Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-06-10
MARRIED AND SINGLE MEN AS
HELP or THE FARM.
scarcity OF 9eaest. Industrious Farm
Laborcrs- 40 Plough without
Dead farrow-FaFm Notes
and Home Hints-


appointed. says writer in the Amer
lean Cultivator. not that Mr. Cook has
not written an admirable letter. and
stated the case in its true light. by
giving the faithful man the praise
that is due, and saying but little
against the slothful man. There is
scarcely farmer who is not annoyed
by the inefficiency OF his help at
times. also by their leaving without
notice in times Of greatest need for
help
Mr.. Cook thinks that he has solved
the difficulty in his case, BY adopting
the tenant house system, and by en-
/ ploying married men 10 occupy his
] houses and board themselves while
working fOs him on his farm. By
his letter, it seems to have proved n
success with him during the past two
years. Having had large experience
I in hiring help. both single and mar
ried, also With the tenant house sys-
tenn will give few eases OF both
methods OF employing hired help on
my farm in past years and their re-
suits. Il will certainly amuse and
possibly instruct, some u your
readers.
My first experience in employing a
married man on my farm. arranging
that he board himself. was ia 1854
That spring hired a mar for the
summer who had a wife and child.
He would only hire out for the crop
season, as he intended TO 20 West in
the fall The first OF November We
were so well pleased with each other
that We made a new bargain for .
year from that date. The wages paid
We're SIS per month, with house room
for the year at Sl5. At the expira-
ton Of that year, another years labor
was bargained for. on the same terms.
with the addition Of keeping a COW for
the hired man, on pasture In summer
and with hay in winter. the same as
my own cows were supplied with, ho
10 furnish any grain feed. The price
was - for the year. The third year
/ paid him $50 per month. house rent
$50 for the year, cow keeping $26, a.
before.
With such q hired man. boarding
himself. | was satisfied. The man
also had saved in the time 800 each
year from his compensation. This
was in the time Of comparatively low
prices, and before the war OF the re-
bellion, hence it was for some reason
easier 70 secure good help on tho
farm than it has been since that time.
There were less foreign lab0rcrs than
at present in this vicinity at least.
There was more regard for mans
word, less quitting without cause on
the part Of help employed, especially
81 times OF the greatest need on the
farm
Previous to employing this married
man had employed single men aud
boarded them in my family. with
generally satisfactory results on both
sides. One Of the best men ever en-
ployed came to engage work, and.
seeing small children at play in the
yard. remarked to me that he some
times swOre but never INDUCED in
profane language in the presence Of
small children. He remarked that he
should endeavOr never TO swear be-
fore thom. told him should not
like him to swear at nil, but, when
alone. il he could do any good by
swearing, he might indulge ~ him
self in the practice. II he found IL
did no good, hoped he would give II
up altogether
We made bargain for n years
labor on his part, which was renewed
at the expiration. from year TO year.
Tor seven years. All these wears
were pleasant ones 10 cmploycr and
to the man employed The habit Of
swearing, to which he was addicted,
was given up entirely, possibly
through my influence.
From these two cases. covering n
period Of ten years, there was very
little choice except tho relief Of the
wife in boarding ot the married man.
which | confess Is great relief In
both these eases. however, the hired
men were models, both American
born. with strict and honest adhor.
enco to their bargains
Of late years | have been much
more annoyed by men with wives and
families. who boarded themselves.
than By single men, who boarded IN
family Of the married man. The mar
ried man was often quite as willing
To leave as the single man, without |
giving moments notice. and that. |
too, without word Of fault with the |
employer ] have had one Of tho best |
men | ever employed, while single |
boarding in my family, who. after
getting married and living In the ten
ant house, did not do nearly as well /
as when single man His engage
ment for a year expired. ID was
thought best 20 seek different helm.
he sought employment from neigh
Dor, but. not suiting. was soon
Obliged to seek employment else
whore
have had excellent help from
men OF foreign birth. Irish, Welsh I
md Scotch. all having proved faith
ful, valuable help. both Protestant
and Catholic alike. It may also be-
said that mon Of all nationaIities have