Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-09-19
1irglnia FREE grrss.
". ". B. GALLAHER, Edttor.
OharIestO,cn, Jefferson County, Vest Va.
September ~, 1889.
Discomfort Among the Farmers.
Editor Of Tie Free Press.

Editor Of The Free Press:
SIR-Even the casual visitor cannot help
but notice the discomfort prevailing among
the farmers of Jefferson. / ask for space to
make few suggestions which may possibly
prove of benefit if carried out This dis
content is not entirely justified. By this |
mean that they get very good interest for
the money invested Let us suppose that
the average value Of the farms in Jefferson
is 1000, and do not think any one will
say this is not high average. The farmer,
it is true, does not have a great deal of
ready money; but he has what amounts to
the same thing-all the necessaries, and in
deed, a great many of the luXuries of life.
Now, suppose we take that $1,000 and in
vest it any other business. Will it afford
the investor sufficient money to live as well
as the farmer? ] think not, if the invest
ment is a safe one Again, does the farmer
work harder than the man engaged in busi-
ness in a town or city? The good farmer
uuIlUE llt Uu-N 0td0Oii iilu1t WI n iiOhi hog
light to dark, but in winter he has a chance
to rest. The owner of grocery or clothing
store in a country town does not go to work
quite so early as the farmer but he must
stay at his store much later than the farmer
stays in the field. And so it is with a large
majority of the people who live in cities.
ID IL - ,1- ,,,orl- fha
around. Against the latter, too, the farmer
has the advantage of pure air and outdoor
exercise-two conditions that largely con-
tribute to good health.
So much for the condition of the farmer
as compared with other classes. | admit
that the farmer is not as well off as he was
some years ago when wheat was selling at
$3.50 bushe. But if there is no money
in wheat at 10 cents a bushel, why does he
not try to adapt himself to the changed con-
ditions and grow something that will pay q?
Suggest TO him that he should devote more
attention to garden truck and dairy products,
and he tells you, I'VE have no market" j"
Why not get together and make a market.
One farmer cannot ship pr )duce enough to
Washington or Baltimore TO make it pay,
but a number of farmers might ship car
load once a week or once in two weeks, and
thus improve their condition in a great
measure. So, also, they might establish
dairies at convenient points, and thus con-
vert into cash a great deal that now goes to
waste The raising of wheat is no longer a
pay ing business in this Valley. At times
the price may increase slightly, but such
increase will not be permanent. On the
other hand the price of wheat is almost GER
tain to become still lower owing to the low
price at which our competitors, Russia and
India, can place their grain in foreign mar
kets Knowing this, it would certainly
seem that the farmers of Jefferson at least
should try to improve their lot, as they con-
slider it such hard one, by changing their
mode of farming.
/ know your space is limited, and neces-
sarily what have written is incomplete. If,
however, the suggestions contained herein
give rise to discussion, then some good may
come of these few remarks.
AN OBSERVER.