Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-06-08
"BoNANzAu EARNING.

OuAiuB the past Few years there has
Deen a disposition on the part of many
persons to engage in different branches
Oh Farming on a very extensive scale. In
some instances splendid success has
been obtained and very large profits
realized. Almost without exception
these very large farms have been de-
voted to some speciality. In a few
cases cotton or hops has been the crop
raised, but in great majority of in
stances exclusive attention has been
given to wheat. California and Dakota
furnishes numerous examples Of large
farms devoted to this simple crop.
These farms, from the novelty that at
tends them, have attracted great at
tention. They have been described in
neatly every paper in this country and
In Europe. They have been visited by
travellers, tourists and persons in quest
of reliable information in regard to the
methods OF management and the prof
its realized. They have been seen at
their best, and the stories about them
have been told for all they are worth.
There Is the same desire to obtain
fame and reputation in farming that
there is in any other occupation. The
ambition that induces one man TO con-
troll railroad stretching across the
continent, or TO own all the cotton
mills on a river, prompts another TO
manage . wheat field that embraces
fifty thousand acres Of land. Men of
enterprise and capital seek large gains
In producing crops, as in msnufactur-
Ing pig-ilOn, plows, or furniture. To
make much money in farming it is
necessary to carry OH business on a
very extensive scale. A fortune can
only be realized in few years when
several thousand acres are under cult
walton. o. course great executive
ability and close attention to business
are required to conduct operations OF
this kind.
There are good reasons for believing
that very large farms will be numerous
in q near future. There is a DISPOSE.
ton to concentrate capital in other
kinds Of business. and it has been
demonstrated that there is great ecOno-
my in placing large numbers OF men
under the direction OF one individual
of superior ability. The larger farm
fected in the erection of fences and
buildings. Manufacturing establish
ments have found out that the larger
engines and machines are The more
work they will accomplish according
TO their cost. Large merchants and
manufacturers can obt..in better rates
of transportation companies thar small
ones can. They can also procure sup
plies on more favorable terms. All
these advantages will accrue to farmers
who conduct very extensive opera
tiOns. The man who owns or controls
the use of several Thousand acres OF
land will be able to purchase all his
machines, implements, fencing, and
building materials and general supplies
at wholesale rates, and will also be
enabled to secure favorable terms 81
credit. The owner of a few acres
however, will be compelled to buy the
same articles at retail prices and gen
orally have to pay cash for them. Mer
can be boarded much cheaper when ;
large number is kept ON the same
place. 1t Is popular idea that small
farms are better managed and are cor
Tespondingly more remunerative thar
large ones are. Careful observation
however, shows that the contrary il
generally the case. The poorest speci
mems Of farming to be seen in any par
of the country are ordinarily found il
connection with small places. Tn,
like is substantially true In every coun
try in Europe. On very small farm
the most improved implements can no
be employed to advantage. To be uset
with the greatest economy they mus
be employed on large farms.
Devoting large body of land TO an,
speciality, as wheat must, however, b.
attended by great risks. Farming il
involved with more perils than almos
any kind of business. The production
of good crops is conditioned on favor
able seasons, and the absence of des
tructive insects. The market or farn
products is more uncertain than TO
other commodities, because there is L,
way of limiting production if it WEI,
desirable. Strikes are almost unknown
among the laboTers on small farms
chiefly because they are isolated, bu
as soon as several hundred men arr
vi eAiO oRAho bhC AAhOAl
ity of strikes may be as great as il
large manufactures. If only one crol
of wheat is raised On a farm, laborer
will be required but a few months il
the year. and the cost Of them would
appear to be small. But the fact tina
they are to be employed but shOr
time, and at the most busy portion Of
the season will result in a demand fo1
very high wages. A difficulty will al
ways be found in obtaining resident
laborers in portion of country occu
pied by "bonanZa" farms, and if they
are brought frJm distance the cost o.
transportation will be considerable
Men will only be tempted to leave thei
homes TO travel long distance to worl
by the payment of their fares boil
ways and receiving pay for the entir,
time they are absent. Only large cap
Il a