374 HISTOBY OP THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



CHAPTER XX. 



VIEWS OF A WISCONSIN FARMER. 



The Master of the Wisconsin State Grange A Model Farmer and his Farm 

 Colonel Cochrane's Views of the Situation Conflict between the Railroads 

 and the Farms The Roads first built with the Farmers' Savings How the 

 Farmer was induced to buy Railroad Stock How they are robbed by the 

 Roads Position of the Middle-men The Cost of Western Farming 

 Through and Local Shipments How the Grange helps the Cheese Makers 

 Farming in Wisconsin ; what it costs and what it pays The Farmers un- 

 able to fix their Prices. 



WE commend to the reader's attention the following 

 account of an interview between the correspondent of 

 the New York Tribune and Colonel John Cochrane, one 

 of the most influential farmers of Wisconsin, and the 

 Master of the Wisconsin State Grange. 



" Colonel Cochrane is one of the oldest settlers of the 

 State, having come here at an early day, and is a prac- 

 tical farmer, whose ability and success are attested not 

 only by his broad acres of well-cultivated land, but by 

 the reputation for good farming which he has all over 

 the State. He has never been a politician, though he 

 has, of course, always taken an intelligent interest in 

 political qu.estions, and he enters now into this farmers' 

 movement at a time of life when men of his habits and 

 pursuit generally find retirement more attractive, from 

 a strong conviction of duty and a desire to raise the 

 farmers of Wisconsin out of the slough of despond into 



