Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-02-14
Communicated.

In reading the papers have noticed
the brilliant setting forth of the business
conditions of 1895. and an equally bright,
if not more roster view of the prospect for
1909. We are pleased to know that there
are grounds for this somewhere. but must
express regret that such conditions are
not visible in this part of the great uni
verse. 1t is true that the iron and steel
trade has been good and probably has a
fair prospect of continuance, and all
have, OF ought to have, hopeful feeling
that other industries will share. and pos
sibly are sharing, in this blooming boom.
But we submit that there are precious
few people in this locality who are smii-
ing over its existence, or are even con
scious of any impending upheaval of dull
times. Ours is mainly an agricultural
region, and one in which PASTORAL life, fl
anywhere, has reached almost the top
round, the achme of success along its
meandering and political lines-the place,
if anywhere, where the fallow globe is
turned smoothly down with a shining
mouldboard and flowers Immediately
spring up in the burrows to the entangle-
ment of the feet of the whistling plowboy
as the proud team homeward flies. But
not so. for there are worms. and fertilizer
bills. aud floods and thoughts, between
the sowing and reaping, and poufings at
harvest time, and untold work and ex-
pense before threshing, and suspense be-
fore marketing is complete. Then, too,
the price for the crop which was nipped
in the bud is so low 1t is hardly worth the
powder; and the crop, which was large,
scarcely paid for hauling it out And so
it runs all through the gamut, hard saw
Ing and poor music. Thus has it been
this year, a shortage to the extent of So
per acre. This means deficit of 5000
to every hundred acres, and averaging
up the whole area of this blooming and
sweating agricultural county of Jeffer-
son we have falling off in our farmers
bank account of 100000 This much
short to go into the trade of the mer-
chants and other business people of the
county. Even the lawyers, the doctors,
the preachers and editors know there is a
swish somewhere along the lines, and
that the worms are not altogether re-
sPonsible for it, but that low prices have
had hand in it.
1t is queer thing that while iron and
steel are ringing with such a boom ali
over the land that wheat and hay in COM
pany should fall with, such dull thud.
What is the matter2 Who can tell? If
this state of things is to continue, while
taxes are grinding along in their usual
cutting fashion. with men ready to throw
three or four thousandodollars more on
the county in the way of road tax, will it
be considered impertinent to suggest that
the salaried officials of the County, State
and National governments are still get
ting high old-time wages2 that all sala-
ried workers are drinking and eating the
milk and honey out of the cornucopia of
time In short, the price of everything
that contributes to their ease and comfort
were never before so cheap and good for
the ready money. Should things be
evened up a little? Ask the farmers
Can a law adjust these variances +?
We want one, and venture to suggest
that our willy politicians refrain from
racking their brains in inventing new
Offices with high salaries wherein to put
their political favorites of the you help
US and We'll help you.
SAMUEL T. BOYD.