The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-28
Tie Chance for Farmers.

The Detroit Post and Tribune has the
following to say to the farmers of
Michigan, and it can he said as appro-
priately to the farmers of any other
State:
We have been acquainted with farm
property and farmers in this State for
nearly thirty years, and we feel more
like urging farmers to stick to their
business than we ever did before. 1t is
a safe business, when conducted with
prudence and foresight.
The present time, it appears to us, is
a good time to improve the farm build
ings of the State, and what we wish to
say is this-now is the time for the
farmer to improve his dwelling, to
build a new one if one is needed, to
erect new barns, to construct new
sheds, to repair old ones, to put new
board fences in the place of old rail
fences around the dwelling and farm
buildings.
We urge this for the reason that
lumber is cheap and labor is cheap,
and that building materials are cheap.
We believe that lumber is cheaper to-
day than it is likely to be again for
many years. We think that a farmer
can save-and if he saves he makes
and gains-from 10 to Is per cent. on
lumber by purchasing now. Wewould
like to see farmers buying lumber-es-
pecially shingles and pine lumber suit
able for dwellings.
1t must be apparent to all that a
great improvement is needed in the
farm buildings of the State. Any per-
son who will travel through the differ
ent counties will see, at glance, the
great need of farmers, which is, more
spacious and comfortable dwellings for
themselves and their families, and en-
larged structures for the protection OF
stock and the storing of crops. The
era of the log house and log barn is
about through with. The era of house
building, with modern Improvements,
should be fully inauguratcd in the
country. The State, from one end to
the other, should, this season, resound
with the click of the builders trowel
and hammer.
That the wages of masons, carpent-
ers, painters, ETC., will be reasonable,
seems to be the prospect for the season.
Then the price of farm products will
enable workmen in the country to OBJ
tain reasonable good board at fair, old
time rates. And there will be plenty
of wheat and meats with which to feed
house builders; SO that farmers can
well afford to have such wOrkmen in
their families, better, perhaps, than al
previous seasons.
There has been fashion for farmers
to gather together and pile up, in good
style, stacks of lumber for future use.
We have noticed this in by-gone years
not only lumber, but brick and sto1c,
suitable for building purposes. We no.
tice that these materials around the
farm premises are not so perceptible as
formerly. They have probably been
utilized. Well, let this old fashion OF
accommodating building material once
more revive. We would like to see the
farmers improve this golden oppor.
tunity for obtaining cheap lumber
cheap fencing, cheap shingles, cheap sid
ing, cheap posts, cheap flooring. If you
contemplate building, but cannot do il
all this year, commence right away tc
obtain a stock of lumber, for we are
sure that it will pay good interest
These improvements are greatly
needed. Now is the time and OppOr.
tunity, and, while we do not advise ex
cess or extravaganza, we believe it .
good time for the farmer to lay out his
plans for improving his farm buildings