Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-07-05
More Good Hands.

In all branches of human industry there
is a great lack of skillful and reliable
help. But in none, probably, is the de-
ficiency of good, efficient and trustworthy
hands so keenly felt as on the farm. A
hand who is strictly faithful to the inter
ests OF the employer, and is skilled in the
various branches of agriculture, can cCm-
mand almost fabulous wages. In fact, in
any branch OF industry hand can, if he
will, make himself so useful and reliable
that the employer cannot do without him.
This is not mere luck The door of
success stands open to every young man
who desires to enter. But it is closed
against the idler, the careless and the I'M
faithful. Many laborers are to-day work
ing for sixteen dollars per month and
scarcely earn that, who might be work
ing for the same man for more than
double that wages. Men conducting
farms in Iowa and elsewhere find their
sOrest trials in unfaithful hands. The
employer cannot be with them in the
hours of labor in the field, Or watch them
when they are tending to the various de
partments of the stock. But he soon
knows who is doing his work and chores
faithfully. Such man is valuable and
can command wages worthy of one who
intends to rise in the world.
But with the largest majority of labor
ers, the employer has nothing but vexa-
lion of spirit. Tle sends the hand to the
| barn to harness span of horses to go to
| blowing. He will not notice whether
the collar and names are suitable for the
horse. Probably the upper strap in the
names is three inches too long, and to
makes things tight he buckles the lower
one close. In this way the draft is thrown
on the point of the shoulder, and one day $
| blowing Injuries the horse so that next day
he has to be turned to pasture, probably
for weeks. Another horse is furnished,
| and he is told the deficiency in the names
the day before. Rashly he determines
that there shall be no more injury in that
way. So he buckles the upper strap
tight, and the lower one loose, and goes
to blowing. The draft is too high and,
by choking, the horse gives out before the
bell rings for dinner.
Again, he is set to narrowing. He takes
the harness he was using the day before
hauling out manure. The hip straps have
to be much shorter on wagon than on a
harrow. But he did not know or did not
care, so he narrowed all day with the hip
straps holding up the front end of the
harrow. When he went out to work, he
puouCNt GuC due W, DuU ulu uOG hasten II.
The cows seeing it standing slightly ajar,
put their noses in and pushed it open.
Soon he saw them trespassing in the fie d.
he caves the team and runs to drive out
tie COWS. The horses run away, break
the harrow and ruin one of the horses.
And we could 60 on and give the mishaps
! and accidents caused by ignorant, careless
and unskillful men for every day in the
year, and in all departments of the farm.
Is it any wonder the farmer yeaTns for
more good hands? They are very scarce,
and there are now one hundred situations
vacant for every good hard there is to be
had. The reason so many are idle, lead
ing vagabonQ lives, is that they are Of no
use, and do more damage on the farm by
their awkwardness and iuattention to
business than their labor is worth. If
hands could be trusted, farmers could
proftably hire more at better wages. And
it can be safely decided that any hand in
al the Northwest who is idle at this
season of the year is worthless. a new
and raw hand, who mas never studied or
learned farming, may do for the rougher
and simpler work, if he is under the eye
and direction of the employer. But such
men always demand as much wages as
one who is skilled in the business. And
the want of farm hands is causing old
men to abandon their farms. finding it
impossible to conduct their business with
the crude, unlearned and useless hands
who are trying to pass themselves of as