surrounded with trees, and shrubs, and
appearance of comfort as to make Patron
feel that he has before him noble illustra-
tions of the practical results Of the teach
ings of our noble Order.
While we record with pleasure the nu-
merous improvements, truth compels us to
say that there is another side to the pic
| ture. A large number of the farmers still
| live in the little, rough, unattractive build
ings which their limited means only per-
mitted of their building when they first
came on their lands. The straw pile thrown
over rude structures made of crotches and
poles, in many instances, still afford the
only barns or stables. If anything in this
world is more suggestive Of an entire ab-
sence of all comfort, than to see one Of
these little shanties Of rough, weather
beaten and weather stained boards, devoid
Of paint, standing on the high, bleak prai-
rie, without the shelter of even a tree or
shrub, on cold, windy day, then we hope
to be saved the sight of any such object.
Yet in these rough abodes nestle warm
hearts, and live men of strong arms, who
have fought manfully with the difficulties
that have surrounded and nearly crushed
them. Hardships and exposures have left
their marks upon these men as have the
storms upon their dwellings. While we
looked upon some of these places we felt
that the "farmer's movement" had not
come day too soon. These men have
worked too hard and thought too little,
and they have been the too easy dupes Of
/ men who have done their thinking and
made their figures for them; but now,
thank Tod. these men are beginning to
think and figure for themselves. The Or
der of the P. Of H. has come to these men
with its beautiful teachings, and has said
to each one Of them, " in life let your aims
be true and your conduct perfect, keeping
the plowshare Of your mind bright by deep
thinking and active use." And when this
lesson has been learned and practiced and
worked out into noble results, all will be
prepared to act on that other lesson.
Therefore strive to make your home
pleasing-mske it more and more attract
i've; adorn your grounds with some Of
fusely spread around US"
Arrived at Zumbrota we found that
THE RAILROAD
Had been blockaded by the snow, and that
although We were behind time we had got
in ahead Of the train, in fact the railroad,
or the railroad men did not arrive at all
but the enterprising citizens of Zumbrota
were there and full of the belief that the
road will be built. They say that the task
Of hauling wheat twenty or thirty miles
cannot be understood by those who have
had no experience that the hauling of
wheat over the prairies during such wealth
er as we had q year ago is not only diff
cult but dangerous task, and that the
tavern bills paid out will average from
forty to fifty dollars for every thousand