Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-01-01
Stick 10 Your Farm.

OF affairs as far as trades and pro-
fessions go, and also good advice TO
the disconnected Trainer who we oc-
casionally hear say, "Oh, how
wish was In some other kind Of
business, where could make more
money;
Trade in manufactured goods is
playing some queer FRANKS nova
days. A man or company may
work hard, expanding much time
and money in perfecting some
article of general use, and sudden
ly find that elsewhere some one has
been at the same work and can sell
the results for less money. A few
years ago England was the only
country which manufactured cot
ton prints for export, while the
idea Of any one competing with her
in home markets was laughed at as
bit of insanity; but to-day
American prints are being worn
by operatives In English cotton
mills, having been found to be pref
tier, better, and cheaper. Now we
hear that agents of Germans cutters
have been to Sheffield, heretofore
the acknowledged center of the
cutlery trade of the world, and sold
their goods at prices which the
home manufactures could not I'M
derbid. Sheffield will continue to
make knives and scissors and no
American will be foolish enough to
hope that the English print works
will be closed, but the illustrations
which we have given of the f1uctua-
tons of trade will show the Ameri-
can farmer that business which be
mournfully considers more proflta-
ble than his own are subject 10
drawbacks and dangers which the
agriculturist never knows. Bread
stuffs and food materials of every
kind are always in demand, and
have a tolerable uniform value the
world over. No competition, no
new farming community that may
he developed can afflict farmers
with lockout" such as workers
in the trades are constantly ex-
perienciug, nor in tremendous
failures like those which are con-
stantly startling the commercial
world. The overstocked manufac-
turer cannot eat his superAuous
knives or prints, nor can the lock-
ed-out operative dine on his tools,
hut in the worst season the farmer
is sure at least of full stomach and
a roof over his head. Sensible is
he if instead of grumbling at his
lot he makes the best Of 1t and
realizes how in the long run he is
better off than many whose oc-
cassional success he envies.
Yes, stick to your farms, and
don't be induced to leave COM
Portable home and plenty of food
on farm, for the many trials vexa-
tions, troubles, adventures, dangers,
and perhaps ruinous business in
the busy and hustle of city life.
"a bird in the band is worth two
in the bush," and while man has
a farm he is sure of living, while
il he should seek some other pur-
suit he would be compelled to take
his chances for success with the
balance of the world.
II is not often that we hear that
some farmer has failed, with liabil-
tiles up to three or four hundred
thousand dollars, and assets next
to nothing; but in nearly every
other business in the world we are
iaily hearing of failure, where some
firm or party started out in business
with the brightest of prospects,
put owing to some Encouragement
Or fluctuation in prices, they are
,oon forced to the wall, with not O
iollar left Of the once handsome
ortune.
There Is not a man in the coun-
.ry who will pretend to deny /.
he fact that the farmer is the
urest, safest and most indepen-
lent of all tradesmen of the world,
md the great mystery to us is that
here are not more people who adj
nire independence and plenty,
Dough to at once go to farming.
There are even in Alpena, men
Who think they are doing well
nough in the city, and yet If they
we're one year on farm, you could
Tot hire them to leave IL for double
he wages they formerly had in
own. But the time has come when
I Is plain to be seen that in the
past fifteen years too many have
eft their farms for city life, but
low that the cities are over run
With people out Of employment 1t
3 evident that men must return 10
heir farms, open up new farming
cgions and thus do a good deal
oward starting the wheels Of in
|ustsy in motion. a M
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