Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-10-27
HOW TO SAVE EXPENSE.

The ability to use tools and to do
work neatly has a strong tendency to
improve mans taste in keeping his
buildings, fences and machinery in
good repair. OF course it is easy to go
to an extreme in this regard and at
tempt to do work that should rightly
be done by regular mechanic, or to
go to the other extreme and be con-
tinually running to the shop or for the
mechanic to do what could in many
cases be readily done by the farmer at
considerable saving. There are
times when to be obliged to stop the
work of the farm and go several miles
to town to get small job of repairing
done would entail considerable loss.
At other times when not interfering with
the farm work it would be more econo-
mical to hire the work done than to
take your own time.
Because of your ability to do nearly
or quite all kinds of small repairing it
does not by any means imply that you
should always do it or that you can al
ways save money by doing it. The con-
ditions should always be considered.
One farmer may be so situated that it
will be best to do everything himself.
Another will find it more economical
to depend upon having the greater
part of this kind of work done. But
the knowledge of how to do work will
not be lost even if not used at every
opportunity.
On many farms, after the wheat,
oats and hay are harvested, there is q
short season that can be spared to q
good advantage in fixing up the farm.
The farmer himself may not be able to
hire mechanical help, but if he can do
this kind of work himself he can pro-
vide shelter for his stock, his feed and
his machinery at much less cost than
if obliged to depend entirely upon
hired help. He may also be able to
paint his house, his wagon or ma
chinery, do necessary repairing about
the building that will help preserve
and make it more comfortable when
otherwise it would be necessary to let
go. In many cases if work of this
kind can be done in good season con.
siderable saving can be made over what
might be the cost if obliged to wait
some time.
Keeping everything neat and trim
about the farm not only adds to its APP
pearance but increases it's value, gives
the farmer n better reputation among
his neighbors and is really the most
economical, but in many cases the
farmer cannot have the work done,
and not being mechanical genius
himself, it is left undone.
When the farmer can do reasonably
fair work small outfit of necessary
tools will be found profitable invest
ment. This should also include three
or four paint brushes and oil, and
either Spanish brown or Venetian red
for painting tools and implements.
The amount, or rather number, of
tools farmer should own can best be
determined by his ability TO use them.
Money invested in tools that are not
used is SO much dead capital A wise,
drill, set of bits and brace, set of
augers, set of saws and planes, shoe.
makers outfit and harnessmaker out
fit, such as are advertised, with rivets
and copper wire, n supply of nails and
bolts, will enable the farmer to do q
very considerable amount of work fix
ing up and keeping up buildings and
machinery. This implies tool house,
not only to keep the tools but to work
in, as in this way many little jobs of
repairing may be done on rainy days.
Nebraska Farmer.