davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04
Relative Decrease Of Farming
Population.

The Atlanta Constitution asks, Why
is it that our relative farming popula-
ton is steadily decreasing? Why is it
that il fell from forty-seven per cent
in 1870 to forty-two per cent in 1880,
and probably to forty per cent at the
present timer" To our thinking there
are several causes for this phenomenon
in our greatest and most essential in
dustry. First comes the enormous
strides in labor-saving machinery en-
ployed in agriculture. The reaper and
mower, the thresher, the steam pillow,
the sulky harrow, the farm engine
these have been multiplied more rap
idly in proportion than consumption of
farm products has increased. A COM
paratively small corps of men operating
two hundred or more great harvesting
machines gather the wheat from 81 900
acres of the Dalrymple farm, in North
Dakota, in a single week Ten or
twenty times the number would be re-
quired for the work using the imple-
ments of thirty years ago. Secondly,
the enormous growth of manufactures
in the country has tended to restore a
proper equilibrium by drawing from the
farms large numbers of young men to
labor in iron-mills, about furnaces,
mines, foundries, machine-shops, cot
ton and wooden mills. The building
trades are taking constantly-increasing
numbers to supply the demand for pre-
pairing material and fashioning it into
houses and other structures. The
transportation industry has outrun the
demand, and this has lessened the sup
ply of farm labor and stimulated the
invention and use of superior farm
machinery and tools. The country is
merely getting itself balanced, as it
were; and while this must be apparent
to close observers, it is not less clear
that the increase in agricultural pro-
duction has kept pace with the de-
mands on that great fundamental in
dustry. BY way of illustrating this we
present the following table, showing
the production of Indian corn, hay,
cotton and wheat in the census years
| lS70-1SS0:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

Canadian farm-owners in the counties
named, but l expect there are as many
Irish Canadian farmers. l also expect
that farm-owners of any foreign ma
tionality in the counties are in the
minority, and a somewhat small one
too"
The Portland Advertiser, comment
ing on the Caledonidn'S statement of
difficulties, says: "This is giving up
the case and the state too readily. The
Swedes are good colonizers and have in
them the making of desirable citizens,
as the experience of Maine has shown.
If there is danger of too great French
preponderance in Vermont, it is all the
more reason why an effort should be
made to Offset it by bringing in the
Swedes."
The explanation of the Caledonian'S
exaggerated statements is found in the
following extract from its article:
"When it is known that the Catholic
fathers in Canada look upon New Eng
land as their future country and the
home of their religion, that they are
bending every energy to ms ke it thus;
when it is known that statistics show
the French Canadian to be the most
prolific race on the globe-in the light
of these facts we feel warranted in say
ing that Vermont has mortgage upon
it that will be hard to lift" The
CdledOnian has been dreaming, and is
frightened by the specter a somewhat
torpid state of liver has conjured up.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

Well, the country had boots, shoes and
leather to spare, but it was not making,
by many million dollars worth, WOOL
ems enough to clothe its own people.
So why should it be sending any great
quantity abroad? Even had wool been
free, as hides were, the situation could
not have been essentially different;
for the other woolen-using countries,
by reason of their cheap labor, could
still undersell American manufacturers
in foreign markets.
But the Republican is still very artful
in its publication of wooden statistics.
1t will be observed that, small as the
exports of woolens were, there was an
increase up to 1881. Why does the
writer then skip to 1888? Why did he
not give the figures from 1881 to 1885 {?
Exports of woolens had risen in the
latter year to S775, 1862, whereas the
Republican would have its readers be-
lieve that highwater mark was reached
in 1888. The facts all show that under
the tariff of 1867 the country was pro-
crossing rapidly towards the time when
it would produce wool enough to clothe
its own people, and would be able to
manufacture it; that with the increase
of the domestic product of wool and
the growth of wool manufacturing, the
export of woolens was having healthy
growth but that, after the tariff re-
duction of 1888, flocks and wool and
exports of woolens began to decline,
the latter having fallen off about fifty
per cent in 1899. The Republican is
equally disingenuous in its use of the
statistics of imports of woolens. Its
own figures show that from 1870 to
1881, under an adequately protective
tariff, such imports decreased seven
million dollars-from S3S,000,000 to
S31 900, 900; but that it was after the
tariff legislation of 1888 when they be-
gan to increase and rose in 1889 to
$50, 514, 642. "In the light of these
statistics who can longer doubt" not,
as the Republican concludes the ques-
ton, " the blighting effects of taxes on
free raw MATERIAL" but the blighting
effect on American industry of such
free raw materials as this country pro,
duces in direct competition with the
cheap labor of foreign countries ?
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04
As to Hides and Wool.

The Springfield Republican goes into
Mysteries over an alleged proposition
of the republican national committee
to restore the duty on hides, which
were put on the free list in 1872. The
fact that raw hides were made free,
the Republican contends, gave the boot,
shoe and leather industry a growth
" exceeding in the value of the product
either the vast iron and steel or the
cotton manufacturing business" No
facts or considerations are presented to
substantiate the Republicans deduc-
tons. 1t is stated that the exports of
leather manufactures increased from
S673, 1881 in 1870 to $10,747 $50 in 1889,
and that the remarkable growth which
this increase shows was a consequence
of putting raw hides ON the free list.
Even casual observer of the course of
American enterprise would hardly be
publican, in the fervor of its advocacy
of free trade, rushes. The fact of the
enormous growth of the cattle-raising
business in the far West and South
west, during the past twenty years,
and the consequent increase in the
production of domestic hides, would
be sure to have very important
bearing on the increase of leather pro
duction and manufactures. Whatever
the causes that have operated to swell
the products of the industry in question
may be, the least of them all would
very likely be found in the fact tina
hides were put upon the free list. W.
think we have indicated the chief cause
The cattle ranch" and cattle king
are terms made familiar by the growtI
of branch of business in Americ
that is supplying two continents with
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

THE fourth session of the twelfth
parliament of Queen Victoria was pro-
rogued last Friday till November Is.
The queen in her speech of propagation
acknowledged the liberality of the
house of commons in providing for the
wants of the public service and COM
mended the measures enacted for
strengthening the navy, the acts re-
forming the local government of Scot
land and comforting a responsible gov
eminent on Western Australia, the
educational acts and the bill providing
for the extension of Irish railways. A
propagation of parliament never ex-
tends beyond eighty days, but it may
be renewed from time to time by royal
proclamation. This will be done in the
present case, for, unless some public
exigency should arise, parliament will
not reassemble till the regular time for
a new session in February next.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04
Press Notes.

THE trouble with the colored man of
the South is that he will be republican.
If he was a democrat the whites would
try and endure him.-Hartord Post.
WADE HAMPTON says the South
doesn't need protection. Yes, it does.
1t needs protection from such men
as Wade Hampton.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat.
GROVER CLEVELAND and David
Bennett Hill are fishing together up in
the Adirondacks. 1t will be interesting
to see who gets the largest string
Boston Herald.
THE Pennsylvania prohibitionists
have held state convention just as if
nothing had happened in that state re-
Gently. Some people never know when
they are ed.-BOStOn Herald.
THE Neo York World says: elf
the democrats of Virginia depend on
their platform for victory they will be
beaten" AS usual they will rely on
intimidation and the shotgun. -BoSton
Traveller.
If the Hon. James G. Blaine would
only sass back few words, tired demo-
Gratis would be exceedingly happy.
Democratic organs have literally worn
themselves out on the cabinet and have
nothing to show for it.-Chicago Inter
Ocean.
THERE are some things just now
that fellow would like to be excused
from. He would not want to be post.
master at Atlanta, United States
judge in California, baseball umpire
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

SOMETHING is evidently going wrong
up in Canada. The Toronto Witness
gives vent to the following disloyal MUIR
muir: "There were two things for which
New England revolted from old Eng
land One was that the colonists were
forbidden to manufacture for them
selves, and required to buy from the
English; the other was that taxes were
imposed upon them without representa-
ton. Both conditions are now being
restored in Canada"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

leading article of food. 1t would be as
reasonable to maintain that the ex-
porting of beef, a business which has
developed since 1872, was the result
of free hides as that the growth of
the business in leather manufactures
sprang from the same cause.
The Republican could hardly write a
tariff article without dropping into
wool. 1t publishes comparative sta
tistics of wooden and leather manufac-
lures, in view of which its emotions be-
come uncomfortable, and it breaks down
and INDUCES in that feminine vent of
pent up feeling, "a real good cry"
Hear it sob: "Pride gives way to
shame and the buoyant spirit of hope
to the scalding tears of bitterness and
despair as we turn to the woebegone,
lean and hungry look of the column
headed woolens.'" The cause of this
paroxysm of grief was the following
comparative exhibit of the export trade
in woolens and leather manufactures.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

THOSE periodic reports of wholesale
disasters in China and Japan are be-
coming slightly tedious to the way
faring man of weak faith. The latest
report comes by way of Yokohama and
states that disastrous storms recently
occurred in Wakayama. 1t is stated
that ten thousand persons persisted in
the floods following the storms, and
that twenty thousand were rendered
homeless. The loss of property is
enormous.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

WE mistrust that the CaledOnian is
aiding and abetting st. Johnsbury in
an attempt to MUNICH its doughnuts on
the sly to avoid enumeration. 1t main
tains discreet silence as to certain of
those who are fined for intoxication,
and the impression produced is that it
is owing either to the position of re-
spondents or to keep up reputation
the boy" is not entitled to-perhaps
something of both.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

JUDGE VEAzEY of the supreme court
of Vermont has been appointed inter-
state commerce commissioner to fill the
vacancy occasioned by the resignation
of Commissioner Walker. The judges
friends, who constitute the entire
population of Vermont at least, con-
graduate him, but to whom will con-
gratulations be addressed on his APP
pointment to the vacancy that will be
occasioned by Judge Veazey's resigna-
ton? To no one, we trust. We have
maintained, heretofore, when vacancies
on the bench have occurred that, at the
most, six judges were enough. We
are of the same opinion still. We be-
lieve the court might gain in ability
and efficiency by reducing the number
of judges to five even. One great
item in the enormous increase of state
expenses in recent years is the cost of
the judiciary. The number has been
maintained at seven long after whatever
reason there may have been for the in.
crease has ceased to exist. The salary
has been nearly doubled since the days
when Judges Isaac f. Redfeld, Poland
Peck and Barrett made the court illus,
trious, and the volume of court bust.
ness was far greater than it is at pres
ent or has been for nearly ten years
We hope Governor Dillingham; will no
fill the vacancy, and so, at the mex
election, leave the legislature unem
barrassed by any appointment. 1t hal
happened quite recently that judges
Timothy p. Redfeld and Veazey have
at different times, spent large part o
year in Europe, and six judges hav'
managed to struggle along with cour
work, but have not apparently over
taxed their strength. Six judges coul,
undoubtedly, by dint of industry an
self-denial, keep the court from ami
hilation till the legislature meets agai
and the people can say, through thei
representatives, whether they wi
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

THE Rutland Herald announces that
"the little Oklahoma town of Guthrie,
which didn't exist four months ago,
now has six banks, four daily news
papers, water works, street cars, cleo
trio lights and several thousand livers."
The public is anxiously waiting for our
enterprising contemporary to continue
its investigations and ascertain the
number of kidneys in the anatomy of
Guthrie.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

WE are favored with circular,
signed by the Chicago editors, inviting
us to assist them in nursing Chicago's
boom for the worlds exposition of 1892.
Declined with thanks. The WATCH
MAN voted for New York on the first
ballot and is still of the same mind.
New York is the metropolis of America
and possesses advantages which clearly
entitle her to the great worlds fair.
Chicago is all right just at present, but
in 1892 is liable to be in the midst of
another upheaval of anarchy and social
ism. New York is safer.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

THE desultory civil war that has been
in progress in the little island of Hayti
for the past year is at an end. The
cost of the war is estimated at S10,-
100000 and the loss of life at four hun
dred. Legitime has left the island and
Hyppolite, the leader of the rebels, has
taken possession of Port au Prince, the
capital city. The soldiers of both
armies have washed off their war paint
and are at work picking the coffee crop.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04
PAPERS are protesting that there are

PAPERS are protesting that there are
no abandoned farms in Vermont;
that the term is misleading, and is
likely to injure the state. The phrase
is Just right. The farms were aban-
doned by their former owners, the
buildings have in many cases gone to
decay or been sold to the insurance
company that held a risk on them; the
lands where once were productive corn
and wheat fields are now brake or
brier-infested pastures, or have grown
up to bushes. Others were rented for
nominal sums and yearly skinned by
scrub" tenants. The land is all
right. A person having ordinary in
telligence, strength, thrift and resolu-
ton, may, in short time, have these
subdued and under good cultivation.
They respond quickly and plentifully
to cultivation. The land is all right.
The trouble has been with the owners.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

THE commission appointed by the
governor of Illinois to investigate the
troubles in the coal mines has brought
to light pitiable state of affairs. 1t
finds that the miners cannot live on the
wages paid, and that the employers
are unable to increase the wages and
at the same time earn a fair profit.
This being thus, it might be well for the
citizens of Illinois to leave the coal
crop unharvested and devote them
selves to more productive industry.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

AMONG the names mentioned in con-
nection with the vacancy on the su-
preme bench, occasioned by the APP
pointment of Judge Veazey to the in
terstate commerce commission, are
those of Hiram A. Huse, Montpelier,
Ex-Governor Ormsbee, ex-Judge Dun
ton, Hon. Joel G. Baker and p. Red
field Kendall of Rutland, and Hon.
Loveland Munson of Manchester.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

GENERAL RUSSELL G.. ALGER of
Michigan was chosen commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army of the Re.
public at the national encampment al
Milwaukee last week. Colonel Whee-
lock G.. Veazey of Rutland received the
unanimous support of the New Eng
land delegation, but retired in favor OF
General Alger. The next encampment
will be held at Boston.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04
maintain the status quo, or will insti-
tute new order of things.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES WANAMAKER
is after the scalps of the Western mail
robbers. He offers a reward of 81 900
for the arrest and conviction of any
person guilty of making an armed at
tack upon any stage-coach or railway
train having the mails in transit.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

This average is about three times as
much as the gain of population. We
think these figures come near demon
strating that no abnormal causes have
worked reduction in the number of
people engaged in husbandry. They
certainly show that the hippant asser-
ton of free traders to the effect that
" Protection has dwarfed and is ruin
ing agriculture has no other founda-
ton than the attenuated theory of
those who make such assertions
Chattanooga Times.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

THE platform of the Ohio democracy
denounces trusts and monopolies, and
the candidate of the Standard Oil Com
pany heads their state ticket-a good
example of democratic consistency.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04
6aattbmam 4 Journal.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER A, 1882

GENERAL GoFF has been officially
counted out of the governorship of
West Virginia, the final returns show
ing majority of fourteen votes against
him
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04
Bric-a-Brac.

Have you ever watched the warfare
OF two women over carfare
Each ahame with generous feeling,
Depth of heart and purse revealing;
Each inspired with gentle horror
Lest the other should pay for her,
But take note--the more insistent
OF the combatants persistent,
She whose hand most promptly catches
At her pocket-book's stiff catches,
She who murmurs: "Dont be strange, dear
It's all right I've got the change, dear
She-though | am sad to say it
Always lets the other pay i'll
-Hilfn[O Courier,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

ENGLISH capitalists are negotiating for
the purchase of the sole leather tanneries
of New England and Northern New York.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-04

These are the four great representative
crops. Roughly stated, the gain per
cent may be put as follows for the de-
cade:
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-29

or three dark forms were standing about
him, but the officer was one pace to the
front.
What are you going to do now2" the
marine asked.
Come this way moment"
The officer took one step forward and
then his suspicious being aroused, he
started back, saying;
There's something wrong here.
Surrender" and Griffith seized him by
the arm and laid the muzzIe Of his pistol
against the BritOn's temple.
Ho, here!" shouted the officer.
Hold! Another word and you are
dead mani"
But the mischief was already done.
behind A marine thrust the muzzIe Of
a gun at the side OF Griffith, but he
quickly Whirled the officer around so that
the contents of the musket entered his
heart, and he fell dead to the earth.
Hold on! Hold on, thar, by tarnR-
ton, rOared Jack Ratchet, coming for
ward with terrible strides. The fash Of
the gun had partially lighted the scene,
Jack and one or two others leveled their
pieces and fired, but owing to the dark
ness their shots failed to be effective.
The flash of their guns, however, sum-
GENTLY broke the gloom which enVeloped
them to allow them to see four or five
with yells, clubbing their guns. The
marines fred their muskets and for few
moments stood with fixed bayOnets. But
IN the contest in the dark, the impetuous
Americans had the advantage.
One or two of the British were knocked
down, and Griffith wounded another with
his sword. All, however, got away. The
sound of their retreating footsteps alone
broke the silence which had fallen upon
the scene after the brief conflict.
They're gone, said some one.
Eyes, cOnsarn their pictures, it's jest
alters the way, roared Jack Ratchet.
They alters skip out jest when a Teller
gifts his hand in. Oh, I wish they'd Jest
stay. Great Jehosiphat! why didn't it
jest last a minnit longer so that could a
eased up little!"
Hush, Jack, said the young com
mander, this is no time to boast of what
we would do. We must follow them.
That jest suits me exactly, said Jack
Which way are they gomez"
Down toward the coast around the
bay. The vessel is just off the island.
Well, I'm ready to follow them aboard
the darned British man O. war"
The undaunted little band of Americans
set off through the wood, to meet danger
and adventures of which they never
Graamad