Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-08
THE VOTE HUNTER
A Pen Portrait of the Rural
Politician and a Brief
Analysis of
HIS WAY OF CAMPAIGNING.
Talks With Farmers on Decreased
Land Values and
Low PRICE OF FIELD PRODUCTS.
No Cause for Encouragement at the Pres
ent Outlook.
lOW PRICE OF FIELD PRODUCTS.
No Cause for Encouragement at the Pres
ent Outlook.
BIG REVENUES FROM COAL AND LUMBER
lFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT. ]
THE PITrsBURG DISPATCH
COUNTRY ROAD EXPEDITION.
CREEKSIDE PoSToFFICF. PA, May z.


PATCH wagon mas thus far traversed. A
this particular season he is remarkably
abundant all over Western Pennsylvania
He lives along the country roads. Ht
smilinglY mods to us at every cross roads, il
particularly obliging in telling us whether
to take the left fork or the right fork, and he
never fails to state some advanced ideas
about macadamizing the highways.
We have met him at the dinner tables oi
many farm houses. He invariably compli-
meuts the quality of the fried ham. and de-
clares the eggs are ''just done to suit him. %
He likes ham and eggs three times day he
says. We know he lies.
A Very Agreeable Fellow.
He talks glibly about fertilizer, and
makes wise predictions of crops And
when it comes to settling the dinner fee he
offers bill of such large denomination as
TO inspire awe for his financial resources,
and yet DEFY the ability of the household
purse to change it. So he gets away with
out paying for his meal.
We have driven slowly behind his road
cart, or ''oue-hos' shay" in order to study
his habits, He calls pleasantly to every
sehoolboy or girl "How is your papa?'
Then he tells them to give "tbis little card''
to papa. he invites each and every school
marin to ride with him to the township
schoolhouse. But his great triumphal act
is to tie his horse at every cornfeld fence
where farmer and his boys are plowing
manfully wade through the mud, and then
engage the plowmen in conversation. He
comes back presently, smiling and rubbing
bis hands. He has secured three or four
promises.
Liberal With His Tnffy.
He drives on. He meets Farmer Jones
going to the mill with a wagon load of grain.
He says: "Ah, was just bound for your
house. That is beautiful litter of little
pigs you have. Don't do it, James. Be-
cause pork is low now do not sell all the
pigs. See to it as soon as the grass starts
that the pigs have pasture"
Then he comes down to business He is
a candidate. He is running for the nomi-
nation for County Treasurer, County Com
missioner or Prothonotary. More generally
he wants to go to the Legislature. He is
to-day setting up delegates all over West
ern Pennsylvania. Seen against the back
ground of arail fence, newly plowed field,
or studied in the twilight OF a harvard, l
am impressed with what a wonder .ul crea-
ture an American politician is. He uses
the county roads in April and May more
than man in any other trade or profession.
He ought to be interested in this macadam-
! izing scheme. 1t would make canvassing
J easier. Has the State commission thought
of that phase of the matter?
No Agricultural Depression.
Before leaving Indiana county I pause to
add little more to the testimony already
given that there is no actual agricultural
depression in Western PENNSYLVANIA. The
more L delve into this subject the more
find hoE widely divergent may be the views
two different persons on this same subject
There are pessimists and there are optimists
The latter class is made up largely OF the
younger farmers and younger business men
who have dealings with the farmer
Where you fn0 an old farmer who re-
members the good prices of "the days befo'
the wah" you will generally find him with
gloomy ideas about the present outlook of
agriculture. But, again, when YOU find
still older farmer who can recall the e1-
tremely low prices of products in the panic
which succeeded President Folks election,
you will find him not altogether discouraged
at things as they exist to-day. "They might
be worse, is the philosophy of these old
timers.
Reduced Land Values.
In Clarion, County Commissioner Joshua
Mccall said to me: People do not want to
farm any longer. Cheap grain and cheap
dressed beef from the West have reduced
profits. and, on the other hand, oil de-
velopments in this county taught farmers
that there was more money in that than in
farming. Rather than increase their |
debts by operating their farms many |
will just let The land lie or
try to sell it. This has resulted in the |
past 10 aud 20 years in a depreciation of the |
prices of iarm lands. Property that was |
worth $40 an acre 20 years ago will now
bring only $50. Even ten years ago some |
farming Iand IN this county would have
brought $50 and $50 an acre. The LARGE |
amount OF machinery required by farmers
these days and the high price of labor are
among the causes for this condition of
things. Yet there is no increase OF mort
cages on Clarion county farms"
Here is the rosy view of the situation .s
stated to me by A. S. McComb>. a real IS
tate agent in Clsrion county. He operates
on an extensive scale among farmers.
Reason for Encouragement.
He said: "There has been a decided i'm
ten months. Farms to my knowledge have
sold at $42 an acre this year which would
have only brought $50 last wear. Last Fri
day I sold a farm at Monterey Tor S3S an
acre and it had no Improvements whatever
There were plenty OF bids and much in-
quiry. Oi course most of this would have
sold ten years ago at $50 an acre, but still 1 |
think there is every reason for encourage
Inent now The arming situation in Clarion
had reached as low point as it could, and
now it is rebounding o its own force.
Times are already getting better. know
OF an offer of SIS, 900 made a few years ago
Tor farm 25O acres in this county. The
owner held of, but prices deelined:and he
hnally needing money offered ii Tor $500.
Now that tarIl is about selling for $4,000
There is a promising luture be ore the
Clarion county farmers. Sneep at $6 90 per
head is better price for Clarion stock than
for some time, There is no increase OF
mortgages here. Farmers actually don't
want to borrow money. My firm has S15, 900
at this moment to put into mortgages, but
none are offered TO u.s."
Reviviug Industry.
In Jefferson county farming is practically
a new industry in some sections. The
forests have been cleared, and, with the ex-