Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-02-28
FARMING CLASS COMPLAIN.

Stutsman County Farmers ObservA-
tions Of Conditions in Ireland.
Editor Alert:-As I have just returned
from my trip to Ireland I will give few
particulars of the financial conditions
there, as found them after an absence
of IL years. At that time left Ireland
prosperous with good prlces beng re-
ceived for all products. Pork was worth
2 pounds 10 shillings per hundred: now
it 10 worth but one pound Is shillipgs
Flax was then worth 8 shilliugs per
stone; at present it is worth but four
shillings 6 pence. Butter was worth one
shilling three pence per pound. The
present price is = pence. Eggs are worth
pence per dozen. These are the prlnci-
pal farm products there. Potatoes we're
poor crop last year, consequently they
bring good price; four shillinRs per
hundred-about cent a pound. Horses
and cattle are about the same price as
when was there before-a good price.
Land, however, has decreased in value
about 25 per cent. Eleven years ego the
population of Ireland was five millions,
now it is about four and two-thirds
millions.
The forming class in general complain
of hard times and attribute 1t to America
flooding their markets with cheap pro-
ducts. The best American flour sells
there for II shillings six pence for liz
pounds and the lowest grade for 8 shil-
iiugs for 1l2 pounds. American pork
sells for - cents per pound and every
thing IN the line OF American machinery
sells there for 80 per cent cheaper than
we can buy them here.
spent SIX weeks in Ireland and while
there visited number of the inland
towns, also some of the seaport towns
in the north; Londonderry seems to have
grown since was there last, but moth
ing to compare with Belfast. The latter
is one of the finest cities ever visited in +;
spent qnite while there taking in the
sights. For beauty and wealth it ex-
ceeds any city in Ireland.
was travelling twenty two days from
the time left Ireland until reached
North Dakota. came across in the
Anchor line steamer Circassia. We were
fourteen days on the water and expert
enced some very hard storms. When
the vessel ran into the bay 1t looked
like an elongated iceberg with steam
adjustments. She brought more cargo
into port than she carried out Of Glasgow
harbor, for she was burdened with an
untold weight of ice. On deck every
thing was coated, in places four feet thick.
The starboard side of the ship, where
che got the brunt Of the big seas hurled
over her by the northwest gale. was
completely hidden, from ventilators to
water line, and the ratings along the
bridge and decks looked like solid white
walls. Her spars and riReings were
twice the natural SIZE in their ice cover
ings. The steamer was washed from
stem to stern repeatedly and 80 great
were the vessels plunges that several of
the passengers were bruised by being
knocked abont. I was blockaded four
days in New York with the snow.
I have come to the conclusion from all
I have seen and heard while abroad, and
through some Of the eastern states. that
there ia no place where the people are so
we'll off. generally speaking, as right here
in North Dakota. / was glad to get
home again for Dakota, as have always
said, is good enough for me.
WILLIAM FARLEY.
Spiritwood, Feb. %.