Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-07-04

s,O5O


average prOcceus Per acre CIV
The net profit, then, after the first year
would be IS per acre if hired done or $l3. 60
il done by the farmer with his own team. In
this estimate it is assumed that the farmer has
taken government land costing him only Sl.2j
per acre II ho buys his land-paying from
$1,000 to $4,000, according to location-the
interest on his purchase money should be de-
Quoted from tho net profit. Interest on cost
OF machinery and loss by wear and tear of
same, as well az amount of taxes, should also
be deducted. Good farm wagons cost $50 to
$50 sulky plows, $50; gang plows, Sll0; -
tooth harrows (for one pair of horses), Sl5;
seeders that will SOW II to l. acres per day
$50: reapers that will cut and bind II acres
per day, $3.50; steam threshers that will
thresh 1000 TO 800 bushels per day, $1,000.
Good horses and mules, $3.50 10 $3.50 per pair.
These arc cash prices If bought on time the
price is higher Farm hands get from : s 10
S25 month for the seven summer months.
All lumber is at present obtained from Min
nespOlis, and common boards cost s2G per
thousand. All manufactured articles and all
articles Of consumption except the small
grains have to bo imported, and the price is
higher than in the east by about the cost OF
transportation hither Hard coal is SIP per
ton. Along tho streams excellent hard wood
can be obtained for SO per cord, but back
price is higher. When manufacturing inter
ests are established and competing railroads
reduce the cost of transportation, the cost OF
living will be reduced.
There arc but few bonanza farms In the
Rod River valley. Most Of the farms are
small-lGO or 32O acres-and most of the far
mors poor. Men come here without money
and thoy settle on wild land. 10 put it in a
proper state of cultivation they are obliged to
borrow heavily. Tho demand for money is 80
great that the rate of interest is very high !;
but with economy and good executive ability
| q penniless man may in q few years make a
home for himself and family and have good
farm free from incumbrance besides. But
thousands of tho present tillers of the soil
will never get out of dobt the mortgages
| they have given will be foreclosed, and they
will move on TO the front, leaving their lands
to be worked by other and better farmers.
| All men who come to Dakota are not sue
cessful and those who fail are apt to blamo
the country for II. A successful man any
where is apt to take rosy view Of things and
an unsuccessful one the reverse. One will
tell you of 40 bushels of wheat TO the acre,
100 bushels of oats, immense squashes and
incredible Yields of potatoes and tho other
will tell you of cyclones and billiards., sod
houses and dug-outs The truth lies between
these extremes. Dakota offers grand oppor-
tunities to men of courage and determination
-there is no mistake about that but all men
do not possess these qualities. There is no
patent of nobility here, no royal road to good
crops and consequent prosperity. This soil
will give up its riches to one as quickly as to
another, provided he treats it as well but il
will resent i'll treatment by meRger return
of crops, as a spirited man would resent an
insult. Thorough cultivation of the soil il
reasonably sure 10 be rewarded with abun
dant crops, while careless, slovenly tillagC
brings only disappointment and failure
When these broad and fertile prairies shall be
dotted all over with the houses of intelligent
enterprising people-as they are sure to be-
many farms will bo made to yield more abun
dant returns for the husbandman's labor be
cause of greater care and skill in their cult
Vation ii. L. Whitfield.