Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1898 — EFFECT OF WAR ON HARVEST. [ARTICLE]

EFFECT OF WAR ON HARVEST.

Help Scarce in Dakota Because the Boys Joined the Army. The farmers of the Northwest are confronted by a hard proposition as one of the results of the war. With so small a percentage of soldiers from the West it would seem that their absence could make no difference in the affairs of the States. But the situatidn is serious for the farmer who is ready to harvest his grain. Heretofore the help has not been large, but with the assistance of tramps during the harvesting season the farmers have been able to care for their crops. Now not only are their own sons away in the army, but there are no tramps in the Northwest. “I have never known anything like it,” ■aid one of the largest farmers in Sooth Dakota. “I went into a town near my farm last week to get harvest hands. I could easily have secured 200 men there last year, but now I could not get one. The town has a population of 500, but it sent 210 men to fight against Spain. If there are any idle men in the East looking for plenty of work they should come out here. We must have help or some of us will lose our crops.” \