The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-01-02

How often IS this question asked. and yet
how foolishly it is often answered One thing
is clear: A farmer should never be allowed
TO make the reply, for he is not the proper
Judge This may sound strange, but it is
gospel truth. The fact Is, "A farmer puts IN
living as nothing tao balance. Tie dOesn t
even think Of house rent, of the privilege OF
riding in his own carriage. He merely looks
at the annual income in dollars and cents,
and strikes Il balance.
We have heard farmers say that tilling the
soil didn't pay ten per cent. on the invest
ment We know that those who make such
statements are either very dishonest men or
decidedly poor farmers, and that the reader
can decide for himself. Meanwhile we pro-
pose to enter into a little mathematical cal
culation, and, If wrong, will be glad to pub
fish any decent contradiction that Eaay be
sent in reply.
A. buys farm of one hundred acres for
seventy dollars per acre-a big price, but we
will err on the safe side. The sum total for
his land, therefore, is $1,000 He buys
horses, COWS, sheep, etc, $1,000 more. Add
to this incidental expenses, such as hired
help, etc, $500, and we make the sum total
invested $500. The interest on this sum at
eight per cent would be $3.50. And now let
us see if he makes his interest
IA man cannot rent house suitable for
a family to live in for less than $40 per
month, even in the country. He gets his
house rent, therefore, which is $3.50 per year.
ANY good farmer raises his living. His
chickens and COWS will buy his groceries, and
he will obtain the best of everything. His
food bill is worth $2j per month, or $500 a
year. He Couldnt buy it for that in Column
bus.
3.-The privilege Of a horse to ride over
The country is worth one dollar per week.
II is one Of the greatest lLxurics, and is cheap
at Sj2 year.
Ale can wear out his old clothes. Don't
laugh That is a big item with a man who
is forced to dress large family. In the
country, ones clothes need not be donned
every day. The society is not so eXactng.
Fashion does not so make slaves of the peo.
pie. \ farmer with three children saves at
least fifty dollars year in clothing by keep
i1g out of town. Let him bring his family
TO this city, and note the difference
"a farmer who puts his corn iut1 stock,
and utilities all the manure the stock gives
HIM. should SELL each year, not less than
5000 worth of wool, fat sheep, hogs, cattle
ard horses. We know one man in Delaware
county (he is farmer, though who sell $1,000
worth of stock and produce off his farm OF
one hundred acres each year. But say $500.
Now add this TO the 1922 saved In living, etc,
and you have grand total of 81 ,122 per year
profits, or nearly fourteen per cent.
But you say that the labor must come out
OF that Didn't we allow $500 for that? IT
you don't think that is enough, add more TO
1t; you will still find the interest on your in
vestment will bring a larger per cent than
you can get IN any other way. II we are
wrong, we are willing to stand corrected ;
but We are, probably about as near the thing
as the three per cent. farmers who let the
manure all drain off their farm-yards, and
stand aghast at the awful expense Of a few
rods of tile drain Columbus Gazette