The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-20
George Washington-Farmer

In old English days no one could hope
10 attain much OF position in the woric
unless he was the owner OF land. In
fact. until the passage OF the great re-
form bill in 1882 man could not even
vote unless he held land worth 40 'shillingS
a year Today the English gentry still
have their country places. where they
spend most OF their time, enjoying an
open-air existence that keeps them In the
prime of life at an age when the average
American is a worn out wreck.
In colonial days and during the earlier
part OF our national period similar con-
ditions obtained in this country. In 1870
there were only six cities with popula
ton of 5000, and Philadelphia, the largest.
was not big as the modern oshkosh.
with Industrial development. n great
movement to the cities set in; country
life fell into dlsrepnte; dwellers in nn rura,
humor. OF late happily, the pendulum
shows some disposition TO swing the other
way; Americans are again recognizing tne
truth OF the half-forgotten saying that
God made the country and man the
town" The new movement means de-
crease in the sale OF liver pills, but also
greater sanity and the living OF a nor
NAL human existence.
the rural life appealed none was more
enthusiastic than George Washington. A
good soldier and a wise statesman In
the eyes OF the world, he regarded him
self as primarily farmer, And he was
good one. Inc 13Ct lnaL DdITtlS VI
flour stamped George Washington. Mount
Vernon" were exempt from inspection
in West India ports was distinction OF
which be was prouder tflan bs ne was Oh ms
Late IN life he wrote to friend: u
think with you, that the life OF hus-
bandman is the most delectaole IL is
honorable, it is amusing, and, with. judi
cious management, 1T Is profitable, TO see
plants rise from the earth and flourish
by the superior skill and bounty or the
1of iNrn Nin6 pyfTh
ideas which are more. easy TO be con-
ceived than expressed"
The earliest Washington coat OF arms
had blazoned upon 1t "3 cinque fols.
which was the herald's way OF saying that
the bearer owned land and was a farmer
When Washington made book plate he
and other plants. TO indicate. what he
once called 1.-The most favorite amuse-
ment OF my life" Evidently he had no
fear OF being called "hayseed,"
Plutocrat Of America.
From his father Washington inherited
In 1913 he patented $50 acres in Frederick
ways called It. The death OF his half
brother LawrenGeS ~ hniant ia S helr gave 5nGn nim
acres. His marriage with the relict OF
Daniel Parke Custis brought him not
only a charming wife but also 'hfteen
thousand acres OF land, a good, part OF II
adjoining the city of Williamsburg; Sow
eral lots in said city; between TWO and
three hundred negroes; and about eight
deat tn from ''fits' OF his stepdaughter,
Patsy Custis, in l7I5 added 10000 pounds
more.
Doubtless this marriage. in which
Washington did as the Quaker in Tenpy-
sons Northern Farmer advises. had
much TO do with forwarding ms suose.
afforded he might never have become the |
Father OF His Country
Now wha' would ye ha' bin 4, had ye
ma marrit the widow Custis.' asked
crusty old John Burns Of the president |
OF the United States when the latter was
laying out the future capital OF the coun-
try.
Washingtons marriage was not the
only exempllfication in his career OF the
truth of the backwoods adage that them
that has gifts" BY military bounty for
he received Is 900 acres of western lands,
and he bought the rights TO about as
much more He added to Mount Yer
non by purchase until that estate con-
were under cultivation. He also engaged |
In numerous land speculation and had
lots In Washington, Alexandria, and 9TH
erty and that of his wife, he owned at
the time of his death 51,395 acres, and
was probably The plutocrat of America
ALL however, had been acquired hon
estly.
He was in the habit OF renting all
these lands except the Mount vernon eS-
tate, which he cultivated himself. While
president. he found the care Of this
great farm so irlssome that he consid
cred renting II also. and. In the hope of
doing SO. as well AS in reply TO a scien-
tinc inquiry. wrote a long description to
Arthur Young. an English agriculturist,
who is better known to fame as the
author OF book of Travels" descrip-
tive OF France on the eve of the great
Revolution.
Description of Mount Vernon.
mo estate in United America" he
wrote to Young in 1898, lis more pleas
anily situated than this. 1t lies in n
high. dry, and healthy country. 300 miles
by water from the sea, and, as you will
see by the plan. on one Of the finest riv-
ers In the world. Its margin is washed
by more than ten miles of tidewater, |
from the bed Of which and the innumer-
able coves inlets, and small marshes:
with which IL aboundS. an inexhaustible
fund OF mud may be drawn, as a manure.
either to be used separately or in a COM
post The soil OF the tract
of which l am speaking is a good loan.
more inclined. however to clay than
sand From use, and, ! might add
abuse. IL is become more and more con-
solidated. and OF course heavier to work
This river, which encompasses the
land the distance above mentioned Is
well supplied with various kinds OF fish,
at all seasons OF the year, and. In the
spring with greatest profusion OF shad.
herrlnGs. bass, carp, perch. sturgeon, etc.