Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-04-13

4 plain Talk to Young Farmers from
u Wrti-Hnowu Citixcn.

4 plain TnIk to Young Fnrmcrs from
Wcii-known Citiycn.
What are the inducements. and what are
the advantages To- bs gained Facts reIa.
tive to the subject should be carefully
weighed and reasonably considered before
deciding the question With the great tide
Of emigration from foreign countries, il is
well we have a broad West but for our
eastern friends, who are used TO the com
mon comforts Of life, il certainly becomes
serious question whether they can afford
to cast their lot with class Of people who
are satisfied to live in shanties or even dug
outs | have spent much time travelling in
the Western states, and my observation
teaches me that the good things are not all
in one place My only motive in writing
on this subject is TO bring out such facts as
may induce the dissatisfied eastern man TO
consider the subject carefully before max
| ing his final decision, believing he will then
make due allowance for some Of the glow
/ ing accounts sent out by Interested parties,
and be brought to realize that there is some
danger involved in leaving a fair chance
East for uncertainties West Many have
left comfortable homes, believing their for
tunes were made if they went West yet
| facts prove that many are disappointed
The western farmer. especially, on his quar-
| ter section, has a poor chance, when wheat
is worth but fifty cents twenty miles from
a railroad
/ Much Of what has been written concern
ing the "broad West" is no doubt true, but
to lose sight of all the advantages Of the
great East is where the mistake comes
in. 1t is true the broad prairie lands of the
West are rich and productive, and fortunes
have been made by the rise of property it
is also true that thousands have met with
sad disappointment in not making the lucky
stroke that the more fortunate ones made.
Facts and figures show that success is not
always sure West, and also that success is
possible East with less risk Relative
chances and final results should be consid-
cred before important moves are made. If
a young man without a family thinks his
chance in life would be better if he went
West, he is the man to 20 and see for him
/
tie capital it is TO say the least imprudcnt
to go into those Western and Northwestern
states, unless they prefer privation and
suffering to the common comforts of civil
cation.
The West has made "A rapid growth, yet
a large amount Of property in the West is
covered by mortgages held by eastern par
ties, the money having been made East OIL
of land that our western friends are pleas
ed to call worthless In comparing the al
vantages of the two sections | do not in
clude the older states that have passed
through the struggle for life; whose early
settlers have passed away, and their lands
are now held beyond the reach of men of
small means While men with a large cap
tal can do very much as they please.
as a rule the capitalist pushes farther
on and makes his investment, and then
blows his horn for his eastern friends to
come on and help boom his venture
Hence the cry, eco West And even in
northern Minnesota and Dakota the same
cry is heard, and many that had taken up
their quarter sections are leaving for O.
more favorable location farther ON towards
the setting sun. In view of all the facts
that can he gathered thml. it safe to con
clude that the "broad West has no real
advantage over the great East and if
the situation is properly understood we
shall see much in the East to eucourag,
and appreciate. The disappointed one.
IL h.
counted by thousands Their dream, of a
land of comfort and plenty have not been
realized, and many have looked back with
longing eyes toward the rising sun. then
native land but they have taken the steI
and cannot retrace it, The Western fever
has run high, and still the excitement keep,
up and spectators and railroads are fan
ming the flame and restless humanity an,
on the wing yet it is evident a great
change is taking place in public opinion
the advantages and comforts Of the East
are better appreciated The tide is chang
ing, and, as a close observer has remarked
New England has reached turning point
Our New England farms are looked upor
with more favor.
Improvement may be slow but improve
ment in Eastern farming is sure to come
While it is conceded that some of our East
ern land has grown poorer in the last fifty
years, it must be admitted that the frs
great cause is neglect. and it is no doubt
fact that if the same amount Of work an,
care were put upon farms that used to be
the outlook would he different, and ou
= farms would he nearly as profitable as %
old. This is fully demonstrated by farmer
who have given their lands systematic at
tentiou and cultivation, using such farili
ties as they have for enriching and improv
ing them. \ variety of crops can be pro
, duced. which find a ready market at payin.
prices while in the northwest wheat is tn,
, principal crop with market hard to reach
As to climate, there cannot be a great diff
! ference. Snowdrifts, billiards, tornados
$ mud, floods and drouth sometimes prevail
in both sections resulting in great incon
venience yet seedtime and harvest usual.
follow. | worked farm for twenty year
in one of the hill towns of New England
i and fully understand the hardships Of hi
farming. At that time the farmers Of tn
. town were all thrifty and well-to-do and
! in fact, making money, although as a rul
D they sold their pork for five cents, thei
t cheese for six, and butter from Is to :
3 But farmers in those days worked the
utilized all their resources their pasture
were moved over, the brush and weed
were burned. Their stock vas first elias,
their oxen and horses always finding read
! sale. The farm buildings were neat am
g. commodious as well as comfortable TIL
/ churches and school-houses were always in
viting, ministers and teachers were we