The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-07-02
In regard 20 EaEmIpr,


The INTELLIaEScER published some
weeks ego an interview with one Of our
Ohio county farmsrsin regard to the paying
nature Of his occupation. The interview
attracted considerable attention and was
generally read with interest by people in
town and country. Our neIgLbor Of the
Saturday Evening Journal recently pub,
lishsd o somewha. similar view OF the
farming b~usiGess In the shape Of a letter
from a correspondent on Short Creek, The
writer takes for his text, Does Farming
PayY and discusses the question as fol.
lows;
GLOW Oitsn 10 this question asked, and
yet low foOlithly 1t is often answered.
One thing Ia clear; A farmer should never
he allowed 10 make the reply, for he Is no,
the proper Judge. This may sound strange,
but 1t IL gospel truth. The fact is farmer
puls IN his living NJ nothing in the bal.
anCa, he doean'E even think Of house
rent or the privilege Of riding In his own
carriage. He merely looks at the annual
income Ia dollars aud cents and strikes q
balance. We have heard a farmer cay
tina. tiilirg tho soil didn't pay three per
cent on tue investment. We know that
those who make such statements are
either very dishonest mon or decidedly
poor farmers, aud that the reader can de.
eide Tor himaelf. Meanwhile we propose
to enter into a little mathematical calcula.
tiop, aud, II wrong, will be glad TO bear
any decent contradiction that may be
written In reply.
A. buys o farm Of one hundred acres for
seventy dollars per aCre-a big price, but
We will orr on the safs side. The sum
total lar this land thsietore Ia 81 900 lie
buys horkes, Go~s, sheep, etc, 81, 600 more.
Add to this incidental . xpenses, such o.
hired help, etc $500. and we make tie
sum total invested s.. 500 The intsreaE on
this sun ut 8 per cent would DO $3.50
And now let us see II we make his interest
First Any man cannot rent q house
suitable for q family TO live In for less than
$40 per month, even In the country. He
gets his house rent therefore, which 10
Sl20 per year.
Secondary farmer raises his own liv.
luk' Llh GuNCkbnb huu COWb Will guy MS
groceries, and will obtain the best oil every.
thing. His food bill 10 worth $25 per
month, or $500 per year. We couldn't buy
II for that In Wheeling.
Third-Ths privilege OF q horse 10 ride
over the country 10 worth 81 90 per week.
It Is oneo the greatest luxuries, and Is
cheap at S52 per Oar
Fourth-He Ca wear out bic old
clothes. Don't laugh. That is q big item
with q man who Is forced 10 dress q
large family. In the country fashion does
not 80 make Slaves Of the people. The
society Is not so exaCting. A farmer with
three children saves at least fifty dollars q
year in clothing by keeping out Of town.
Let him bring his family to Wheeling and
note the difference.
Fiflh-A farmer who puts his corn into
stock and utilizss'a all the manure the stock
gives him, should sell each year not less
Than $1,000 worth Of wool, fat hogs, cattle
and horses. Now add this to The $522
saved 10 living etc, and You have q grand
total Of 81, 1922 per year profit, or nearly IA
per tent. But you. say the labor must
come out Of that. Didn't we allow $500
Tor that2 II you don't think that is
enough, add more to III you will still find
the interest on your Investment will
bring q larger per cent than you can get
In any other WAY,