Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-01-11
A Remarkable Season.

The fall and winter of 1877, through
out the Northwest has been remarkable
and exceptional. Aside from few days
and nights in the latter part of Novem-
Der, the weather has been wet and warm
in this latitude, more like that which is
usual five hundred miles south of us.
From nearly all portions of the country
extending from the Ohio river to Min
nesota, our correspondents speak of the
mildness of the weather. In some dis
tricts almost continuous rains have
greatly interfercd with all kinds of work
and placed an embargo on travel and
the marketing of farm products, by rea-
son of impossible roads. The general
business of the country has suffered,
and no doubt more failures will result,
for it the farmer cannot get his pro-
ducts % market and turn them into mo-
ney, the country merchants cannot pay
their maturing paper, and in turn, the
wholesale merchants and manufacturers
find themselves unable to meet their en-
gagements. And thus is seen the de-
pendence of trade and commerce, and of
all classes, upon agriculture, the first
and most important of all pursuits.
There are forebodings, also, that in ma
ny places the mild weather we have had
will prove fatal to fruit prospects. Let
tiers reach us saying there is great dan
ger that the fruit crop may be destroyed
as buds have so far developed that Sc
we're winter must necessarily result in
their destruction, and seriously curtail
the stock if not entirely destroy it.
These are not pleasant reflections, but
they should not lead men to despond.
Many are prone to magnify evils that
arise, and bemoan their " ill-starred
luck" This is not the part of prudence
or wisdom. Repinings will not mend
matters. Men of judgment and nerve
accept circumstances which they cannot
control, and make the best of their en-
vironments. What can't be cured must
be endured, " is an old saw, and as true
as trite; it is, indeed, nugget of philo-
sophie wisdom
But let us not forget the law of com
pensation in looking at the darker side
of the picture. The mud blockade has
caused much Inconvenience, but it is
not an unmixed evil The instances are
few in which the embargo placed upon
travel by wet weather and bad roads
may not be. profitably and wisely en-
ployed. Very many things may be done
and much accomplished, notwithstand-
ing the forbidding condition of the ele-
ments, which will expedite future oper-
atiOns in the routine of farm work; and
time utilized now is of great advantage,
in various directions, and it is vastly
better to improve it than to wait until
pressing demands are made upon it by
active and urgent operations in spring
time.
There is another thought which is
worthy of mention The mildness of the
winter has been God-send to thousands
OF the unfortunate portions of the com
munity. The general depression which
has prevailed has thrown thousands of
persons out of employment. Very ma
ny Of these are barely able to gain sub
sistence. Had the rigors of severe
winter been added to the burdens alrea-
dy borne, the suffering thus occasioned
would have been terribly augmented
In the name of humanity, then, at this
juncture OF business affairs it may be
said that the exceptional mild weather
thus far is merciful providence
There are complaints from some To-
calities that produce IS being badly in
jured by wet weather. No doubt losses
OF this description i'll individual cases
are serious. Let us recollect, however,
hat there are many blessings in dis
5uise. This exceptional winter has been
especially obnoxious and fatal to en-
oryo insect pests, and hence little fear
may be entertained Of an Eruption of
chese pests the coming season.
After all, the disabilities and incon-
vcniences caused by rain and mud are
only temporary There is silver lining
20 the clouds The season is rapidly
advancing, the embargo will soon be re-
moved and the wheels of trade will start
fresh. AS we write, on this last day of
1877, the air is crisp and full of feathery
lakes of snow, and as the temperature
goes down the spirits of the business
community go up Western Rurol