Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-11-25
The FARM HAND.



Than They MiEht Be.
One Of the best parts Of tho situa-
tion, to-day, for the farmer, is the fact
that he can truly say; II have paid
my holp better than am paid" and
he is conscience-free Of taking hand
at oppression. II he has partially lot
the hired man alone, he has been
obliged to. The day hand, with the
usual pay, can get with n weeks work
barrel Of flour, n suit Of working
clothes, including boots, and a news
paper for year. Part of the year ho
gets fraction less, while in grain
handling n fraction more. A dozen
years ago he could not get better pay,
and he could not buy the same articles
with scarcely any less than two weeks
work. On by far the most 10O-
acre farms, n frst-class month
hand-and such one is seldom pro-
iicient In his avocation, equaling n
master in other callngs-gets from
$50 to S3S month, counting board.
etc, at low rate.
Anent this, mechanics, firemen and
engineers who receive $40 n month
would be glad to save out, or have can
celed their board and laundry bills.
which really cut their pay back to S22
and less. This month-hand's pay for
seven months takes onc-quarter Of the
sales of the farm, at average. II he
worked the farm" and did all the
work. furnishing teams and tools, and
falf OF seeds, taxes. etc, he would get
but half the net sales, with his fam
lily and team board. Surely the month
hand is getting fair deal, and this is
right. Let farm labor be well paid,
that good men may be retained de-
spite the low estimate wrongly put on
this following by other workers and
plcbs urbana. But let no one say the
work is haNl-"that tune must be
changed another age is ushcred in.
The hired man is not asked to lug at
cast-iron plow that never secured.
nor take up the role OF the "sower
who went forth TO sow and with
mule-pack. style and main force, strid-
ing to and fro, broadcast the grain.
He no more tires out with the dull
scythe. Then the mandrake, which
used TO call for skill and long cndur-
ance is almost bric-a-brac curiosity.
The sole "horse power required of the
man is "hitching on"-and hay-load-
crs are claiming that situation. The
Grader no longer challenge the binder
to test of cleverness and nardihood; ;
and the thistle patches have lost theil
power to bring dread to the human
breast; the long grain boards and thistle
points can not get chance to touch
the hands; and the sole relic Of sickle
DAYS remains i'm the corn harvest.
The custom is going fast which
ooked on eight hours before dinner,
and eight after as a days work. The
wondrous change is seen on many n
farm, and with the same ncvcr-quit-
work task-mastcr Of former years at
the head, where the men are not i'm the
lot at sunrise, and the teams arc re.
turned and the chores are done before
sundown. TO be sure, men are not
employed so constantly as formerly,
for farmers are bound TO stay by
machinery, aud not expend for labor
more than quarter Of net sales, or, rs
well, half of net income. Yet the
laborer need work less than half the
year in the farmers pay and still live
far above want. The housc-rcnter has
allowances and opportunities which go
far to living, and If neither waste.
the weed nor the shcbccn, draw on
him. he will eventually own a notch of
the Republic. W. l.. DcrercduL, in NJ
u Tri6iiHc.