The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-01-02
Experience In Western Farming

The following bit of experience in West.
ern farming is given IN letter TO the
Waterman by a correspondent SAID to DE
reliable, OF course this may he and IS
probably an extreme case, but We believe
1t to be fact that many Vermoniers who
have gone West during the pact twenty
years have often wished themselves back
again.
Mr.. Editor: AT the close of the late war
a Young man who was reared on one o. The
deserted farms in Orange county, VI. took
his bounty money, bis pay for soldering
and his small family, and went West. He
located IN Minnesota, on some Of the best
wheat land in the state. There was no
railroad very near, but there was the prom.
Use OF one. Neighbors were few and far
apart, but we're settling in bearer, and so
be, with his brave young wife, commenced
life In log. house OF the room. happy in
anticipation Of The good time coming. Tie
first year he could do little more than
break the sod for next years crops and q I
settled down to work. The second year
his crops were up to the average, but it
was nearly spring before they could be got
to tbs market, tor want Of teams aud good
weather. Meanwhile interest, taxes and
help all had to be paid 10 cash. The farm
machinery and horses and cows and seeds
to SOW, absorbed all the money he carried
out; and be was at the mercy Of circum
stances. Just as he was again making a
start the grassboppers came and swept his
fields clean. Then came dry season,
when the want OF water and the heat made
| life in one room house q burden. So
year after year floods and drouth, heat,
cold and Billiards made crops uncertain
and poverty and sickness very certain
He sold out his fne wheat lands and 10
| Gated in Nebraska. There be was told be
| could raise corn at good profit and with
wheat, too, he must succeed. There be
| lived in sod house. or dug out, for
timber was very scarce. There was no
railroad within twenty miles, but one was
staked ont night past his door A brother
OF mine told me he had seen men setting
stakes n railroad and stalking town lots
where 1t was certain 10 railroad or Town
would be built for many years, If ever
There was no company, and 1t was done
by spectators, 10 order to sell land. La
Nebraska he raised corn, hundreds OF
uihels, bat again there was no transpor
tation. Eich man got bis own crop TO
market first, II lie Lai a suflicept team,
and those who did not have large, heavy
leans had 10 wait IL was waste 81
time and mouey to send small loads so far.
The soil IL so heavy trequifes al enormous
team to baul lead. add IL is very SLOW
work. During the winters he lived 10
Nebraska BIZ, fuel was mostly sound, hand.
some corn. Bi1w succeeded storm, and
Billiards swept tAose tfeelefs res ious like U
best m Of watlh Fuel Was not 10 be had
at any pree. His cLildiau cpuid not 60
to school, for II was noi very near and q
storm was liable to come on al any time
A family reared 10 this way has not mnca
chance for culture or education. We read
OF universities 10 cities Of twenty houses,
and OF colleges as plenty, but often Only
The building is there. with Que room
roughly finished; but they sell bouae lois
and farms. Large crops can not b. rails
ed there without the beip u men ard
horses ADD expensive machinery Reap
ing, thIeshing. sacaDg and uae Of SACKS
aai the banliag TO msfkt sil cost
money, spd ~ poor s~ssoo man is Tort
uoste II BIS crop pays EXPENSES, while
clothing, mseninery, groceries sud dec
tors bills are enormously high Toefe
are "a sdreds u families scattered all
over The West who soall eladly cime
back 10 tie deserted farms II they conla
especially 10 the ismise stricken counties
81 Dskois