The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-12-09

The fact that the quantity Of staples I
grown has been in Inverse ratio 10 the
relative numbers employed in rural PRO
ductlon indicates the course which the
increasing numbers upon the farm have
been obliged to take in order to secure
the needed employment, and it marks
ont the course they must take in future
and shows just why no more OF the sonsl
OF The farmer have remained upon the
homestead CT sought new homesteads.
Prior to 1850, practically the entire
agricultural development, as we'll as She
production of the great staples. was in
regions more or less densely covered with
forests; and there the bringing into cui-
t~iTation Of a farm OF eighty acres was the
aidpous work Of Il long life. On the
otter hand, jass. as soon az the prairie
regions we're reached, the energetic set
tier could reduce eighty acres to c%ultiya-
tion by as many days work with a good
breaking team; eighty acres the product,
I've power Of which averaged a fourth
more than that OF the eighty covered
with stnmps, while the labor cost. OF
production was nj least Il third less Than
that during tho existence of the obstruct-
Ing ing atuinps, or, say. another genera
ton, Only by the development and
cultivation OF the prairie areas were the
possibilities OF improvement in mechan-
icas aids 10 agriculture made clear: and
there these aids have been and still are
iiost in use,
Such aids and the saving OF ali the i'm
inense expenditures OF labor formerly
devoted To removal from the surface and
placing III stone fences the boulders of
ea-hoarsi States, and The conversion Of
he forests into rail fences AMI cordwooy.
!as liberated a vast amount OF muscular
teree that is now either employed i'll
:ctlai production on The farm or in the
avn. OF IN distributing the wares pro-
:naed.
Forty 10 fifty years ago ii was The work
9f years TO split the rails and 10 enclose
quarter section of land. Now, however
SAe same area can BE- enclosed Will wire
'ence at a cost no greater ohm twelve
months wages af an ordinary farm labor
er. and tile galvanized wire being prac-
fiea!iy in2&sttur'itie the fence viii last
Aalt q 9%ajttpFy IL tfttng upon posts AZ
tita4ie .; locust. a%ia;teM5. ii cafar.
HE ftis lenea required almost eonsla.t
etfe.}t o decaytd and was a never.
ehdiiig source OF annoyance in tte tar-
Cor furnished for weeds ard yormIn.
But now the lshnf OF enclosing the farm
has been reduced nj i9aet sltae losnthq,
and the cost OF maintenance s.early 10
nothing.
Prior 10 1850. and indeed uatii 1870 or
later, a very great proportion Of rural
labor was employed in reiiine forests,
con ttting the timber INTO iails and
cofiwooa, eartlng wood 10 town. renlov.
ing stones from the surface, in beilding
store and 9tier fence an.lin other worl;
OF Development. rather taan in pro.
ductign, Ihis Iabor bong no ioneel ~
9aigei Gpon the farm, has tecii forced
into The town. and, a. right ana n~DtnraI.
the son has gone to the Town. While tie
father has remained IN .ossessieit Of the
fara Which hlg labor had ielgea out oi
The forest or Iaglaifaed ff5tl the prairie
Another element has served greally ID
ineFaase agricultural promotion w.G}uut
4 t]eialiye Increase IL liz number o!
.haitds e,nploYea. Tilisa who pag0 most
hewailed the deealeneeof the a~gricuttUr.
ii population have sang i1FaesI gaeaus
oFaf tie progress d civilization AZ
eyinoed in the Invention and Use ot
iaDoT-sesing deyires that are said 10 Have
banished ~dfndeery from 5ho farm,
The result Of these successive Improve.
ments is that, whereas 1t required ten
Gleo TO cut ard place in shock len acres
Of grain forty years ago, three men now
with the MD Of four horses can place
from sixteen TO eighteen acres in the
shock; and wherever the ordinary harvest
time is ie4fly dry, the header enables
eight fnen to cut and place ut once III
sJact thirty acres in a day, the iabof-say,
iag effected by tho header being gceate,
even Than that vita lie self-hinder
while the grain is al once secured ffoi.
the deterioration n%suailY resulting from
weatheriag the shock. by this pro.
sressife advance toward : higher civil,
cation, fourmen cut OF the Eve FORMERLY
employed in harvest york lave beer
actually and visibly pushed OF tie farm
and into the ranks Of those seeking WORT
in the towns, The work III The farm Aa,
deserted lie ~iartueI's sen; nor the sol
the w0r&-New York Sun.