Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-08-30
WHY WORK ON RAILROADS 2
Strike Out West for q Farm--Encourasement
for Young Men who Have not Chosen Their
Vocation for Life.
Aurora fIn.l Herald.

for Young Men who Have not Chosen Their
Vocation for Life.
Aurora Ull.) Herald.
The recent strike has shown the young
man of the country that working on rail
road is not the most desirable occupation in
the world Experience has demonstrated
that the universal tendency among the mana-
gers of railroads is to treat labor as it does
any other commodity, and, therefore, to pur-
chase the article as cheap as it can be pro-
cured. Hence they cut down wages, and
continue 10 cut down as long as the laborer
will stand il; and, if he don't ike the plan, he
is invited to stand aside ad give place to
others entirely out of work, who are ready to
take his place at lower wages. But why need
they 60 to work on q railroad when they can
be their own masters, make living and even
accumulate considerable property at other oc-
equations !? Agriculture, the first and no.
biest occupation of man, is ever open for
more laborers. With few acres of land and
reasonable industry, man can raise sutfi.
cient bread and meat for himself and family
and in case ofnecessity can also raise his own
wool and fax, and spin and weave his cloth
as in primitive times, and so be independent
of all the rest of mankind. There are thou
sands of acres of good land west of us yet I'M
cultivated and many right around US which
might produce double their present crops
with the expenditure ofjudicious labor.
The wages paid to farm laborers may seem
small to those who look at the comparatively
large figures paid by tho railroad, but boys
and young men do not count the board, which
is always Included in farm wages; while, in
the case of many railroad men, il takes near
ly all their wages to pay board, especially if
al, Va !. IL
the encouragement of young men who have
not yet chosen their vocation for life, the
names of number of farmers in this inn
mediate vicinity who commenced working at
very low wages, and who have succeeded in
making living, besides laying up something
for rainy day. The names are well known
in this vicinity, and were gathered in half
hours talk on the street, and could be multi-
piled many times by further search. We
have purposely left out all those who have
inherited any property from any source
Rodney McDole. of Sugar Grove, commence
ed working at farming at Sc month. Has
raised large family, and is now estimated to
be worth 100000.
Fuller Bowdish, of Blackberry, commenced
working at So per month, is now about So
years old, and worth $4,000.
Perry Bowdish, also of Blackberry. aged
80, commenced at So per month, and Is now
worth nearly $4,000. These men of course,
started working for themselves as soon as
they could.
Ben George, of Sugar Grove, worked three
years for $3.50 year. At the expiration of
the term had saved $500, and is now estimate
ed to be worth $4,000 at the age of 81.
S. Willie commenced farming operations in
this country by cutting wood at 25 cents a
cord Is now worth $4,000.
William Niles worked at small wages by the
month, and now has farm, etc, valued at
$4,000.
Billy Price also worked at small wages, and
his wealth is now estimated at 500, 000
p Young worked the first three years of
his majority for $40 per month, and is now
estimated worth from $4,000 to $75 ,0O0
His brother Frank commenced in the same
way, and is worth like amount.
Sullivan Dorr used to work for $40 a month,
and is now worth 10000.
Daniel Myers, of Big Rock, worked one
year at farming for SO month, saved 800
out Of his wages and started on his own hook.
Is now SO years old, and worth $50, 900.
James Daniels, of Blackberry, worked for
Uncle Tom Judd for $40 month; and is now
worth $4,000.
Frank PAUL worked short time at small
wages by the month; has farm in Sugar
Grove of 675 acres, and is estimated to be
worth $4,000 to $4,000.
David Annis, of Kaneville, father of our
present City Judge, commenced his farming
career in this county by working for Rodney
McDole at haying for IS cents a day. He
strove for independence by getting McDole
to trust him for yoke of oxen, when he went
to farming on his own hook. He has now
over 1000 acres of land, and is estimated to
be worth $4,000 to 100000 at the age Of
81 years.
William P West of our city, worked on a
railroad until he had saved 81 900, when he
struck out West and went to farming, and is
now worth from 100000 to $4,000.
James Eckles, of Bristol, came here twenty
years ago without cent, worked for farm
wages, soon commenced on his own hook and
is now thought to be worth. $50, 900 to $751;
600.
William Tanner, Of this city, commenced
his farming here by splitting rails at fifty
cents hundred, saved his money, and is now
estimated TO be worth from 500, 900 to $780,
900.
Instances like these might be multiplied
indefinitely without going ten miles from
this place. Indeed, the rule seems to be
that all our wealthy farmers commenced to
work for less wages then brakemen on freight
trains receive now; but by saving their mon
ey and starting for themselves in fertile
soil, where land was cheap, nature has aided
them by rcwarding their industry with pros
perity and independence. The same rule
holds good all over the West The oppor-
tunity now is just as good as it was then.
Fertile lands at the West now await those
who have the courage to strike for indepen'
dence and for freedom from the yoke OF
'bosses," ''foremen,' and other officials who
are themselves under other powers. The ex-
amples given above are worthy the attention
of those young men who look with longing
eyes upon the position of brakemen on any
train, but who have not yet fixed their occu-
patton. Our advice to such is to strike-for
independence. Be your own master. Strike
out West; take up some land and stick to it.
and it will reward your industry, as the in
dustry of others has been rewarded before
you