The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-02-27
Winter Work for Farmers.

simply ..prospecting." while others
have obtained situations to work in
coal, iron, and copper mines. 1t does
not appear that any considerable num-
r nently tho business in Which Il they have
been engaged. They are for the most
part seeking profitable employment for
the winter, with the expectation of re-
turning to their farms In time to COM
mence work as soon as the frost leaves
the ground. 1t seems somewhat
strange that movement of this kind
had not been undertaken before. In
many parts 6f the. country farmers
have long been in tho habit OF engag-
ing in some rcmunerative employment
during the months that they cannot
work the soil, In the New England
states, New York and Michigan, they
have found employment In lumbering.
In many cases they have taken their
teams into the woods, and have earned
sufficient money to pay their bills dur
ing the entire year. Some who lived
near the shore have engaged in fish
ing. The demand for oysters, HOLSTERS,
and CLANS during the winter is always
large, and the business of collecting
them is profitable. In some of the
tobacco-raising regions farmers who
are engaged in the production of this
crop have found profitable employ
ment during the winter In STRIPPING
off the leaves, casing and picking
them. Sometimes entire families en-.
gagged in making cigars. In France
and Germany many persons work in
beet-sugar factories and wine-making
establishments during tho colder
moths of the year. In Switzerland
and Austria the farmers are employed
in different kinds of domestic manu-
factures. MANY Of our toys are made
in the houses of farmers who lite in
various countries in southern Europe.
In most parts of England. Holland
and Belgium the climate during the
winter is so mild that farmers can find
profitable employment on the place
they occupy. Much of the plowing,
fencing, and ditching is done during
the winter season.
On most farms located on the
prairies there is little work that can
be peforrlcd during the winter. If
the ground is not covered with snow,
it Is frozen. 1t can not be worked
with view of preparing it for crop.
II is difficult to dig wells and almost
impossible to dig holes for posts or to
open drains. There is no wood to be
cut and hauled. There is no material
for fence rails. Farmers who raise
large quantities of corn are not gener.
ally able to husk it all before freezing
weather commences. On farms chiefly
devoted to the production Of the small
grains there is scarcely anything to
do during the winter season. The
hand fail is no longer employed for
beating out grain. Generally all the
thrashing is done within month of
the time the crop is harvested. Some
one is of course required on every
farm to feed and take care of the
stock. But this much does not give
employment to one-fourth of the men
employed on farms during the period
Of putting in cultivating, and harvest
ing crops. As rule, men living on
farms, in the prairie region of the west
mcnt from October till April. That
farmers manage to support themselves
when they are idle, or at least without
q paying employment, during nearly
half the year, is matter of common
observation. Persons en- gagged in other
occupations could not manage s.tO
make both ends meet'' if they had no
business during half the year. Pro-
fessiOnal men are in their offices, mer-
CHANTS in theif stores, and mechanics
in their shops six days a week during
the entire year. Lake sailors, whose
homes are in this city, often spend the
winter working in slaughtering estab-
lishments or in packing-houses. Many
brickmakers cut and pack ice during
the winter. Most persons, except
farmers, whose ordinary occupation
is interfered with by the cold of winter
engage in another kind of business
till the weather permits them to re.
sdme their usual calling. There is NO
good reason why farmers should be
exceptions to the general rule in thi.
respect.
That many western farmers have
prospered not withstanding the fact
that they have earned little or no thing
during about half the year is due to
the fact that the soil they have cult.
vated was very productive. While
the prices for farm products were high
they were able to meet their expenses,
to make improvements, and to lay up
some money. With the recent decline
in the prices of everything produced
on farms and little reduction in the
prices of articles farmers have to buy,
continued prosperity may not be as
sured unless some of the men employed
on farms can find profitable employ.
ment during the winter season. II
does not make the times better to have
all the farmers in township assemble
in q village and complain about the
low price of grain and the high rates
of transportation. They receive nc
pay for the time spent in this way
The movement to secure profitable
employment during the winter is one
in tho right direction. Our winters
are long, and the cost of living is no,
reduced because men are out of en-.
ployment. Men are generally happier
when they are engaged in some useful
employment and are earning money
than when they are idly spending the
money they have earned. 1t may be
more difficult for farmers living on the
/, prairie to obtain employment during
the winter than for those living neal
the seacoast and the pineries. Still
there are several branches of industry
in which they can engage. Coal mines
are found in nearly all the western
states. and much of the work in and
around them is performed during the
winter. Coal-mining requires ,com
paratively little skill. Most u the
coal mined in the west is bought and
consumed by farmers In many places
it is practical for farmers to work Goa
mines on the cooperative plan. The
cost Of working coal mine, aside from
the labor and food of the workmen
is not large. Farmers can supply til.
labor and furnish the food. Many
farmers who have no means to tax,
stock in a company can obtain employ
ment In mines owned and worked by
capitalists. The proprietors of Goa
mines often have difficulty in obtain
ing reliable workmen.
The iron mines of Missouri and tn,