The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22

va VIZ - s~As
faintcdl
After that he could do anything he wanted
TO In that gang, for he had saved the owner
about 81 900. no insurance from fire being pos
sible on such hazardous risks as a threshins
engine or Il separator run by one. 1t is q more
dangerous task than was the thrcshing by the
old horse power. but II is far more satisfactory
and decidedly more rapid.
There Is on either side OF the feeder a bend
cutter who Is likely to be a young man or q
boy. for the task Is not q very difficult one.
His duty is to sever with a sharp knife the Irvine
cord that ties the bundle OF grain into a sheaf,
lie works swiftly and Is always at his place.
but receives only the wages OF u pitcher. some
OF tho new machines have a self-feeder that
does away with this employee and saves the
manager so much in wages. 1t will be only
a matter of time when there will be also a saving
OF the pitcher, for there are improvements In
all tho depar tments of the threshing business
The hardest work OF tho threshing is at the
end OF the straw carrier. Many q boy has
been driven from home by being put at the
top Of a straw stack to push away the burden
OF dirt and ohan that comes rolling out of the
machine after the grain has been separated
from the straw. The owner OF the wheat is
inc one VINO UlrtS IL "a ie1 '"AS
for his own straw. The modern machines
have huge oylinder-like stackers that put The
straw on the stack with much better manage
ment than did the old carriers and make II
easier for the workers.
But II Is never an attractive task. When
the wind brings the dust from the machine
10 the top Of the stack the men are ready TO
desert at any time. The owner also takes care
Of the wheat that comes In a golden stream
from the spout OF the machine and fills the
wheat wagon to overlooking. HIS boys drive
the wagon to the granary and sometimes 60
on to the elevator In town, thus finishing up
the harvest at once.
As the farmers Of the West have becoms
better fixed financially they have beea abe
TO hold their wheat and some OF them have as
many As three years product on hand. TINS
year the yield has compelled them tn sell IN
order to get rid Of the old grain and make room
for the new. Then. the price is good and there
Is a fair profit. Some of the doubtful ones
were anxious 10 contract to sell their wheat
early and they sold their grain In June To be
delivered when threshed st so cents a busfel.
As they see their neighbors sell for 90 and even
o. cents, their feelings may be imagined.
Over by the hedge or down in a ravine by
the stream Is the cook wagon. II Is a large
house on wheels. built with a view to comfort
and with screens at every window and door.
Inside IL is a kitchen and dining room COM
bined. The cook Is likely to be- one Of the men.
or there may be there the wife and daughter
Of the owner Of the machine. All through
the day they are working getting ready for the
dozen hungry men who will ST down to tho
pine board table when the meal hour comes.
Pies b. the dozen are baked and plain foods are
prepared, including a large pot Of coffee. This
fare il set before the men AT daybreak. AT noon
and late IN the evening Z, when all come In tired
from the scene Of the threshing. II Is COM
paratively cool In the cook wagon, for the
cooking is done on a gasolene stove and there
is a pleasant breeze from the wheatlelds blow
ing through the open doors. Everything Is
clean and well cooked and there Is no dispo-
sItion To find fault with the arrangements,
The gang sleeps under the lee of the straw
stack or under the trees by the side Of the
stream. II the country Is open and there Is
not a likelihood Of finding a place of such con-
venience for sleeping the owner takes along a
tent In which the men make their home. On
Saturday night the men go TO town and see
the sights. The country towns are thronged
with them during the threshing season, and
as they get a part Of their wages every week.
there IA likely TO be a generous patronage or
the places OF resort that may be afforded by the
towns. These are not numerous In the Kansas
vIllages-,hc most that Is likely TO be found
being a "loint" where beer is on tap.
Threshing Is not done on Su~nday-though
harvesting Is. One boy was sent into the har-
vest field in Rush county, and was warned by
his father to 60 to Sunday school when Sunday
came. He wrote home.
I'VE are working very hard and will have
to work all day Sunday to get the wheat so
that We can send 1t 10 the starving people OF
India. Need / go TO Sunday school on this
account and let the poor people OF India %starve?"
His father studied the letter carefully and
allowed the boy TO stay home and work In the
harvest field.
Thsre IA a good deal Of fiction about the
threshers having dances in the evening and
other snusements. The fact is that they are
too tired for any such fun. Tley wait until
the end OF the season comes, and only on rare
occasions do they feel like having a holiday
while the work Is going on. Pitching heavy
bundles Of wheat all day does not induce any
great love for the two-step when night comes
especially when the work Is continued until 8
or 0 o'clock.
The afternoon Is when most work Is done,
| md many machines that are slow In starting
run in the evening until 1t becomes too late to
see the bundles before the welcome whistle OF
| the engine Is heard. The changes from one
farm to another are done in the night as much
as possible. The people in the prairie towns
become used to hearing a noise in the night as
II a freight train had Jumped the track and wa
humping up the street with all the wheeling
and whisuing possible-they know that it Is
u another threshlns crew bound for new
ce res Of labor. Tho horses along the route
are frightened out Of their wits and the chill
dren stare-then IL is gone.
1t Is a golden stream. indeed, that Is pouring
from the machines this year in the West. Hun
dreds Of thousands Of dollars have been invested
in threshirg outfits in this state and Nebraska,
but the farmers have the money 10 pay for the
work, and there will be good returns for al
who manage their business with due diligence
no USE FOR MONEY.