Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-01-02
Hard Times--A Few Practi-
cal Remarks.


The following article Astounding
with solid chunks of wisdom"
we find as communications in
the Alexandria Gazette. Its sug-
gestions if adopted, would be of
incalcuIable benefit to the whole
State:
In "A former article under this
head. we endeavored to demon
strate to the people of Virginia
that If they want better times and
IA re money, they must stop the
present system of sending to other
countries and other States for al
most every article used on the
farm and in the household; that
our State officials and Legislators
must stop sending to Boston for
chairs, and our citizens must stop
sending to New Hampshire for
second rate bedsteads, and to New
York for hay. We must econo-
mize, be more industrious, and
drink less whiskey. 1t is said,and
no doubt the statistics will prove
the fact, that more money is sent
out of Virginia for whiskey than
is received for all the grain expor-
ted from the State.
Another great drawback to the
prosperity of Virginia is the qua
no and fertilizer trade. During
the pas. thirty-five years. at least
$50, 1000, 900 has been sent out OF the
State to buy guano anu fertilizers.
If our farmers had turned their at
tention to stock raising, and had
locked to the barnyard instead OF
Baltimore for fertilizers, this fifty
millions would have remained at
home, and the ia ural increase OF
horses, cattle and sheep would, by
this time, have amounted to one
hundred millions more.
Benjamin Hallowell, in an adj
dress delivered at Fairfax Court
House, thirty years ago. told his
audience, composed of farmers,
that the guano trade would be a
great curse to Virginia. Mr.. Hal
lowell comprehended the subject
in all its bearings, he foresaW what
the result would be in neglecting
stock raising, and discarding the
BARNARD for expensive commerce.
al fertilizers, and The words he
then uttered have proved true in
every particular and as disastrous
as true. | would rather take the
chance of making a fortune in
gathering sumac, or shaving hoop
poles than raising wheat with gu
ano. Sending money to New York
to buy hay, to New Hampshire to
buy bedsteads and to Boston to
buy chairs, will result III hard
times and bankruptcy as sure as
two and two makes four.
Two things the farmers of Vir-
ginia should shun as they would a
pestilence-po politics and guano. In
stead of commercial fertilizers buy
good cows; instead of raising
wheat. make cheese, butter and
pork. Establish a cheese factory
in every county in the State and
we should soon near less complaint
about hard times. The single
cheese factory of Hamilton has
been of more benefit TO the farmers
of Loudoun county than all the
Presidents, Governors and mem
bers of Congress that have been
elected since the formation of this
government. a few days ago we
asked farmer if Hamilton and
vicinity would not be a good place
to buy fresh cows. Mo- said he
"don't 60 to Loudoun county if
you want to buy cows cheap. New
er go near Il cheese factory if you
want to bay cows at low figures -
Go into Fairfax, Prince William
or Stafford counties, where you can
buy fresh cows for $25 that would
cost you $50 in Loudoun county"
Again we say to the farmers ifyou
want to prosper buy stock, erect
cheese factories and look to the
barnyard for fertilizers instead of
to Baltimore. ID. Il.
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