Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-05-11


West. We have lately conversed
with intelligent men who have tenn
porarily returned, and have received
letters from parties living west
which speak very disparagingly of
the conditions of affairs in that Sec
ton.
The fattering accounts which are
received from the new sections in
that vast region are usually written
by railroad agents, land owners, and
spectators for the sole purpose of
inveigling unsuspecting parties in
the east. Sometimes the poor and
homesick settler who has gone from
the east, in his desire to bring his
friends to him, writes glowing &C
counts of cheap land, large crops,
fine climate and bright prospects.
But there is another side to the
question. Poor men, and men in
moderate circumstances who 90 west,
especially into the newer portions
are subject to terrible hardships.
Besides the necessary deprivations
incident to all new countries, they
have to go ont on to the pralrles,
supposing them to be farmers, as
most must be, where there is no TIM
Der, no water, except that drawn
from wells, not a rod of fence, no
protection from the cattle that roam
the country at large, no buildings
no nothing-eXcept the broad acres.
If they are not able to buy lumber
for fences and buildings, to pay for
blowing the land and the expenses of
living for a year or more without
profit from their land, they see a
most sorry time. Some are living in
"dug- ts''-holes in the ground
others in the smallest, poorest, cold
est apologies for houses, and strive
to endure the seventies of climate
Deprived of nearly everything that
in the East makes life agreeable.
they struggle along hoping that the
rise in the value of land and the
prosperity of the future will give
them comfortable homes and com
petence. This result is obtained
oftentimes, but the reverse is 81
common as to almost constitute thu
rule. For the last two years price,
of grain and other products hav
been so low, that farming has no
been profitable to those we'll es
tablished in farming. A friend writ
ing us from Nebraska, whose bust
ness calls him into many parts o
that state says; Zone source o
our increase in population is fror
New England men are now in thi
state looking for spot to plant larg
colony from Vermont, and it make
me sad. How men can leave oil
Vermont and seek homes in tn
West, cannot see. Our spring
slow and cold. There is not niue
excitement about anything with us
few are watching the war signs fc
an advance in grain. Wheat is no
selling at 55 cents bushel, corn ;
80. In Dodge county alone it
estimated here was loss last year Q
hogs of at least half a million do
lars. So we do not rely on pork ft
profits this year. Some of our den
ocratic friends sare anxiously lookin
for postmasterships and collecto
ships, and some who yelled on tt
Confederate side "a years ago a
rampant now, but the people, by ar
large, are anxiously awaiting bett
times. Don't you bet on st job
We know him out here, his RICH
hand man Is a n
braska-neezer, who deserves a pc
pasture" Without attempting
dwell on all the hardships the pc
farmer has to contend with in t
West, enough can be easily undo
stood to make the fairly well-to-t
man of the east contented with l
home here, as between the Two sc
tons. The laborer here who gets
comfortable living cannot afford
take the risk in new country,
ready over run with laborers fro
the Old Country who work at pric
too low to be considered by the
borers of the east. 1t is stated I'll
farm laborers get 81 so and upwal
per day, but it should be known I'll
this is only for season, the
mainder of the year not employed
profitable rates.
No man who has lived in any ia
ly prosperous section, and has rea'
the age of fifty years, should go il
any new country. His habits .
fixed and he cannot well adapt hi
self to new home, new people a
new customs. Few men who
west after they are fifty years of &
are either happy or successful.
are not speaking of those in 81
circumstances as to be able to /
homes in towns and cities where
the main advantages OF eastern
Getty and customs can he found,
of tsiat large class of men who lie.
Vermont with the expectation Of
into the new sections there to /
lands and grow up with the count
A little personal experience on
prairies showed US that while
tide of emigration was sweep
westward, hearts of men and WOE
who had left comfortable homes
the east we're yearning for the east
Uentlpman of German daSc