The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-31
FARMING EAST AND WEST.

The railroads that penetrate the COM
paratively fresh fields and pastures new OF
the West have completely changed the
face of our agricultural civilization in the
New England and Middle States. Forty
years ago Central New York was a wealthy
wheat-growing region, today the vast sys-
tenn OF railroads places Western wheat and
-four on Eastern markets at so cheap a
cost of transportation that fruit-growing
and dairying are the leading industries of
the farmers in the Middle States. In New
England dairylng is about all that is left
to the farmer, and the West will eventually
wrest all the profits of that industry from
his hands as new railroads are built and
transportation rates simplified and re-
duced by the increased emulation
of the great trunk lines. Indeed,
today the New England farmer
finds it no easy matter to make money
out of dairying. A farm of thirty cows
would not earn annually a clear profit of
more than 5000 from butter and cheese
produced; the farmers taxes are heavy,
since he cannot hide his land or his cattle
sistibe decline in the value and volume Of
the old agricultural and kindred industries
of New England there is a slow but cease
less decline in the value of farming lands
at the East. In Vermont. Massachusetts,,
and New Hampshire number of towns
that were once hourishing now show
marks of desertion and decay. Cellar
hnf J., ln -, a
and where once was q village center is now
grown up with forest. Some towns are
quite likely to be RENTED to the solitude
from which they were rescued by settle
ment nearly a century ago.
The state legislatures Of Vermont and
New Hampshire have appointed agents to
secure the occupation of these abandoned
farms. 4 few Swedish emigrants have
been induced TO settle upon these farms
and some of them have been sold to
wealthy residents of the great cities. who
use them as summer homes, or turn them
into game preserves. 1t is permanent
change in New England civilization that
was inevitable the moment the railroads
reached the uttermost points of the West
and solved the problem of quick and cheap
transportation 10 the East OF agricultural
products. Genuine farming is slowly de-
CiininE IN value in New England and New
y ork for the same reason that it is in old
England. Truck farming is increasing in
the nei-hborhood of G ties and large towns
in Massachusetts,, but general farming is on
the decline. There is nobody TO blame for
long haul Of ton OF freight from the
West for less cost per mile than il can the
short haul. The time was in New Eng
land when the girls and boys all chung to
the farm of their family, living and labor
ing from birth TO death in the near vic.n-
ity of the old homestead, bat when the
great cotton mills Of Massachusetts, began
70 rise into sight the girls began their first
flight from the farm, and when the rail-
roads began 70 cobweb the country the
boys easily found wings and concentrated
IN cities o. large towns or sought the viz
gjn soil and the fascinating hustle and
freedom OF the West. The change was
inevitable. for It grew out Of the
introduction 81 forces TOO mighty
70 be controlled or turned aside.
The changes in modern life thar have
come with steam transportation, cleo
tricity. improves machinery are many and
various, and with every innovation on the
OLD order Of things there Will lie for time
at least. while the readjustment and re-
distribution of industries is taking place.
a season Of staguanoy and decline. If not
decay and distress for the civilization
whose ancient sway has been rudely sup
planted or its methods suddenly altered 10
meet new conditions of agricultural ana
commercial life.
The civilization Of New England Is IN q