297] The Condition of the Western Farmer. 19 



actually preceded farmers in the possession of the land. But 

 those whose claims were further inland not only felt the dis- 

 advantage of their location in the difficulty of laying in their 

 supplies and selling their produce, but also in the retarding 

 of the speed with which they could bring their lands under 

 cultivation. For instance, the farmer at a distance from the 

 river was greatly delayed by the always recurring necessity 

 of having his plow resharpened, a thing which, owing to 

 his situation, he could not easily and quickly accomplish by 

 turning it over to a mechanic; he was compelled to stop his 

 plowing entirely while he awkwardly performed the work, or 

 else to travel a long distance in order to get it perhaps very 

 little better done. 



The price of clothing was during the early days very high, 

 and the settler had often to content himself with garments 

 made of skins. Overcoats, when the settlers were so fortu- 

 nate as to possess them, were more likely than not such as 

 had been originally made for the United States army but 

 had been condemned and rejected by the government. 

 These, shipped out to the prairies, brought very high figures. 

 The question of food is of more interest. Corn bread and 

 "rye hominy" formed the staples, eked out often by wild 

 fruits. Melons grew in great abundance and were a source 

 of refreshment and often of great profit to the pioneer. 

 Game was frequently obtainable antelope, the wild goose, 

 the prairie chicken and the quail. After the first year the 

 settler's pig or two and his few chickens would have so 

 increased that he could depend on them to quite an extent 

 for animal food. Money was very scarce at first, but later 

 Comers usually brought with them a little coin, for which 

 they would purchase from the older settlers farm produce 

 for use while getting under way, thus putting the money in 

 circulation, and giving the first comers the opportunity to 

 procure needed articles which previously lack of coin had 

 put beyond their reach. 



Whatever the early settler had in the way of provisions he 

 was liable to be called on at any time to share with some 



