The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-02-22
4 Probable Boom !.
Enron TINES:

HE farmers llFlnG III the vicinity VI
hodunk City have decided to take the
emigration business of that locality into
their own hands. The great drawback,
for 10, these many years, to Podunk
farmers, has been the smallness and in
significance of Podunk City itself 1t
has been incorporated now for over
thirty wears, and still is no larger than
it was twenty years ago.
The country all around it is well i'm
proved with good hard working farm
er on every quarter section, and the re-
suit Is there is much more farm pro-
luce raised in that vicinity than the
city requires for its own use. The re-
suit is a total stagDation of the local or
home market, and the farmers are com
PEELED to ship everything they produce
10 distant market, and the returns
from their shipments after deducting
freight charges, and commissions as a
general thing leave them very little, if
any, profit There is stuff enough ras-
ell within radius of ten miles of PO-
dunk to feed ten thousand people and
yet podunk numbers by the last census
only five hundred souls.
The absurdity of the situation has at
last forced itself upon the intelligent
Podunk farmers and as they have in
the past been more or less enlightened
upon this subject, by the efforts of GER
tain well meaning city people, mer-
chants, lawyers real estate dealers
and newspapers, who have been en-
gagged in the laudabIe effort Of trying
10 induce people in foreign parts, to
come to this country to engage IN the
business Of agriculture, they, the farm
crs Of Podunk, now propose to take
similar steps to induce people from
abroad to come over and fill up the
vacuum III this stunted municipality.
The podunk farmers have become
wise, at last, by having heard so long
the Podunk business men promulgate
the theory that a city grows, or should
grow Just as the country demands.
This being true, and there evidently
being produce enough raised within
ten miles OF Podunk to feed ten thous-
and people, why is there not city
there proportionate to the demand?
There can be no reason given except
neglect in the matter of working up en-
igration, and, to accomplish this result,
the Fodunk farmers have organised an
emigration bureau and commenced bus
mess.
There is not a business in Podunk,
saws their prospectus, now living before
me, that should not be quadrupled at
the very least.
There are only two merchants in the
town when there should be twenty, and
so with every other business trade and
profession.
Even IN the preaching line Podunk is
vastly UNDERGONE. There are in Amer
lea some sixty protestant churches of
various kinds, and here in Poduuk this
great variety IS only represented by
three, VIZ; Methodist, Baptist, and
reshyteriau. What grand opening
and opportunity for more.
So up and down through the entire
list of trades and professions this docu-
ment shows, and shows clearly, that
there is certainly from the farmers
standpoint great need for more of each
sort to come.
One Of the longest headed farmers IN
this movement made a statement re-
Gently that on strawberry raising alone
the effect of such an emigration as is
contemplated would bc magical.
Last year with the present city popu-
lation Of FIVE hundred, strawberries
brought only five cents per quart, and
five pecks covered the total consump-
ton. This farmer estimates that ifthe
population of the city could be increas-
cd to ten thousand prices could be rails
ed. a5 well as the strawberries, and the
total consumption be largely increased.
50 with other things. OF course in
every effort looking to the amcHoration
Of the condition of mankind there are
always cavilers and daubcrs. 50 in this.
The SO called business men of Podunk
think this farmers movement to in
crease The city population is not based
on business sense.
They declare that 70 incrcase the num-
Der of business houses in'the city would
ruin those now doing business. The
two merchants insist that they do all
the business now, and only Just live,
and that to bring in any more mer-
chants would involve all in bankruptcy.
30 SAY the two lawyers; and the two doe
tors; and the two landlords; and the two
new spapers; and the two lumber deal
ers; and the two bIacksmiths; and the
two dentists and the two hardware
men, and the two drug stores. Not one
Of them speaks favorably Of this farm
er movement to bring emigration to the
city. What can we DO to liye if more Of
our uade come to divide with Us the
trade We now have?
The only answer the wise farmers
make to such nonscnsical question as
this is;-'why YOU must as business
men diversity your business
What the farmers mean by "diversi-
fying their business. the Lord only
knows, hut it ia word they came hon
"stl, by, n il has been fired off at ev-
cry unfortunate farmer for the last
twenty Years BY rodunk business men,
whenever farmer has made complaint
that he was losing money on his crops
There can be no doubt however is to
the good etfec; upon the farming ropu-
lation around PoJuuk ii this scheme
works and an emigration of the kind
mentioned is once started
One thing j. sure there is ample room
in lodunk Tor even more than ten
thousand people
When the town was laid outfits found
ers with Wise torethou-ht plated
ground enough to accommodate three
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