The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-08-06
NUMBER 1898.


There l. not so much heard lately
abont farmers receiving threats To
discontinue the use IL lsbor-saying
agricultural Implem.D's as there was a
few weeks prior to the beginning Of
harvest The rural districts are by no
means free. however, from annovances
by the class of persons who earlier IN
the season contented themselves with
sending anonymous and threatening
letters. In fact the aDnoyances the
farmers are now experiencing are OF a
more decided character than the form
er and are Of . nature 10. arouse the
suspicion that they are based upon the
general indifference with which the
withdrawing machine literature
was received.
From nll parts Of Northern Ohio
there have c1me within the past week
~ 40 reports Of an astonishing number
a small fires. Net a paper can be
picked mp which does not contain an
account Of two or three. or sometimes
even more, small c1nhagrations. In
most instances the property consists OF
barns, though in a number OF cases
dwelling honses have taken fire in ways
unaccountable on any theory of acci-
lent, and have been reduced 10 ashes.
They were incendiary fires. In num-
her nf instances the hand - the incen-
liary particularly where the property
destroyed was larr. has been dis
inctly traced and ia some very rare
'ases the criminal has been canght.
lie was almost universally tramp. IL
= probably safe tO saV 10 the matter OF
lwelling bonses and burns alone there
ms been destroyed in the Northern
ialf OF Ohio within ihe pat tvn or
.hree weeks property TO the value of
hnndreds Of thon-anis ~ dollars. The
iusses 10 nearly all instances fell upon
lard-N orkiur and economical farmers
tho by their industry and self-dsnial
had laid aside enough to make them
comfortable, hut who could ill-afford
- lose any appreciahla portions OF
heir possessions. In addition. more
pver. 10 the losses 10y The burning Of
barns and dwellings, there have been
losses, and heavy losses. too, by the
| burning of smaller matters. Agricul-
| tural machines Of value have been de-
stroyed by fire or violence Of other kinds.
| Even the crops themselves have not
escaped the hands OF these destroyers.
Grain in various stages II harvesting
has been set on fire aud ruined. Re-
ports Of losses Of this kind are most as
| 'rPquent as reports Of losses by the
burning Of barns. A most notable in
stance of this nature was reported In
special dispatch in yesterdays Herald.
! About one mile west Of Fostnris q
number of wheat stacks belonging TO
,ue of the old Northern Ohio pioneers,
was malciously set on fire by tramping
scoundrels, and, although every effort
vas made to save them, only one escap-
ed the flames. The loss is estimated
40 fully 81 200. sum large enough to
Eat mp the fruits of an entire years
hard labor for the majority of farmers.
Still more brutal affairs than this even
ire reported. In the same issue OF the
Herald is another dispatch. from New
comerstown, telling how two valuable
horses, the property Of well-to-do
farmer living q few miles from the vii
age, were literally hacked TO pieces by
4 scythe in the hands of tramp. 1t
3 not necessary tn multiply instances.
II Is beyond all question that Northern
Ohio is infested Ivy prOwling gangs OF
sicious vagabonds, who are systema'i.
ally destroying and plnndering. This
tate Of affairs was never known TO ex-
1t before TO the extent IL exists THIS
ummer.
The scouudrels who commit these
leeds have not the excuse they cannot
ret work. il is simple matter OF fact
bat the farme-s ia Northern Ohio were
never more troubed 10 get harvest
hands than they have been this
year. They have DAfered liberal wages,
IS high as two dollars per day and
BOARD for labor, aud labor was not to
le had. Il many cases the crops have
materially suffered from the inability
- get harvesters 20 take care of them.
Yet the country is swarming with vsga-
bonds. Y behooves the people in the
.arminC districts to give this matter
he early ard energetic consideration
Lev arc capable of bestowine on sub
.cts Of pressing necessity when called
ipon 20 do so. This house burning,
nd msuglipp of live stock will become
-1ious If kept up all summer. and
mere is hut one way il can be brought
. an end Let the farmers organize
themselves into committees 10 investi-
,ate fraud, and let them tackle that
irst aud foremost fraud "the unem-
,lOyed artizen travelling wearily
hrough the land in search Of labor"
Il this is done. anl we'll done, the barn
turning will be- lees fre req1ent.-lCleve-
aud Herald.