The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-18

Mr., T. II. Buchanan, Of Wellsburg,
was In the city on Monday, and in the
course OF a conversation with an Intel
llgencer representative In regard to the
various interests OF Brooke county, he
remarked that the farmers OF that part
OF the Pan Handle, were passing
through q hard experience this winter
Very many OF them, II not most, are IN
debt to an embarrassing degree, the re-
suit OF the poor crops and poor prices
for two years past. especially OF the low
prices for wool; and how they are to get
Rquare again with the world Is the prob
lem that HARNESSES not a few OF them.
Numbers Of them have sold on their
sheep as q result OF the pressure for tax
money and the scarcity and expense OF
feed, particularly hay; and the prospect
Is that the county Will soon cease TO be
noted as II once was for It's Hooks ana
fine wool. The sheep are disappearing
because OF 10 cent wool and Sl7 hay, and
they have been sold at very low prices;
most any price at all, In fact.
ITO what sort OF farming Will these
former sheep men resort as n means OF
making ends meet?" was asked OF Mr.
Buchanan,
He replied that that was n question
he could not nswer He dld not Know
any kind Of farming that would pay
better than sheep raising, and that kind
OF farming would moi pay at all at pres
emit prices for wool and feed. II Will not
pay 10 attempt to raise grain In this
hill country In competition with the
western prairies. The farmers would
not only lose money, but. what Is more
important, their soil also, II would
soon be In the creeks and runs, n this
region would be practically destroyed
as a farming country. Sheep have
made the Pan Handle farms rich and
valuable, and II IL really the only kind
Of farming that will keep them In that
condition. But this cannot be the case
at 10 cents for wool
II am a Democrat hut I don't believe
In free wool" said Mr.. buchanan.
Asked as to the effect Of present poor
prices Il the value OF farms In Brooke,
Mr.. Buchanan replied that II could have
but one effect and that is to increase the
downward tendency OF lands. He spoke
OF n farm lying at the foot OF RoblnSon's
hill, midway between WellsburB and
Bethany. that years ago had sold at $75'
and that was again sold about four
years ago at $40, plus a dover interest
OF NNNW ItI lNulg hAlA AlAnN WhA AAFNF~N@
to be d bargain AT that price. yet {
would not now bring that money, al
though there is no longer n dover In
terest. He spoke also Of another farm,
nearer to Bethany. for which 800 had
been offered and refused. that would not
now bring over $40, II that. These two
farms, said he. illustrate the farming
situation in one OF the very best coun-
ties in the state. Taxes stay up but
lands and their products go down, and
this puts the farmer SO far behind In
bad years that he can't catch up In bet.
ter years. II indeed there are any better
years now.
Asked what he thought would be done
about wool In Congress, he replied that
he hardly expected to see the duty re-
stored.
Il notice" said he. that once a duty
goes on OF any article and remain on
for two or three years, II Is apt 10 stay
OF altogether. 1t takes great pressure
indeed, to get II on again. The outside
puhllc do not care how low the price Of
anything goes which II does not pro-
duce."
In answer to this remark. his atten-
ton wns called 10 the fact that the
outside public had a very direct In
terest in the continued existence OF
sheep husbandry in this region, as In
deed, In all other parts Of the country,
because Il Is to every householder a
question OF cheap meat. Mutton regu-
lates the price OF beef. and once sheep
disappears up goes the price Of beef to
every consumer. Therefore every cltl-
zen OF the city or town has n dollar and
cents interest in the prosperity OF the
wool grower.
MIR. Buchanan admitted the general
force OF this view, but StIll was inclined
10 think that while II was true II would
not present itself In that light to the at
teution of he average citizen, and there
fore that the odds against the wool
grower would preponderatc.
In this gloomy expectation, however,
he ia likely to b. %agreeably dlsappolnt-
cd, for in the past wool has always got
back of the free list to the dutiable
schedule, and the growers have the as
gurnnce Of "Jfhcle" John Sherman that
Il will get there again.
Despite the scarcity OF money among
the farmers Of Brooke. Mr., buchanan
said that the county seat held its own
fairly well these times In q commercial
and manufacturing way. and there is
no lack Of confidence among the dent-
gena OF old wellsburE as to her future
when good times come once more.
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EVERYBODY seems to rush 20 W. ].