The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-23

Causes Of Scarcity Of Farm LAAsrersy
There is no usein shutting ones eyes
10 the fact that farm labor, beside being
scarce. is also asking for fewer hours OF
daily labor, and at the same time for
increased compensation. and each year
becomes more dictatorial in its relation
to the employer, and it viii. in the not
far distant future, be matter Of the
drawing Of clear cut line-one that
will define how much the one may de-
mand and the other concede.
In the first place, one must needs look
to the actual facts, and see If the
farmer, at the start, was not in q
measure responsible for this very
scarcity of labor of which he now COM
plains. Even before the war there was
q noticeable movement in respect to our
now magnifed industries, the outgrowth
of which has been the building Of thou
sands of miles of railways, vast works
of internal Improvement unmeasured
miles of telegraphic and telephone net
work, railway service, postal service,
manufacturing, building, and other in
dustrial investments, that have demand
ed workmen by the tens of thousands,
and so necessary are all these improve
ments that they offer high rates Of
wages, offering continuous labor, and
of course regular income. As rule,
this compensation has been in excess OF
farm wages From this it will be seen
that there has been for the last score Of
years q gravitation towards this steady
employment, and not only has it taken
the capable young men from all classes,
but it has made especial call upon the
farm boys.
Then. again. the outgrowrh of this
Industrial progress has called fog
another class to become teachers, pro-
fessors, lawyers, editors, divines, doc
tors. etc, and as these offices offer good
incomes and honors, devoid of the So
called drudgery of the farm, there has
been another drain upon the farm pop
ulatiOn. 1t shows that the boys and
girls Of the farm have undisputed men
tai powers and unexcelled ability, and
makes a yet grander exhibit in the upv
building of this wonderful nation.
This outlines the reasons why farm
labor is not obtainable in needed sup
ply. The farmer has not built up the
Vi Ills LA Do lshS1 d. HShc
been the growth of the other industries;
else why the present revival of agricuft-
ural progress? For this one reason be
has not made it possible, or thought it
necessary. TO have continuous labor
upon the farm. By this method he has
only needed summer help, and as
consequence, it has caused large sur
plus of winter labor to 90 unemployed,
which has tended to force the majority
of hired men to work in the winter at
either very low rates, or rely upon
'.iobs' of rail splitting, wood chOpping.
or similar employment to tide them
through the winter. This has tended to
force the young men either to 60 WeS
and buy farms of their own, or get q
chance into the shops, or some other
service that promised continuous labor.
and compensation not greatly fluctuat-
ing, as upon the farm.
The man who hires to the farmer for
q year, may be supposed to consider
about sixteen dollars per month full
compensation, owing to the fact that
labor is very cheap in the winter; but
the man who hires for six summer
months, receives from twenty-five to
thirty dollars per month. Thus it will
be seen that the farmer, to save few
dollars and few months of board. pays
his six-months hand almost as much as
another does a man for a year. In
other words, if he hired his help contin-
uously he would check the tendency Of
labor to float and by making the
wages uniform he would actually OBJ
tain six months winter labor for q
merely nominal price, and thus con-
tribute toward securing reliable help
reliable, because they feel that they are
well paid, have q steady home and en-
ployment-and all anxiety for the fut-
ure, for employer and employee, is thus
avoided.
The preference for married men for
farm hands is often noticed, and IL IS q
matter to be decided by the farmer
himself which he will employ. Il has
some very admirable features, and the
employer, when such farm hand can
be secured-one of great worth-would
do well to furnish him gratuitousiy q
comfortable home and garden, in ad-
dition to his wages, as q compensation
for the long days work in summer; or
at the outside, supply those requisites
for the actual "wear and tear" Of the
habitation.
There is yet another factor in this
problem. All admit that there is vast
increase in the intelligence and ability
of the agricultural classes, which makes
it very possible that this married class
sought as employees, will either become
tenant farmers, or try to get farms of
their own; so that even now this class
of farm help can not be said to actual
ly exist, and so the scarcity of labor
must in part be met in yet greater
variety and still farther improved
mechanism; but the greater the adapt
ability of a machine, the greater the
skill required to make its working sue
cessful. The securing and keeping of a
good farm hand is matter that should
cause man who relies upon hired help
to use his judgment. The full develop
ment of the farm of the future is in q
measure to be brought about by hired
labor, and well paid, continuous labor
will be a chief factor in working the
matter to successful issue.-country
Gentleman.
Corn and Oats for Horses.
10 1,,A xf