The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, February 13, 1906, Page THREE, Image 3

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THE AMERTCAN FARMER. The Wealth He Produces Make- Ii The Greatest Wonder of tha Age. Professor W. G. Johnson, managing editor of the American Agriculturist, -ro wrote the following article on the wonderful achievments of the American' farmer for the New York Hdrald's annual financial review, says: "Our American farmer is the won der of the age. Wall street trembled when he announced the value of his products for 1905 at $6,415,000,000. Railroad officials shook because of their inability to hand to him a bill of lading in 1904, but when he asked for rolling stock to transport his crops at the close of the last harvest they were unable to speak. He requested cai-s for 2,708,000,000 bushels of corn, 740,000,000 bushels of wheat, 1,000,000,000 bushels of oats, 35,000,000 bushels of rye, 150,000,000 bushels -of barley, 30,000,000 bushels of flaseed, 250,000,000 bushels of po tatoes, 28,000,000 barrels of apples, 3,000,000 busheli of onions, 910,00 busels of cranberries, 650,000,000 pounds of riee, 230,000 tons beet'sugek, 11,000,000 bales of cotton, 58,000,00 tons of hay, 42,000,000 pound of brim corn and 156,000,"Q pounds of "In addition the farmer asks for traisportation of milk, butter and -cheese from ~17,570;00 cows, which iik9ets alone h etimatag will be rti 1O6 more OaO 6W,000,Oba He values his cows at "$482,000,000, to sarjthid-ng of the 49,700,000 other cat tl, worth in round numbers $663,000, 000. Just to make the figues even up, he says, add another $1,500,000,000 for hoss and mules and east your eye o44i 47,400,000 sheep and swine in the barns and fields. As the general freight agent starts away, scratching his head, the farmer says provision must be made for handling and shipping 1,800,000,000 dozen of eggs during the next twelve months. ''When he closed the year 1904 the -American farmer announced the value of his products at $4,900,000,000. The gedieral public was amazed at these -unthinkable figunes, but when he comes fotth at the close of another season witff an aggregate of over $1,500,000, -000 more than the marvelous record of 1904 we wonder what sort of a man the farmer really is. All other classes of producers sink into insigrnificance when compared with him. "'All the gold mineral in the world in ~the last 400 yeai-s could not pur-, dhase the farm erop of the last two vaars. "Farm crops for 1905 are worth more than the value of the manufac tures of five years ago, not counting the materials used. They represent several times the gross earnings of, all the railroads in the United States. "An occupation that produces such bewildering figures is deserving of more than passing attention. A few ysj.i ago thie man who tills the 6, 000,06X) farms in the United States was called a 'hayseed' or 'Rube.' To-: day he stands head and shoulders abive his fellow coworkers in other vocations, but we never hear him. speai disrespectully of any one. He is~the master of' tie situation. Wal street eonsults hin a-nl measures the suceesses of the~year by the con teats of the farmers' granaries. The man behind the 'plow has de lirered his goods for 1905 and bids everybody a happy New Year. His; ranaries are bulging to overflowing,: his cellars are packed and his larder is stored with the necessities of life. He feeds the world, reserving first enough for himself and family. No; one dare deny the fact that the pros perity and welfare of the United States are intimately associated with tha wonderful achievements of the American farmer. He has pushed ahead, keeping pace with the times. In ten years, from 1890 to 1900, he in-! creased the value of his products nearly 93 per cent, but the most mar-' veous advances have been made dur ing the last five fears. "From products valued at $3,742, 00,000 in 1890 he advanced to $4, 40,000,000 in 1903 and $4,900,000, 000,000 in 1899 he advanced to $4, 00 a year later. It is by no means ad mitted that these figures represent the full value of the farm products. Besides the value oif his products the real estate valt,es of the farms have increased over 33 per cent in five. years. During the last few years the American farmer has accumulated hirger sums of money than ever be fore. In many sections his deposits have been so generous that the rate of interest was forced down. Alert to these conditions, the"farmer has now larger sums in permanent investment than ever before. He has shown his capacity as a financier: he is found ing so many rural banks. a movement of uo unstable chbracter. "For the first time in the banking history of tile south there are deposits in excess of $1,000.O00.000. The man with one hand on the plow keeps the other on the combination of the vault containing his cash oi securities. What the future has in store for the American farmer no man can tell, but one thing is sure-he never turns back. He goes straight ahead. and nothing can change his belief that his is not the best and safest of all vo cations. He is no longer a tiller, but a supreme master of the soil. "Farmhouses are connected with telephones as never before. Isola tion is a thing of the past. Modern equipment and furnishings make his home the best in the world. His chil dren are offered improved opportuni ties for education; the rural delivery brings to his door daily literature of the highest class; he is a ravenous reader. As his power to purchase in creases his approaches the most com fortable and happy ideal American home. "In the production of these im mense crops the farmer faced peculiar conditions. His fields were not al ways covered with sunshine and his pathway was not strewn with roses. The early part of the season was beset with many adverse circumstances that tried the iron heart of the sturdy plowman. However, this extraordi nary harvest was not so much due to meteorological conditions as to the skill, energy and scientific methods pursued by the farmers themselves. There is no place in the world where agricultural p)ractices have reached so high a scale of developmenit as in the United States. "The American farmer has not been handicapped by the traditions of centuries as have the farmers of the old world. He has been steadily hoe ing his own row. With the help of the government and state experts at the agricultural dolleges and experi ment stations and the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the ex change of practical experiences thirough the agricultural press the far mers-have advanced more rapidly in technical, specific and practical knowl edge than any other class. A genera tion ago a season no more favorable than that experienced in 1905, from a meteorological standpoint, would have resulted in only a moderate crop yield, far short of the present magnificent showing. "Although nature was by 1no means in a generous mood the past season, our farmers have wrested 'from her results that would have been impos sible, even under the most favored conditions, in the days of their sires or grandsires.'' Plain Speaking Preacher. "Father Taylor was a famous sail or preaeher in Boston many years ago," said an old resident of Boston. "On one occasion an opulent mar chant of the Hub had honored the meeting with his presence and made a speech extolling the kindness of B6s ton people in building Father Taylor's chapel and their consideration for the poor sailors. "When he had finished Father Taylor remarked quietly, 'Is there any other old sinner from uptown who would like to say a word before we go on with the meeting?' No other old sinner responded. "Another time in the midst of an exiting state campaign Father Tay lor took politics into the pulpit in this wise. He prayed, '0 Lord, give us good men to rule over us, pure men who fear Thee, religious men, tem-' perate men, who-pshaw Lord, what's' the use of veering and hauling and boxing around the compass? Give us George N. Biggs for governor, amen.' "His prayer was answered." A Missing Feature. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (Gobang-Did you en joy~ the ocean trip-? Ukerdek-Not. much. I miss ed the train boy and hi.s little boxes of is~y. AMUSING BLUNDERS. Stories Told of Mistakes Made By Mri-ters in the Pulpit. I'ach paofe'on has its stock 'joke. its liorfis .1,0111emPNr .P.. , nd to eav-. beloo's Ia: h.or all its own. Tha gue of him who makes it. but in the ear that hears. is the testimony of the I great dramatist. The doctor on his rounds and the Judge upon the benh have both an audience ready and will ing to accept as the highest wit the bon mots of the speakers, and there is n1o elub gathering of men that (oes not acclaim 4ine of its members as supreme in this respect. and are rea tql v ( 1 11ield i l, 1'ec1o-ntioi0i I 01 fle gift. There is. iowever. a vast amount (of Ullos11lCoIs IimS alvays floatilg about, and to those wh-1) perceive it the world is ever very amusing. It must be admitted that the blunders I and jests clerical stand for some rea son pre-eminent both in number and in mirth producing qualities. The rea son, of course, is not far to seek; the very surroundings in which they oc cur the very upsetting of one's pre conceived notion of reverence, all tend to cause a reaction iii the ordi nary mental equilibriuni and the sim plest mistake or accident under such circumstances assumes the propor tions of a huge comedy. The divine who, in drawing the at tention of his congTegation to a spe cial Sunday communion service on the following Sunday, iiformed them that ] "the Lord is with us in the forenoon and the Bishop in the evening.'' is chronicled with praying for the chil dren of his parish in these words: "And now. 0 Lord, bless the lambs of this fold and make them meet for the Kingdom of Heaven." While a Scotch minister innocently. perhaps. hit the mark by telling his people: 'Well. friends, the kirk is urgently in need of siller. and as we have fail ed to get money honestly we wvill have] to see what a bazaar can do for us." There is a certain amount of ex euse to be made for the young curate who, remarking that some people came to church for no better reason than to show off their best clothes, finished up as he glanced over his audience: "I am thankful to see, dear friends,1 that none of you have come here for that reason." An Irish clergyman is credited with having concluded a powerful oration in this fashion: ''My brethren, let not this world rob you of a peace which it can neither give nor take away." Which coupled with the re mark of a fellow country colleague who, in rea-"iuis with a woman who had lost her faith in Christianity, told her: '"Well, you will go to hell, you know; and I shall be very sorry, indeed, to see you there." But what can be said of the negro' student who, conducting the prayers: at one of the great missionary col leg'es, said: "Give us all pure hearts, give us all clean hearts. give us all sweet hearts," to which the congrega tion made response, "Amen.' The giving out of church notices has often proved a pitfall for the un-: wary. "During Lent," said a rector' lately, "several preachers will preach on Wednesday evenings; but I need not give their names, as they will all be found hanging up in the porch." It 'was a rector who gave ont a hymn beginning, "Awake, My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve," befbr'e his* sermon*, and a curate who read in the' lesson for the day: "He spake in. these words, and cathoppers came and grasspillars innumerable," but it' was at a young woman's Bible class that, when asked what hymn should be sung at the close, they all with one accor'd chose "Where is My Wander ing Boy Tonight ?'' A Precise Answer. Woman's Home Compariion. "Lawyers are supposed to be the most literal minded men," said Elihu Root, "but every now and then coun sel in course of practice will encoun ter witnesses who cani give .them points in the matter' of literal answers. An Trishman was called to testify in a damage suit arising out of the death of a man 'at the hands of a bull.' so to speak. "'Are we to understand, sir.'' ask ed the p)rosecuting attorney' 'that the decased, Patriek Fiannigan. was. your father?' "'He was till the bull killed him.' was the reply of: thc wihuess." Rev. Irl Hicks For February. Rev. Irl Hicks has made the fol owing predictions for the month ot 'ebruar v: A fractionary storm period will be ii prgress s Febru-y come-s inl. On 1nd t4uching the 1st and 2nd the temn >enuat -r will react to warmer. the )a rm ) Veter will rail and l-oud iess ith more or less rain or snow, will >ass over most sections. A regular torm period is central on the 6th. ex ending from the 5th to the 9th. Kithin this period we have the Moon it extreme torth declination on the hi and t)ill on the Pth. By the 5th he bi11meter will begin falling in vesteril sections, winds e'hanging to outherly and easterly. As t hese ('olIditimlls be-ill to) move "astward about the (ith. rain will set n to the east and south and snow vill follow along northern and west rn sections. Hence rain succeeded )y colder and clhanging to snow, will >ass eastwardly across the country rom 6th to 10th. The crisis of this )criod will be on and touching the )th. High barometer, with very cold vinds, amounting almost to blizzards,. vill follow these storms. A reactionary storm period is cen ;ral on the 12th and 113th. At this ;ime look for great change to warmer. Eligh tidal waves will also be utuial md probable. A sudden cold wave will follow about the 13th to 16th. From about this period February, to its close.. promises to be not only lisagreeable, but very severe, if not riolent in its storms 6iid weather >henomena. The regular storm period extending rom the 16th to the 20th, having its enter on the 17th. This period will e characterized by very low barome ter. During its first stages rains, wvith thunder and lightning, will visit -outhern sections. with sleet and snow ii northern sections. with a severe oi wave about the 17th, 18th and L9th. A reactionary storm period falls >n the 22nd to the 25th. This will be robably the most severe of the nonth. About the 21st look for a thange to warmer in most western sections. By the 23rd high tempera-: ;ure for the season will spread east vard and about Friday, Saturday and sunday, 23rd to the 25th, violent and reneral storms of rain, wind and ;hunder will visit many sections, fol .owed by rising barometer, with ;weeping blizzards of snow and sleet. At this season of the year blizzards na succeed thunder storms and tor idoes within a few hours of time. As the moon does not eross the Ce estial Equator, working northward ~rom south until the 25th. the cold ~ollowing the storrns of the 22nd to ~5th, may be restrained and modified. A regular storm per~iod having its ~enter 'on the first day of March, will ~ause a rise in the temperature in western extremes on the 27th and 8th. Plowing With Oxen. There can bc little doubt that the > was the earliest beast employed or the plow. A white bull and a white cow were yoked together to iraw the furrow for making the walls f Rome. Greeks and Romans era >loyed oxen in plowing; asses only for andy soils. When the plowman had inished his day's labor he turned the nstrument upside down, and the ox n went home dragging its tail and iandle over the surface of the ground, Sscene described by Horace. The yoking together of ox and ass vas expressly forbidden by the law of; doses and is made ,the ground of lu lirous comparison by Plautus. Ulys es when he feigned madness in order o avoid going on the Tro.jan expedi ion, plowed with an ox and a horse ogether. What's In A Name? success Magazine. Frequently in the south one finds mnong the negroes as remiarkable Thristian names as those bestowed pon their offspring by the Puritan athers. A gentleman of Virginia tells fa negro living near Richmond who or r-ears had been familiarly knw o him as Tim. It became necessary t one time in a lawsuit to know the ul name of the darkey. The not un atural supposition that Tim stood for 'imothyv met with a flat denial. '%N. sah !'' exclaimecd the ngo Maih name ain't Timothy. It's e Jacksoni. Dey .iest calls me Tim o' sho't.'' Watch ,or t White Good% an( Embroi FRIDAY Feb. 1' THE BIGOES EVER Gl, NEWB The Right Pi There Is A WE WE SHOULD HAVE Wie fill your prescriptions ca: *the Doctor directs it tobe dor We handle first-class goods. Wie generally have what you You can get your prescripi night by telephoning No. 10.5. GILDER & Are You Planning:~ Many persons are occupi fYjT,making plans and spec5Nica homes. It has often been said tha building experiences before the ideal Let Us Plan Youw Swill gladly jail with our catalogues an ofmodern sanitation. We would adv th samples of "S~tadd WVare disp: frbooklet "'Modern Home Plumbin FOR C. C. nAVI hie Biggest dei Sets. 5B '06. ___ T VALUES /EN IN ERRY7 rce Store. Reason [Y YOUR BUSINESS refully, and absolately as te. .want. :ions filled promptly at WEEKS. New Home? ed at this season in tions for their new t a person must have several home is construicted. -Plumbing? If you will allow us to plantheplumb- 9 ing of your home, we wi make it right the first time. We do no experimenting but execute all con tracts on the- most p approved sanitary lines-- employ the mn o s t experienced and competent me chianics and use the very best fixtures 3, made - n amne ly "St~ad" Porce lain Enameled Baths and One-piece Lavatories. If you do notlfind it convenient to call in person, write or phone us and we d other literature on the subjectO ise, however, that you inspect ayed in our showroom. Ask g."O Free upon request. SALE BY 2