The advocate and Topeka tribune. [volume], December 21, 1892, Page 12, Image 12

About The advocate and Topeka tribune. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1892-1894

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
12
THE ABANDONED FARMS OF MAS
SAOHUSETTS.
Almost from the settlement of Ply
mouth Rock and James river, the course
of migration in this country has been
westward. Over the Allegheny moun
tains, across the valley of the Ohio, past
the great lakes, across the Mississippi
and the Missouri, along the plains, over
the Rockies, and down to the coast of
the Pacific, has this stream of humanity
poured. Vast commonwealths have been
formed; cities have been built; railroads
and canals have been made; churches and
schools have been founded; manufac
tories of vast magnitude have been es
tablished, and farms have been opened
occupied and some of them abandoned,
Whatever has been the order of the
founding of institutions and industries
in the opening of the new countries, the
development of the farming industry has,
in every case, boen attended with the
privations and hardships of pioneering.
But sustained with the hope and belief
that, if not for themselves, at least for
others, they were preparing the way for
an ideal American farm life, the pioneers
have borne their trials with meekness
have battled the difficulties bravely
have met dissapointment heroically and
have contributed to the general welfare
more generously than they could afford
In every new community there has been
a current conviction that these burdens
were incident to the new country and
the belief has been cultivated that in the
older settled portions, where the farm
buildings have been completed and other
permanent improvements have been
made, the farmer dwells in peace and
plenty; is content with his lot, and has
grown wealthy on account of the appre
ciation of the value of his land. This
has been the idea in Kansas, and it has
been expected that, as a matter of course,
the enhanced value believed to be due to
the advanced condition of the older
settlements must very soon reach her
borders. There are doubtless good
reasons to expect that the world's de
mand for the products of food produc
ing lands will in the near future create
a competition for opportunities to till
the soil which will change the relative
valuation of land and labor.
But possibly a rude awakening as to
ideal conditions of agriculture in the
older American communities has been
prepared by the Massachusetts state
board of agriculture in its publication of
a descriptive catalogue of abandoned
farms in Massachusetts. A copy of the
third edition of this catalogue is before
the writer. From this it appears that in
1890 there were in the state of Massa
chusetts no less than 1,4G1 farms which,
to use the language of the report, " were
formerly cultivated but now deserted,
upon which cultivation is now abandoned,
and the buildings, if any, unoccupied
and permitted to fall into decay. Jn
some cases the grass is still cut on these
farms, but nothing is done in the way of
enrichment of the soil and the land is
practically unproductive and left to run
wild."
However much the western farmer's
complaints have been answered by the
assurance that his troubles were purely
local, or incident to a new country, and
therefore transitory, or the result cf his
improvidence, or his lack of industry,
and that nobody else was similarly af
fected; and however much he may have
believed that the circumstances which
caused so many mortgages to creep over
western farms, were as a punishment for
some economic sin of his own, yet here
comes the pathetio story of 1,101 aban
doned farms in one of the oldest, most
enterprising, most populous and wealth
iest commonwealths in the union.
NEW HOUSE PAVILION, UNION STOCK YARDS, CHICAGO.
them and are willing to accept low prices.
Here are a few of the descriptions:
Farm of 287 acres: mowing. 40: Dasture. large
part of the farm; woodland enough to supply
the wants of tbe d ace: suitable for cultivation.
all tbe mowing land and portions of the pasture.
A large part of tha gras can be cut with a ma
chine. Sugar bu?h, 300 trees Medium-sized
bouse, much out of reuair. An old barn la ooor
repair. stone wall and brush fence in need of
repairs. An excellent well at the house and n
unfailing brook through the farm. A good
s'zed orchard. Railroad station, Norfolk or
Wlnited, Conn , fourteen miles; nostoftlce, New
Boston, three miles. Trice. &m all In cash.
Address, Chas. J. Taylor, treasurer Great Bar
rington savings hank. Great Harrington, Mass.
Wlthdrawo. 1802. Farm of 20O acres, mowing
78; pasture, 100; woodland, 25; suitable for culti
vation, 150. Grass can be cut with a machine, i
Young sugar brush. One and one-hMf story 1
house, 24x33; L, 31x16; twelve rooms; Mr repair
Kara, 60x24: barn. 50x28: barn. 33x21: all In irxid
repair. Fence In fair condition. Good water
supply. Twenty apple trees. Railroad station-
uaiton. six miles: nostofflce. wlndwr. one-half
mUe. Prls. S2 .500: cash at sale. Si 250: interest:
on balance, 6 per cent. Address, John K.
weston, uonwity, mass.
Farm of 100 acres: mowing. GO: nastur. 40:
woodland. 20: suitable for cul'lvatlon. 50. (lias
can be cut with a machine. Sugar bush. 200
trees. House. 40x30; L. 30x20: nine rooms; fair
repair. Two barns, 40x30 each, not In vry gcod
repair, with cellar. Three good swings. Hlxtv
apple, two per and a nmnber of crab apple
trees. Railroad station, Charlemont, six miles;
postofflce. Heath, two miles. Price, 700, all In
cash. Address, Lucy E. Gleason, Saelburne
Falls, Mass.
sold. 1831. Farm of 118 acres: mowing. 20:
pasture, 64; woodland, 04; suitable for cultiva
tion, 60 Nearly all the grass can be cut with a
machine. Sugar bush, 25 to 50 trees. House.
15x30: L. 10x20: seven rooms: ooor reoalr. No
barn but frame, 40x00. Well at house, large
brook and s veral springs. Mostly fenced with
scone wall. One hundred and fifty apple trees,
other fruit of little value. Railroad slatlon,
Athnl Alarht. m!1n. nAiltnfllna DUhmnnH V IT
and Tully. Mass., four miles ' Prle $ 1.000; cash
at sale, iKX); interest on balance, 5 per cent.
There is wood and timber enough to pay for
farm. Address, L. Everett Blxby. Warwick.
Mas.
Sold. 1802 Farm of 75 acres Grass cannot
be cut with a machine. Sugar bush, 25 to 30
trees. No hous. Barn, 30x50, In very good re
pair. Htone wall and rail fence In poor condi
tion, (julte a numhur of apple trees and s"me
cherries. Railroad station. Belchertown, two
and one-haif miles; postotlice, Blnhertown,
two miles. Price, av, all In cash. Farm taken
for debt; have never examined, but am told
that there Is timber enough for railroad ties to
more than pay for the place. Address, Joseph
iMri.70 rnoims street, New York Clcy, N. Y.
Hold, 181)2. Farm of 200 icres: mowing. 40:
pasture, 100; woodland, CO; suitable for culti
vation, 40. Grass can be cut with a machine.
Sugar bush, over 100 trees. House, 25x30; L,
15x20; eleven rooms: falrlv good renal r. Barn.
30x40, barn cellar, not In very good repair. Nice
pruiK wu?r. a iew appie irees. ttanroaa
station, M'ddlefleld. four miles: Dos'offlje. less
than one mile. Price, fl.OOO; cash at sale, frno;
Interest on balance, 5 per cent. Address.
Merrick A. Marcy, Hartford, Conn.
Some of theee farms, the descriptions
of which indicate that their locations
and other characteristics fit them for
country residences for wealthy city folks,
are priced higher than those above da
scribed. But the melancholy fact en
forced by reading the catalogue is that
farming in Massachusetts, which was
once in a sufficiently flourishing condi
tion to enable farmers to make finely
mprored homes of their farms, is now
ao unprofitable as to lead to the aban
donment of these highly developed es
tates, notwithstanding the fact that the
home market" has received all the de-
elopment possible under the protective
system. On this point the catalogue
before us says:
Massachusetts fa'iuers have one advantage
over their brethren In many of the states of the
union. In that thev have a eood home mrkt
for their produce. Within our 8,315 rquare
miles are twentv-elght cities and 323 town
Seventy-two of thes towns have a population
of 4,000 and over. There are forty-soven cities
centers of population with milk, butter, eggs,
fresh fruit and fine vegetables, belongs to the
farmers of the state.
But with all of the advantages enumer
ated, the bald fact stands prominently
forth that these farms have been aban
doned, and further, they are offered at
pnces averaging less than $10 per acre;
surely less than the cost of the improve
ments. Kansas Farmer, December 7.
PEOHIBIHON MASS MEETING.
At the Court House, Topeka, December
28, 1892, at 2. p. m.
To all Friends of Prohibition in Kansas:
In view of the solicitations and deep
anxiety of many loyal defenders of pro
hibition in the different parties, we pre
sent this call. To this meeting all friends
of prohibition and good order are invited,
irrespective of party. There is need
First Of more information. We should
talk over the plans, plots and trickery of
our common enemy. We should learn
their and our strength, and map out the
best course for the future.
Second Of cohesion and co-operation.
All the leading bodies of Christians have
passed ringing resolutions in favor of no
saloon. Many who are not connected
with any church are of the same mind.
Surely, if we will unitedly fight the com
mon foe of God and man, we will gain the
victory.
There proves to be, undeniably, a con
solidation of the powers of evil and there
should be a like consolidation of the bet
ter elements. The present is the pivotal
day for Kansas and the country. Our
co-operation means preservation and an
advancement of the best interests of all
Papers by prohibitionists . in different
parties will be presented. Come and let
us reason together for the advancement
of our common cause.
The recent meeting of the State Tem
perance Union was productive of good.
We feel that another meeting on the
same line will be beneficial.
As the prohibition party will be hold
ing its annual conference in Topeka
December 27, and forenoon of the 28th,
we issue this call from a desire for a
meeting of all friends of prohibition.
W. J. Newton,
State Chairman Prohibition Party.
The ownera of these farms want to sell 8,coo and over. The business of supplying these
Our Illustration.
The illustration on this page is a pic
ture of the magnificent new horse pavil
ion now approaching completion at the
Union stock yards, Chicago. This grand
and imposing structure is being equipped
with every modern accessory for tbe com
fort and convenience of horses, together
with their absolute safety. It is to be
used exclusively for the extensive auction
sales of horses, now. attracting almost
world-wide atteotior, and furthermore
for the annual display of blooded horses
draft, driving and coach teams. It is
600 feet on by 175 feet wide, with a
speeding track 25 feet wide the entire
length. A dome 175 feet high rises
above the center, beneath which is a ring
250 feet in circumference, and around
which is arranged comfortable seats to
accommodate 5,000 persons. The central
elevation, being almost entirely of glass,
gives a flood of light to the arena below,
and being heated by steam will be com
fortable at all seasons. The cost of this
structure is $165,000. Now, let us see
what made such an imposing edifice pos
sible. Much less than ten years ago, J.
S. Cooper, with his characteristic fore
sight, moved his bag and baggage to the
Union stock yards. He then predicted
that before many moons, with wise man
agement and some push, by treating
country shippers honorably and fairly,
and demonstrating to eastern buyers that
here, and here alone, could they get an
endless assortment of horses at fair
prices, the greatest and largest market in
the world would be built up. Its mar
velous growth surpasses even his san
guine anticipations. Mr. Cooper is the
oldest dealer in horses in Chicago. He is
the only one selling strictly on commis
sion, ins sales tins year will foot ud
15,000 horses. This year he has added to
the variety and attractiveness of his busi
ness by holding extensively advertised
sales of western range horses. These
have been eminently satisfactory so
says our Chicago manager. Breeders
and shippers of horses should write him
for his views of the market.
The Columbian Historical Novels.
Vol. 17, "Pocahontas, a Story of Vir
ginia," 3G6 pages, by John R. Musick.
Illustrated with full half-tone engrav
ings and other illustrations. Cloth,
12mo, gold stamps, etc., $1.50. New
York, London and Toronto, Funk &
Wagnalls.
"Pocahontas" is a fascinating story
which pictures the period in the settle
ment of our country just prior to the es
tablishment of the colony of Virginia.
The dry old way of teaching history
which makes it, as Oscar Wilde says, a
mere record of war and other crimes, is
never attractive. The story is pictur
esque and pathetic and makes the charac
ters and the manners of that time very
real and very near. The manners and
customs of the period and place are pho
tographed as they cannot be by dull
prosy writing. The old story ofCapt
John Smith and the loving Pocahontas
is retold with new features. The book
is one of a series of twelve, the purpose
of which is to present a panoramic view
of the rise and growth of our composite
American nation covering a period of
400 years. Each story is complete in
itself and will be enjoyed by young and
old alike.
Write to the Advocate for terms to
solicitors. You will not lose anything by
doing so.