The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-10-02
BLUE EARTH VALLEY STOCK
SHOW.

The early portion of the day was rath-
er chilly, hut the warming rays of an
afternoon sun brought cheer To all, and
the programme was carried out with
pleasure 10 all. The display of stock,
We are told, was not as lage rs in former
wears, hut the attendance of people was
the greatest known in the history of the
association. One feature, perhaps, that
augmented in securing such universal
turnout of farmers, was the announce
ment that the railroad and warehouse
commissioners would be present. The
business part of the day for this fair is
IN the afternoon. The forenoon is de-
voted 10 entering articles for exhibition,
arranging them into departments, etc,
preparatory To awarding premiums, and
for this preliminary work an active corp
of superintendent and assistants are
kept diligently at work until the noon
hour.
About two q. clock the crowd-estim-
ated AT 800 people-assembled around
the speakers stand To listen la the re-
marks of the Hon. NJ. :. Wilkinson. As
is wont with the Senator, he did him
self credit, and pleased his hearers with
his excellent remarks and practical sug-
eestions. During the many years that
had elapsed since he passed through the
region of country tributary la Pleasant
Mound, there were noticeable on every
hand wonderful improvements in agri-
culture, and while the farmers might not
al this time fully appreciate the magniii
cent strides they were making i'll this
direction, within very short time they
would be forced 10 recognize the cuVi-
able position they had attained. The
startling changes that have taken place
within the past twenty-five years have
wrought u great financial change. The
Wild speculations begot in times of war,
have been productive of great monOp-
Olies. The greed for making money
rapidly has To a great extent taken pos
session of the farmer, who, through this
mania for accumulating competency m
short time, is quite unmindful of what
an acre of ground will produce, or how
valuable is the horse, the COW, the hog
ar the sheep. Farmers must, they think,
find u way 10 make money faster. In
these modern times of speculation, they
are growing more and more anxious To
accumulate fortunes, and from this cause
disastrous results have come Ia the agri-
cultural interests of the West The
bonanza farmers, made up of bankers,
spectators and monopolists, have ruin
ed the wheat interests, and rs proof of
this the speaker cited 10 the thousands
upon thousands of acres of wheat yearly
raised by Dalrimple and men of his liz,
until the soil had become worthless
through excessive and constant wheat
raising.
For twenty-five years the farmers of
this State have ignored the oldtashioned
methods of farming. They have plodded
along in the wheat growing business 10
their own detriment, neglecting, To u
great extent, the more important feature
Of stock raising. The idea of becoming
suddenly rich, and pursuing that par
icular agricultural branch which would
bring il in the least possible time, has
operated detrimental, and in many cases
disastrous. But here the speaker paid
Il glowing tribute 10 the Intelligence, of
the farmers Of southern Minnesota who,
having seen the folly of exclusive gram
growing have branched out into stock
raising and diversified agriculture.
Mr.. Wilkinson dwelt for some time
upon the importance of identifying the
farm home. He thought il unjust, I'M
polite and altogether IneXcusabie 10
neglect 10 make the country yard at
tractive with flowers, trees and the other
concomitants which 90 10 make up
cheerful and attractive home. The com
forts and home pleasures of the farmers
wife and children had been too long
neglected. Farmers, as a rule, cannot
attain that position in society Ia which
their Intelligence entities them, until
they turn their attention Ia these i'm
pOrtant home surroundings. The lami-
|; is the originator of all good men and
all good examples 30 long as the cities
and villages are depended upon for
things that are nice and elegant, SO long
will the farmer remain under the har-
row. Men nor women neither can live
upon bread alone. II il necessary 10
beautiiy and attract, So that the finer
sensibilities may find ease and nourish
mcnt. There ~ no reason why the boy
should leave the farm house and go into
the city Ia find finely furnished homes
and beautiful gardens. These should be
supplied OH the farm. Wheat raising
will not furnish these. Stock raising is
what is needed. When farmers will
turn their attention To these things, the
boys will not have 10 go 10 the cities Ia
gel the pleasantries of life. The speaker
said that regulating the railroads and
the farmer happy. He must rely upon
his own hands for prosperity. The
Senator concluded ms remarks 10y AN
nOuncing that the railroad commits
siOncrs were present, and would take
the opportunity presented in explaining
matters of interest Ia the farmers re-
lftrding the new laws passed last winter.
GEN. BAKER
said lac dad not come TO the fair Ia make
a speech, but simply in the line of duty,
and at the invitation of the society lac
and Gen. Becker We're there To hear
whatever the farmers might have To
communicate. He was very glad to note
the progress Of agriculture made within
the past few years. He cOntrasted this |
section with that Of the North. Ii would,
the Gen. said, take at least II half dozen
counties in the Northern section, 10
make us creditable "a fair as that witnes- |
sed at the Mound.
Abiding 10 the matter of transpOrta- |
lion, the General referred TO the new
laws passed last winter, as not being IA
radical as some could wish, but they |
were nevertheless big stride forward. |
In tine southern part of the State the
railroad bill is the most important, but |
Il is too early as vet to pass judgment |
upon the efficacy Of the law. The speak |
er referred To the much discussed fact of
the commissioners riding over the cOun- |
try by special train. There are 81 sta |
tiOns 10 be visited, and il would take an
indifnite time to get around, unless |
some better or more rapid mode of tran |
sit could be secured than the regular |
trains, and showed that il consumed two |
DAYS 10 visit four stations on regular
trains. IT had been supposed that the |
commissioners travelled on passes and |
had authority 10 issue as many as they |
pleased 10 friends. This Is not SO. They |
have no pass whatever. only II certificate
issued under the broad seal of the State
that they were railroad and warehouse
commissioners. Mr.. Il. explained why |
such brief stops were made at points.
The Commissioners are taking birds |
eve view Of the various sections, and |
from information gathered from people
along the routes, propose TO formulate IA
series of regulations for the railroads,
and where abuses exist that are beyond
their reach, will recommend amend
,nents Ia the Law 30 that the grievances
of the public may find redress. Under
the new law, the free shipment clause
gives every farmer the right to load II
single car of gram upon the same terms
AS does the elevator man, and with the |
same rights and privileges as are granted
him. He also spoke of the new wheat |
grade, and impressed upon his hearers
the fact that the Commissioners did not
make the law, but were simply the serv-
ants Of the people in executing #. In
stead of the present inspectors being APP |