Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1897 — A Statement from Mr. Gifford [ARTICLE]

A Statement from Mr. Gifford

The True Condition of Affairs In The Gifford District. Kankakee, 111., Oct. 14, 1897. Editor Republican : I read your article in issue of the 12th inst headed ‘‘Situation Serious,” taken from Wolcott Enterprise, which I wish to say is largely imagination. The people in my district have had a hard year. They had a wet spring which delayed planting: they then had a drouth which injured the crop on the highlands, but'did not affect the crop on the lowlands. These crops, however, were visited with a severe frost on the 19th day of August, which hurt them bad, yet on the general average there will be half a crop. Some farms, however, are hurt worse than others. The fire did the tenants very little damage, considering the extent of it. The most of the tenants will have corn enough to feed and many, some to sell, and all have heretofore depended quite as much upon the compensation for work done as upon the crop they might raise. This work will last all winter and every able-bodied man can have work, which will pay Ivin SI.OO per day or better if he wishes. The people who are suffering the most are a class who have not done any work z and will not do any, and they are the loudest in their complaint. Upon the visitation of the frosts referred to. I immediately raised the price of plowing and breaking, and made a call for 50,000 railroad ties, which will give work to all.

There is no occasion for an appeal for public aid, and no danger of starvation. No man need to be idle one day for want .of employment at reasonable wages. The Remington and Wolcott papers seem to have recently developed great interest in the “Gifford District” and “Gifford’s treatment of his tenants.” These tenants are all provided with good houses for winter and free fuel and employment, while their children all have good school advantages. , A few are leaving my farms to whom I have refused to write leases for another year on account of indolence or intemperate habits who spend the most of their money for whiskey or in paying fines imposed for violation of law. These

men are renting br seeking to rent farms in the southern part of the county and doubtless furnish the local papers with their information. All my tenants came to me poor—often asking me for help upon arrival —such help was furnished, until it was shown that no good could be derived therefrom. They will average much better off now than they were when they came to me, particularly those who made any effort upon their own / part. r Respectfully

BENJ. J. GIFFORD.