Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-06-09
A Farm\r's Lament Over the Diff
cGNy OF Hiring Labor.

UC SOlNtu ny litC hihSiiSoh ihSi Va
to-day, is the one which relates to
hired help. The question is not alto
gcther as to the expense. but the diff
Guilty of getting good help. The cost
has deferred many of those who cul-
tivate small farms from hiring ut all.
They prefer to do what they are able
themselves. anil let the rest 60. They
thus save the increase OF cares to the
wife, which hired help bring to the
household. But those who make this
decision and perform the labors of the
farm alone often work at a disad-
vantage, as there are many kinds OF
work which can be more economically
done by two or three men. The same
can be said also concerning the eco
nomical use of the necessary teams OF
the farm, as often teams must of neces-
sity be kept idle, when. if there was a
right proportion of manual labor en-
pl0yed, the team would be earning
something at such times. There are
instances which the writer has known,
where there were several stout healthy
sons, who, during their minority, aided
their father in such manner as to save
altogether the need of hired men. In
one case q farmer so blessed, for sew
eral years enjoyed great prosperity,
his sons being smart, active and in
dustrious. But when they became OF
age and either left the farm or demand
ed wages the increased expense OF
running the farm in consequence OF
hired mems wages, led to the financial
embarrassment of the farmer.
The introduction of farm machinery
has done very much to assist the farmer
in his labors, but the use OF machinery
on the farm calls for more horses, which
must be fed, must have new harnesses,
new carriages and sleighs of costly and
frail styles, fast driving and fast drivers,
lost time, money and character, until
the questions may properly be asked,
whether agricultural machinery is of
any benefit to the farmer? A short
time since good likely young men could
be employed on the farm for from
twelve dollars to fourteen dollars per
month in summer, who most likely
taught the district school in the winter,
and were ready to 90 on to the farm in
the summer. To-day, the professions,
mechanical, manufacturing or mercan-
tile employments, offer greates attrac-
tons with more ample remuneration to
the skillful laborer and the farmer is
robbed of all educated help and has
left him the unskilled and the unskill-
full as the only alternative. The search
ty of good farm help has become uni
versal in this country, and the question
arises as to the farmers ability to COM
pete with the manufacturer or mechanic
for the better class of laborers. 1t is
the common opinion that he can not;
that the profits derived from the cult
walton of the soil will not warrant the
payment of the wages necessary to re-
tain upon the farm the educated, or
perhaps more properly styled the in
telligent Young men so much desired
in manufacturing and mechanical estab-
liShments.
For the past few years the demand
for an increase of wages has come with
each season, while the, prices for farm
crops do not warrant such an increase.
1t has been suggested that less num-
Der of acres will be grown of those crops
which require the greater amount OF Ia
Dor, the coming season. Such a course
may be a judicious one, more brain
work, more study as to the best paying
crops, with the most economical man.
ner of cultivation, may result in saving
heavy bills for labor, as well as much
of the anxiety which the management
of hired help entails. 1t is not so easy
for the farmer to hire his work done by
the piece rs much manufacturing work
can be. We occasionally hear of some
persons contracting for the culture of
such special crops as tobacco or onions
by the acre, pound or bushel. But it is
not so easy to contract for the harvest
ing of grains or gathering of the hay
crop and expect that all will be done in
just the nick of time, in the best wealth
er and order. He who would drive his
work instead of have the work drive
him, and avoid loss and waste by crops
being overripe, must beforehand see
that he has sufficient help engaged for
emergencies. The saying of Poor
Richard was a true one
"He who by the pow would thrive.
Himself must either hold or drive"
Yet help that will not work excepting
when under the eye of the farmer, is
cheap help indeed. 1t is not only i'm
possible but unwise for the farmer to
always guide the pillow with his own
hands. 1t is not only necessary but
profitable for him to have some days of
relaxation and rest from toll, some days
of study and observation of the methods
of others. At such times, if at no other,
help that can be trusted is the cheapest.
We believe that the class of help that
have families are in the long run most
reliable. 1t is impossible for a hired
man who has the habit of being tout o.
nights to give satisfaction to his en-
ployer. If he will rob himself of sleep
he will rob his employer of that physi-