Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-12-20
JeffersOnyilIc 0. lettings.

JCHcfSoENIlic ". Jolsi'SS.
Your Western readers are all anxious
ly awaiting the heaviest porker reports.
What's the matter with the butchers.
Wehave been thinking seriously of guess
ing off some weights from our neck OF the
woods just to get the fever started. But
few farmers have butchered in our vicin-
ity as yet-have killed pig as they put
it for present use. The big corn crop
has kept them busy gathering and mar
keting it. Conditions have been above
the average for husking and cribbing and
the crop is really large one to handle,
with the force of hands available to gath
err it, weather conditions have been good
enough with very little snow which came
early in Oct. The bulk of the crop is in
~ :,> ri tod vat n,anv thnnG sands
of bushels are still in the field. Scarcely
of cars keeps it from the elevators and
keeps the price few cents low. Many
farmers sold their crops on contract as
early as Oct. LIST 40 cents, price now at
the elevator 35 cents. An unusal effort
was made last winter and spring to raise
lots Of pigs, and by many with good sue
cess the Jan. and Feb. crop was market
ed in Oct. and Nov. at Sc per hundred at
about an average 200 VT. every week
since loads have been shipped at from
SIS. rs to Sc which of course makes hog
feeding more profitable than selling the
corn in the market. Hog cholera has
prevailed in some sections Of our county
alarming and at great loss to the atliict-
ed farmers but one of the sufferers said
to me recently he could lose every third
crop of his hogs and then beat hauling ais
corn to market. Coed pasturage has
been the rule all the past season and
butcher stuff has been fat and plentiful
with prices QocaD ranging from $3.50 to
81 per hundred for 1000 pound stuff and
under and the local price for meat is Is
cents for loin, porter house and round
according to quality.
The Poultry and Egg market has been
a surprise even to the buyer. Turkeys
Qive)l2 and ii cents, chickens and 8
cents, eggs 80 cents, at local prices.
Wages for all kinds of labor are good,
general mechanics 20 cents per hour and
husking corn al to cents bu., chopping
stove wood 60 cents per cord. You find
but few idle men, there is work for all.
There seems to be unusal interest in all
our public school. Teachers are paid bet
ter wages, and new methods of teaching
are keeping face with the times. Cen
tralization is working very satisfactorily
in several towns in our county, and the
children are delighted to be hauled to and
from school. The general salaries of
of teachers of the district schools are $50
per month and are paid at the end of each
month. The several churches are pre-
pairing for Christmas, and program and
a treat at the M. e. S. School, Santa and
a Christmas tree will be in evidence.
The many friends of Mr.. j. H. Sea-
brook former prominent Frederick Co.
school teacher and Sunday School worker
will be grieved to learn he is critically ill
with cancer under his left jaw, leaving
him in critical condition. A recent visit
to Dayton and Springfield gives me special
pleasure to report that all the Maryland
ers that locate there are enjoying the
great prosperity boon that seems to
spread over our entire country. We are
a great people and certainly have much
to boast of and to be thankful for. Wish
all the CLARION force and readers Merry
Christmas. truly
G. M. e.