The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-05-06
downright, 1890. by Edgar W. Nye

iC0pyrlgnJ, 1871, Dy huSdI w NJSl
have before me, at this moment, a
letter and circulars from MI. Charles Rich
Johnson, making queer proposals to me
regarding a forthcoming work OF his. 1t
is a biography of the millionaire men and
women, dead and living, of America. 1t
will cost $4,000 to issue the book, but
as every millionaire will naturally want a
few. and as they will cost $50 per set,
there can be no risk in printing it. Be-
sides, the subscribers are all financially
sound. The letter goes or to state that l
am on the list and asks my cordial CO.
operation.
[ will be willing to cooperate If it
should be the sense Of the other million
aires that this step is advisable. I have
always said, and say now, that it is high
time we m~illionaires should organize and
stand by each other. This is the first
step. Let US know and really belong to
u set and then form a society with signs,
passwords and signals which will protect
u lodge against outsiders. A sign Of
distress would also be almost i~ndlspens-
able. I think there is nothing sadder
than to see a millionaire suffering for the
comforts Of life when there are other
millionaires who might help him If they
knew about it.
M~illionaires, as a rule, are kind and
thoughtful toward each other, but they
lack organization. Think what we could
do if we would unite! We are really the
bone and sinew of the country. We are
the producers, I may say. Farmers and
such people are consumers. They eat up
what we earn. Why do we get up early
oOI -orIr +in Lotto oil +brO,rb +bo FrOctIy
days, watering our stock and shearing
our lambs? Is it not that the farmer
may have bread for eating purposes and
clothes to warm his body?
Then why allow all other trades and
societies to organize while we look at
each other askance? We need a lodge of
m~illionaires in every town. 1t is for that
reason I hail with i'll disguised Joy the
advent of this book, and as soon as l can
possibly raise the money will subscribe
for it.
Fresno is n Of the handsome cities of
the Sacramento valley. One rides for
many miles along the broad, level sweep
of green, with never a break, save where
the purple orchard scents the air, and then
again miles of green, trimmed with mil
lions of Wild flowers, such as California
alone can furnish by the township in I'M
ending yet blending colors.
On the way to Fresno one also discov-
ers a product of the Golden State which
he had not heard about before. 1t is the
wind mill. All along down from Sacra-
mento you discover this rank growth.
About Stockton the wind mill grows to a
great height, and even in the most barren
soil. Some lave a bright red blossom,
whilst others are v~ariegated, and still
others are red, white and blue. A field
of large, double wind mills in full bloom
a fine sight. | do not know what they
are used for unless it be for purposes of
irrigation. Now, however, after the in
tense rains of the winter, it seems almost
a mockery for this great army of unem-
ployed wind mills to stand around with
the water up to its knees and it's idle
hands in it's pockets.
Fresno is in the heart of a beautiful
grape growing country, but these grapes
are not used to promote FIe interests of
the flowing bowl. t. vine growers
here are all engage in the raisin' of
raisins. Among the horny handed but
wealthy toilers here l found Joseph T.
Goodman. When the angels were en-
gagged in naming that rare and radiant
maiden whom the neighbors called Lee
more, they christened Joseph 7. Goodman
with the name he has so houorably borne
for over half a century.
Seeing the evils arising from the cult
walton OF the grape as a wine producer,
yet fully alive to the great advantages to
be derived from grape growing generally
as a sou ce of food supply, he gave his
attention to the cultivation and pronapa-
ton of the raisin. Selecting the large,
fat, early dwarf, maroon pie raisin of
commerce, and crossing it with the citron
he soon obtained a hybrid raisin, with
seeds in it, which could hardly be dis
tinguished from the royal octave raisin of
Spain. He now produces tons Of this
beautiful fruit each year at an enormous
profit, and each night as he retires he car
place his hand on his heart and say: "a
least | have never added in the great anc
growing but reprehensible industry o.
filling 6runkard's graves"
Mr.. Goodman has a history. He rar
The Territorial Enterprise in those early
days when such young strugglers a,
Daniel De guile, the bright Young French.
man, and Samuel L.. Clemens. the talented
Missourian, worked for him. He was
one Of the features of those wonderful
days on the Comstock which can never
come again.
1t was my good fortune to see a con.