The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-14

FARMERS Raise Pouitry, EGGS ana HOGS
s-No Prollt IN Wheat.
Oakesdale, Jan. n.--{Spaciai. Farm
ing has undergone a complete revolu-
ton In the Palouse country, and, de-
spite the fact that the crop was light
er and the price lower, the advent of
the new year finds the farmers in bet
tor financial condition than they were
one year ago. The cause Of this is the
different methods of trslnsacting busi-
ness. and the fact that farmers pro-
duced something more than wheat In
1884 Three years ago the country i'm
ported more than one-hEaif the eggs
and butter IS consumed. and farm
ers said they -ouid never sell an
egg for less than % cents per dozen.
Chickens We're never worth less than
"a. and more frequently IS per dozen.
Butter was never worth less than so
cents. and frequently reached IS cents
per two-pound roll. Yet these staple
articles were imported from the East
In car load lots. and farmers frequent
~ bought these staple farm products
at the high prices mentioned
Now everything is changed. The
crop OF 1858. and farmers found. for
the first time In the history Of the Pa
louise country. that they could not meet
their payments for machinery, grocer
les and interest. Merchants found they
could no longer sell goods on ten
months credit, and In few short
weeks the merchants throughout the
Palouse country changed from long
credit to a spot cash basis, and farm
ars were compelled to pay cash for
their groceries. Theh the despised and
neglected hen came to the rescue and
saved the country. 1t is a noteworthy
fact that the farmers OF this country
lived on the Stale nf eggs at 5 to 10
cents per dozen. 1T was their only
means of support. Wheat could not he
sold at any price-~spo one wanted it,
and eggs became a legal tender at the
stores. Farmers ate no eggs. They
could no. afford to. They were the
only means OF support, and they Were
sold in large quantities and thousands
OF cases were shipped to the mines and
the Sound country.
The lesson thus impressed 80 forcibly
had It's effect, and few farms are now
"
poultry are now among the heading ex
ports OF this region. Hogs. too. are
are now exported, and II il hoped the
present year viii see no pork products
shipped into this country from the
East
FarmHs ind that St pays better 10
feed what 10 hogs than To sell Ii at
the low prices which have ruled for the
past few years. and hog raising Is be-
coming a leading industry here. IT Is a
ccngnron sight 20 see car loads Of hogs
eurrle.i over - railroads bound for Spo-
kane and Seattle. As e result. pork
packing Is fast becoming a paying in-
dustry in these cities. "a well as IN the
smaller towns Of the Paiousc country.
oakesdale. Tekoa and Fairfield each
have small packing establishments. and
these will be followed by more and
larger institutions Of the same kind. 50
that in few years the hog VIII be
produced. slaughtered and made into
pork products before II Is shipped from
this section. thus saving railroad trans
pc,r.tathyn and furnishing employment
for many men in the packing establish
ments As a sample or the profits in
producing hogs In xfss country the
Observation-Disclosures correspondent VIII
give a few Instances that have been
brought 90 his notice recently. A citi-
zen Of this town bought four pigs las,
Anrs, for which he paid $40. or s.. 80
each He bought lumber for pen.
which cost $3.50. He bought SIS worth
OF damaged wheat for feed. making
total outlay Of Sis for pigs. pen and
feed, When the feed was exhausted he
let the hogs 10 a farmer on shares. the
latter agrceing 20 feed the four hogs
siii November I for one hog. On Nc
vernher the three hogs were sold for
Sc. 20 they weighing go pounds and
selling for i-s cents. live weight.
Here Is {. net profit Of sis.so on an in
yeSvrss,t Of sis IN less than seven
months. Yet she farmer who fed thssr
told the post-lnteilssencer ccrvrsEson'
,,e,,t that he got better price for his
x.sy.Sss than he would had Re sold r..
ay,sff~- case Is that az farmer who
s.,,s six rigs. all Of one litter. At eaghs
gyssnths old, for ssi.5o. being Ia cents
,sar rSoursf. He told the PoHt-lnsessi-
sy.-nsse~ correspondents. they bad not
.S.sf hin, Sc. Scozes ~ such Instances
might ~, related. bur tssts viii suffice 10
ss,ew ,Fsat hog raising Is bound II De-
esrras one os the leading industries OF
thAs country. where feed can be rTuwn
-, cheaply asvd hog cholera IL nfasnsawn.
Another industry wsaseh csn rs
coupled wsth hog rasssns Is the rrc1ue-
ssssn Of sugar h~eets. Many tests nave
been made and sli prove this country
10 BE- rxarticufarly zaspsed 20 the ITO
.f,,x-,..xra % sugar heess. owing Il, TIE
,,go,ssac yiela and the large PER eeEst. 81
sas,,naragsc matter eSszssassexi. II - pro-
,sssed 10 RAISE slse tsesss On an exsezs-
saye ~y-ale and try 20 get bret ssssaT
ss,,nrv started bare IL this t. dnsse
the bec.s VIII De Sold % the factory.