Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-09-06
A GLANCE AT THE PAST.

A GLANCE AT THE PAST.
Ii Is seldom that farmers fully under
stand the great improvements which
have been and are constantly being made
around them. The condition Of the
farmer to-day is 90 different from that OF
only one or two generations ago. There
are many living who can tell US about
the old stage routes over which not only
passengers but freight had to be drawn
many miles and Ii then cost more to tote
freight from Hsllowell or other boat
landing back TO some country stores
than IL now costs TO transport Chinese
products to New York, half way around
the world. In conversation with ship
captain we were much surprised TO lesrn
that he had just landed cargo In New
\ ork City from China at q cost OF sixteen
shillings or about four dollars per ton.
Cheapeuing Of transportation is con-
stsntly making changes Ia the price Of
both the products OF the land and the
factory. If farmer to-day, after rsis-
ing crop Of wheat, had TO draw IL fifty,
sixty or seventy-five miles TO find mar
ket how earnestly he would cry, hard
times. Many farmers in the early part
OF this century in Central New York,
drew wheat seventy-five miles TO Albany
market and the construction Of the Erie
Canal was TO them the beginning OF II
new life. This canal 10 yet Of great
value but how inadequate IL would be to
deal with the immense internal COM
merce OF the Empire State were il not
for those great railroads which In point
Of time leave the canal as relic Of past
ages.
IL we undertake to consider the enor-
nous work accomplished by the great
trunk lines which span the continent We
are Gszzled by the size Of the figures and
lost in smazement. The Pennsylvania
Central railroad is said 10 be the greatest
Industrial corporation in the world aud
its gross income is nearly, II not quite,
equal 20 all that our national govern
ment receives from duties on imported
goods. How little our grandfsthers
could have realized the enormous ex-
pansion OF the internal commerce of the
natioa during the past half century.
The Introduction OF new machinery
into the cotton factories within less than
two score years has increased the product
of mans labor more than five fold and
during the same time the improved ma
chiuery has probably increased quite as
much the product OF mans labor upon
the farm. Not long since an indus
trious lsborer made the remark that the
q great injury 10 the workman as he
could not earn nearly as much now In
hsying and harvest MS he used TO few
years ago. The question Immediately
arose were il not for the improved farm
machinery what would the laborer In
these Eastern States be obliged to pay
for barrel OF -four: IL he is not able TO
earn quite as much IL IL several times
made up by the reduced cost OF what he
buys.
How different the farmer lives to-day
and how much more he expends In the
house, stable aud on his back than MAS
expended in his grsndfather's day. Some
look upon these changes as cause for re-
gret but we do not think that Is the case.
The introduction Of machinery has so
greatly increased the products OF the
farm, shop and factory that people can
afford and ought 10 consume much more
Of what We term the Injuries Of life than
IL Was possible for them 10 do In the first
half OF the nineteenth century. la the
early part OF the century IL took one
hundred young men 10 make as many
horse shoe nails as are now manufsctur-
ed by one. IL the consumption OF man.
ufactured goods were no greater now
than then what would become OF the
ninety and nine:
Ii Is well 10 look at these matters cam
dldly and in the great whirl OF the pres
ent time be sure that we understand all
the conditions Of our environment and
be fully prepared for the changes
though they come as rapidly AS they
NAV. Farmer.