Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-06-14
NEW PROFESSION AT HOME
FOR YOUNG FARMERS

dous problem the farm owner Of today
has to face. II his own sons were
content to remain on the farm in
stead Of seeking occupations in near
by cities, his probllem would be solv-
ed. The farmer boy is unwtsely apt
to regard the life Of a farmer as a
humdrum existence, Offering slight
opportunities for the excitement,
amusement and even recompense
that the young man Graves, and
eventually he finds his way to the
city.
But what does the city offer the
tanner boy? His splendid health and
strength, acquired in the exercise Of
his farm duties, make his services
valuable in the laborious occupations
In factories, mills, mines and in othel
classes Of heavy work. but those &C.
equations, while offering plenty of
hard work, do not pay well; neither
do they offer much In the way Of ex-
element or amusement Therefore
most farmer boys that go to the
cities face Encouragement and dis.
appointment.
II those same boys could be given
a trade which would afford them the
variety they desire, they could be
kept contented on the farms to as
sist when their services are most
needed and at the same time be en-
abled to earn through the side occu-
patton the extra money that attracts
the majority Of them away from the
farms.
A new profession has erecenty
sprung into existence through the ex-
tensive advertising OF the large pow
der companies. 1t Is agricultural
blasting. Dynamite has been exten.
sively used for number Of years for
clearing Land Of stumps and bouders,
In very recent years 1t has been dis
covered that 1t also is an effective
and economic agency for the con-
struction Of bitches, In the drainage
Of swampS, for tie planting Of tnees,
the regeneration of rundown or.
chards, the regeneration Of partially
exhausted soils and the subsoiling Of
ground urderlaid with hardpan and
compact soils that render it less pro-
ductive than 1t otherwise could be
made.
It is astonishing what a demand
there Is among farmers and fruit
growers for the services of agricul-
tural blasters. The powder company
which first awakened an interest in
the use of dynamite in agriculture,
receives, on an average, none than
thnee hundred inquiries per day
from farmers asking for enlighten
ment ON this subject. The company
has a system OF referring these in
qiries to independent blasters, who
offer their services to the farmers
interested We are Informed by tht
powder company that there are no
one-tenth enough blasters Throughout
the country to take care Of the prof
fered work.
The use Of dynamite in agTicultur
al pursuits is very simple and easil!
learned. Subsoiling and tree plant
ing are the largest fields for exploi
tation These two classes Of worl
are so simple that a man can learI
to handle them in an hour. Thu
question may be asked, If it is 81
simple as that, why would farmeI
employ a professional to do th'
work." Simply because he is afrait
to use dynamite himself There Il
something in the word itself that in
spires terror, yet, properly handled
it is no more dangerous than gunpoV
der. blasting powder, acetylene gas
gasoline, and many other thing
which farmers very commonly use
but which they do not fear becaus,
they have become accustomed +
them.
Opportunities exist practically 81
erywhere in the United States. Tn
farmers are looking for the man tina
can handle their blasting contracts
Who is better qualified to do it thai
the young farmer? His neighbor
know him, have confidence in hir
and win gladly employ him. He ca
work at the new occupation durin
seasons Of the year when his fathe
doesn't require his assistance i
planting or harvesting. The wor
pays well, is not dangerous when il
strctions are followed, and offers o
portunities for the excitement, var
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