USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. I > Part 43
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SHEEP, HOGS, EGGS AND POULTRY.
During the closing twenty years of the last century Steuben county was one of the leading sheep raising counties in the state of New York. Large numbers were collected in droves and either driven or shipped to the western and southwestern states. The merino was the favorite for this purpose, because of the fine wool produced wholly by this breed; from the food standpoint it was almost valueless. It soon thereafter was made apparent that wool could be raised and delivered to the eastern markets cheaper than from New York, costing about a cent a pound for transportation. The farmers in Steuben and neighboring counties did not readily learn the cause of the decline in value of his favorite breed, and instead of changing the breed and raising the Southdowns, Cots- wolds or other similar kinds, discarded sheep altogether. An- other reason for the decline in the business of sheep raising was the extreme annoyance and damage caused by worthless dogs, of which too many were allowed at large. This was no credit to the locality or its inhabitants; "more dogs, less thrift." Notwithstand- ing, in this and adjoining counties, sheep are on the whole the most valuable domestic animals kept on the farms, on account of their small cost and large returns, especially as they are well known to improve the land on which they graze. Many are now availing themselves of the change in the breed of sheep. Grow- ing mutton and lambs for the market at anything like the present prices of these foods is one of the most profitable and at the same time agreeable branches of farming. Our provision market ought to be supplied from a source nearer than the Mountain states with this class of animal food.
The capacities of the south for the raising of wool, and par- ticularly of fine wool, are superior to those of the state of New York, where the flocks are housed from four to six months each year to shelter them from the snow and cold weather, and fed from the hay mows and granaries. In the hilly portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee the flocks continually roam over the ranges and warmed by the genial southern sun their fleeces are softened and rendered oily by the warmth and green food, pro- ducing a fine even fibre that cannot be obtained under the rigorous winters of New York. Yet with all of these disadvantages Steu-
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ben is now the sixth county in the state in pure-bred and first- class sheep.
The raising and marketing of hogs and hog products was, during the last century, an important branch of husbandry in this county, but has now ceased except for home consumption. The west, middle west and the valley of the Mississippi, with the im- mense crops of corn converted into swine, supplies the world with this great staple. The quadruped hog is steadily . becoming a curiosity.
Another branch of farm energy is that of poultry raising and egg production, always regarded with much favor and at- tention. For the past ten years it has received much attention. Small farms are now devoted to this business and as from modest investments and light labor satisfactory returns are realized by those engaged in the occupation, it is constantly growing in im- portance and in returns. A late device of mechanical genius, the incubator, has robbed the obstinate hen of her chief object, end and aim in life; yet, with this device and the rapid growth of the flocks, the demand for fowls and eggs exceeds the supply. Ver- mont is celebrated for the excellence of its maple sugar, Maryland for its oysters, California for its fruits, Tennessee for its eggs, and Kansas and Nebraska for their poultry.
The county probably now produces hay enough to supply the stock kept therein, yet large quantities of ground feed are used by dairy men. Enough coarse grain is not raised in the county to supply the home demand, and this is the condition in all of the dairy counties of the state.
Sufficient wheat was never raised to supply the demand. In the early days of the county, when the Genesee country was the wheat raising section of the United States, the men of Steuben and adjacent territory found steady employment in the season of wheat harvesting, for which good wages in ready money were paid. After the wheat fields of New York ceased to be profitable and the wheat raising went west and northwest, the country along both sides of the international boundary west of Lake Superior "became the great wheat producing region of North America. Flonr from wheat is now made from the mills in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Wheat raising became unprofitable in all of the Painted Post country.
All of the river bottoms are excellent corn growing land, but of late years enough has not been raised to satisfy the present de- mands of the county. Since 1876 barley has declined in quantity and quality. The reasons assigned for the falling off have been various, the principal being that it is not up to the barley raised in Canada for malting purposes. Oats have increased in volume and quantity and are usually a reliable crop.
POTATOES AND OTHER VEGETABLES.
The staple and valuable crop is potatoes. They are now more universally cultivated than any other crop raised in the county. Great pains has been taken in the selection of the best varieties for seed, and equal attention given to the care and cultivation of the crop. About 1870 the Colorado beetle, better known as the "potato bug," made such ravages among the tender young potato
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vines and tops that the cultivation was greatly impeded, and in some localities entirely abandoned. It is a filthy, repulsive insect, rapidly increasing in number and voracity, and if not checked or destroyed, ruins whole fields in a single day. The tubers of the crop that were saved by diligent effort were not up to the stand- ard. Various means were resorted to for relief. People, and especially children, were hired to destroy the pest by going through the growing crop and examining each hill and destroying the insects, eggs and larvae; this added to the expense of cultiva- tion and consequently the price and value of the product when offered in market. Persistent efforts for riddance were made with every appliance known. The most efficacious is an insecticide made from a dilution of the acetate-arsenite of copper, known as Paris green. This afforded relief from the pest, though not entirely destroying it. The crop is now restored to its former usefulness, but all raisers of the potato now regard insecticide as neces- sary as the hoe for success in the cultivation of this crop. The soil and climate of Steuben county are well adapted to the suc- cessful raising of this crop, which ranks first in the state and the third in the United States. Buyers and purchasing agencies are located and established in every town in the county, in some as many as six. The various railroads, during the harvesting and marketing season, are busily employed in supplying proper cars and hauling them when loaded to market.
No article of food is so much in demand on the table of civili- zation, and especially in America, as the potato. Wherever the American table is spread or laid, whether it be that of the humble child of toil and poverty or of the worthless degenerates of wealth and crime, there is the potato-boiled, baked, fried, stewed, hashed, escalloped or otherwise prepared. A foreign visitor once said it was impossible to order even a carriage without having potatoes brought on the side. It is presumed he spoke in apprecia- tion, rather than derision, for the great food value of the potato is beyond question and a much large production and consumption will be a world-wide blessing. Every part of the county raises this most edible of foods.
For many years tobacco has been successfully raised on the rich bottom lands along the Chemung, Tioga, Conhocton and Can- isteo rivers in the county of Steuben, said to be of desirable qual- ity for all purposes for which the plant is used. Sheds and dry- ing, sorting and packing houses of the latest build and equipment abound where the crop is produced. The quality, care and good condition of the crop attracts buyers of means and ready and re- munerative payment.
Another valuable product of the soil, comparatively new in this section but lately found adapted to isolated sections, is celery. When properly cultivated and garnered it is much desired for table use and garnishing. It requires skillful care in soil prepara- tion and intelligent culture. It is then packed into crates and shipped in carloads to non-producers, yielding satisfactory re- turns for the labor and investment.
Another vegetable that has become an article of food much in demand is the cabbage. In the days of our grandparents a few cabbages were cultivated in a corner of the garden for food
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and for sauer kraut, a favorite with few, but not generally de- sired. Now and for recent years large fields are devoted to rais- ing cabbage in all parts of the county. It is cultivated with care, harvested in due season, and each acre of ground produces thou- sands of clean, appetizing white heads, hard and compact, a much desired vegetable by the foreign inhabitants of the larger cities, where these people largely congregate.
VINEYARDS OF THE COUNTY.
The vineyards of Steuben county are among the most cele- brated in the United States; they are planted on both sides of the high bluffs and summits that surround and are adjacent to Lake Keuka. Besides the large quantity of grapes used in the making of wines, as has been heretofore noted, large amounts are shipped to all parts of the United States, rivalling the production of any other grape-growing section, and even these are sought in prefer- ence to the home product. During the season of the grape harvest the steamers on Lake Keuka and the cars on the railroad reaching that lake are almost exclusively demanded for the transportation of vineyard products. It is only about fifty years ago that the first cutting of a grape vine was stuck into the soil of Steuben county. The first settlers of the beautiful and fruitful Pleasant valley knew that it was good for wheat and corn, apples and peaches; that its streams and the lake yielded the most desirable fish, but the fairest dreams of the most hopeful never beckoned to the vineyard or the wine press, or told a flattering tale of the realities of its future fame.
BUCKWHEAT.
Steuben county stands first in the state in the production of buckwheat. In the early years of the county this was regarded as an inferior crop, grown when no other grain could be raised, and used as an article of food only by those who were unable to procure other breadstuffs; the straw rather more cumbersome than useful. Buckwheat has grown in favor; now no morning's meal is quite complete without the delicious buckwheat cakes, spread with butter and syrup, or preferable, ham drippings, or sau- sage gravy. Like the stone the builders rejected, which after- wards became the keystone of the arch, so the despised buckwheat has become desirable food for all classes who can appreciate good living.
Among the more important avocations of the small landowner, near places of sufficient population engaged in other labor, is that of market gardening. There is always a certain demand for the early garden vegetables, berries and small fruits. The early cul- tivator, who combines industry with intelligent cultivation, is always certain to quickly realize for his outlay and labor. It is held by people of experience that it is more profitable in suitable and favored localities for the sale of products, if not more than twenty-five acres are owned and cultivated by one person. The uncertainties of labor and damages occasioned by droughts, floods and pests are not so great, and the demand would be met earlier with better prices and quicker returns.
Vol. 1-21
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FARMING, MOST SUBSTANTIAL BASIS OF PROSPERITY.
From the nature of the topography and soil, improved high- ways and good roads were not found in the county during the first seventy-five years of its history, and then good markets were not accessible. To reach a market ten miles away with a load of produce and return light involved a day with a man and team. Without counting expense, wear and tear of vehicles, harness, horseshoeing and the like, all these items were necessary to con- sider before realizing the net results. With good, improved roads the marketing expense and disadvantages will be greatly mini- mized; in addition, travel along the country roads will be a pleas- ure and more indulged in; and the rural homes better known and less quarantined than now.
The state, through its new highway system and aid, is striv- ing to improve all of its highways. A public sentiment also is being created and fostered by the numerous automobile owners and auto- mobile clubs, and in that respect is greatly contributing to the wealth and comfort of the farmer and ruralist. The day of good roads is surely coming and none should retard its progress. Of course, it involves expense, but the large part comes from the state and county. The old system was usually under the control of and done by men without experience or inclination. "Working on the road" was usually regarded as a joke; nothing worthy of the name of a road or highway as such was contemplated. Poor and slovenly-kept highways were the general reputation of the public roads of the county at large. There were laws enough, if enforced, to make a different showing. A good machine will not do good work if energy is not applied to set it in operation. With disci- pline the citizen makes a good soldier; without it, a mob.
At large, Steuben county is purely an agricultural distriet; all other occupations are ephemeral and secondary. If they were all swept away agriculture would be the safe and sure refuge of the people. Whatever tends to advance its interests and improvements adds to the wealth, importance and intelligence of the people, mak- ing happy homes supplied with all the aids of modern invention and enjoyments.
The future prosperity of the county of Steuben rests entirely upon the improvement of its agricultural interests; wealth derived from the land. Manufacturing industries during the period of the prosperity add business activity and provide markets for all the products of the farm, but do not add to the inherent value of the soil. We have only to consider the numberless factories idle, with no prospect of rejuvenation, their very presenee lessening the the value of all property in the surrounding country. Railroads ineidentally aid the farmer by affording means of an easy and quiek transportation for persons and property, but add nothing directly to the productiveness of the soil. The unfortunate mer- chant, the bankrupt banker, the unsuccessful professional man, must turn to the farm for sustenance and relief.
There is no adequate reason why the cultivator of the soil should be a failure; industry, patient and intelligent cultivation, will supply the reasonable wants of every landowner, regardless of the small acreage. There is no sufficient reason for abandoned
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farms. Why are they abandoned? The bleakest summit, or hill- side farm, once produced a living for its occupants. In its pres- ent condition patient labor, frugal habits and desires will restore it. The original owner lived and was contented, then the children were lured to the new west, embellished by the seductive tales and descriptions of the paid land shark. Once there the new land re- quired work and time to make it productive. It is a case of "root hog or die." When, in after years, it is fit for a home it produces enormously; that is the condition and results of all new lands. Suppose they had remained on the old homestead and applied the same energies; the same results would have followed.
We hear many alluring stories of the apple yield of the irri- gated lands of the mountain states. Apply the same attention and treatment to any of the scraggy orchards of our hillsides. The fruit will not be the deceptive Ben Davis, the Occidental, the Sun Kist, or any other apple pretty to look at, but, to the York state man or the Pennsylvanian, repulsive to the taste in compari- son with the King, the Greening, the Seek-No-Farther, or the Baldwin, produced from the improved and well cultivated, but formerly neglected, orchard on the hillside of the abandoned farm. The latter is again the king of fruits; the other, in all of its beauty, is but the ashes of disappointment. In a recent volume of the reports of the commissioner of agriculture of the United States it was stated the best varieties of apples produced in the nation were found in the northern tier of the counties of Pennsylvania and in those of the southern tier of New York.
There are localities whose products equal and are superior to ours, but those of Steuben are the equal and, in many respects, the superior of any other county. So that the situation is about even. The wealth, importance and good reputation of Steu- ben county rest with the farmers and agriculturists. It is an im- perial occupation, with a royal mission.
CHAPTER XVII.
SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY ACADEMIES.
SCHOOL ACTS OF 1793, 1812, 1843, 1849, 1910-HIGH SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES-HORNELLSVILLE SCHOOLS-ACADEMIES AT ADDISON, HOWARD, ETC .- HAMMONDSPORT AND ROGERSVILLE- ROUNDSVILLE WILDMAN-FRANKLIN ACADEMY, PRATTSBURG- WILITMAN AND SPAULDING-CANISTEO ACADEMY.
At the first meeting of the state legislature in 1787, Governor George Clinton called the attention of that body to the subject of education. In pursuance to his recommendations an act was passed and became a law providing for the appointment of the Board of Re- gents of the University of the State of New York. In 1789, an act was passed by the legislature and became a law appropriating certain portions of the public lands of the state for church and school pur- poses. In 1793, the regents, in their report, recommended the es- tablishment of a general system of common schools throughout the state. This was vigorously recommended and urged by the gov- ernor.
SCHOOL ACTS OF 1793, 1812, 1843, 1849. 1910.
On the 9th of April, 1793, a law was enacted "For the purpose of encouraging and maintaining schools in the several cities and towns in the state, in which the children of the inhabitants of the state shall be instructed in the English language, or be taught Eng- lish grammar, arithmetic, mathematics and such other branches of knowledge as are most useful and necessary to complete a good English education." This act appropriated the sum of fifty thousand dollars annually for five years for the support of these schools.
The principal features inaugurated by this act were the follow- ing: (1) The public money was to be appropriated to the several counties, in the proportion of their representation in the legislature, and to the towns, in proportion to the number of taxable inhabi- tants in each.
(?) The boards of supervisors were required to raise by tax one-half as much as their county received from the state.
(3) Each town to elect not less than three nor more than seven commissioners to take general charge of the schools, to exam- ine teachers, and to apportion the public moneys to the several school districts.
(4) The people in each district were authorized to elect
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two or more trustees to employ teachers, and to attend to the special interests of the schools.
(5) The public money was to be divided among the various districts in proportion to the number of days' instruction given in each.
(6) Annual reports were to be made from each of the dis- tricts, towns and counties.
The returns for the year 1798 showed a total of 1,350 schools organized, and 59,660 children taught. The beneficial result of this system, though imperfect, became at once apparent, and from time to time measures were devised to increase the fund and to improve the system.
. The successive governors-Jay in 1800, Clinton in 1802, Lewis in 1804 and 1805, and Tompkins in several successive years-urged upon the legislature the necessity of revising the school laws, aud making more liberal appropriations for the support of the schools; there was a disagreement upon the subject between the two legisla- tive branches. In the meantime the school fund gradually increased, and thus was laid the foundation of the present large school fund.
Upon the report of the commissioners appointed in 1811 to report a complete system for the organization and establishment of common schools, an act was passed by the legislature and became a law in 1812, the principal features of which were:
(1) Fifty thousand dollars was annually to be divided among the counties of the state.
(2). Boards of supervisors were obliged to raise an equal sum, to be distributed among the towns and districts.
(3) Three commissioners were to be appointed in each town to superintend the schools and examine teachers.
(4) Three trustces were to be elected in each district to engage teachers, and otherwise provide for the local necessities of the schools.
(5) The whole system was to be placed under the charge of a state superintendent.
Under this act Gideon Hawley of Albany was appointed super- intendent and held the office from 1813 to 1821; in the latter year the office of state superintendent of schools was abolished, and the duties of that office were added to those of the secretary of state. In 1835 a law was enacted providing for the establishment of teach- ers' departments in eight academies-one in each of the senatorial districts of the state-namely, Erasmus Hall, in Brooklyn; Mont- gomery Academy, in Orange county ; Kinderhook Academy, in Co- lumbia county ; St. Lawrence Academy, in St. Lawrence county ; Fairfield Academy, in Herkimer county; Oxford Academy, in Che- nango county ; Canandaigua Academy, in Ontario county, and Mid- dlebury Academy, in Wyoming county.
In 1838 the school district library system was established by law. It authorized the taxable inhabitants of the several school dis- tricts of the state to impose a tax on the property of the district not exceeding twenty dollars for the first year and ten dollars for each succeeding year, for the purpose of founding a district librarv. con- sisting of such books as the voters at the district meeting should di- rect. In 1838 a law was enacted directing to be distributed fifty- five thousand dollars of the school moneys among districts of the state, to be expended by the trustees of each district in the purchase
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of suitable books for its library. An equal amount was also re- quired to be raised by taxation on the several counties and towns and be applied to the same purpose. The passage of these acts was largely aided by the exertions and extensive influence of Gen. James W. Wadsworth of Genesco, New York.
In 1849 an act was passed by the legislature and became a law establishing free schools throughout the state. By this legislation the rate bill system was abolished, and the whole expense of the schools beyond the amount derived from the state was made a tax upon the property of the district. This act was submitted to a vote of the people and was sustained by a majority of three to one. Be- cause, in many instances, the owners of property who derived no direct benefit from the schools and who were compelled to pay most of the expense of maintaining the schools, they were more like "Old Scrooge" than like a Peabody or a Carnegie. The legislature was memorialized to again submit the law to a vote of the people. The prayer of the memorialists was granted, and in 1850 the law was again submitted to the people and sustained.
In 1853 union free schools were, by a law enacted that year, allowed to be established, which was an important step in free edu- cation.
On March 30, 1854, the office of superintendent of publie in- struction was created, substantially restoring the; original system of independent and general supervisors. While the school department was only a subordinate branch of another older and important de- partment of the state, it was impossible to give to it that character, attention and efficiency necessary to the best interest and welfare of the schools; since that change every department of education has felt a new impulse, and has constantly improved, and the administration of the school has been made much more perfect. The various re- ports have been much more prompt, regular and reliable, and the standard of teaching has been notably and materially advanced.
By an act passed April 17, 1843, boards of supervisors of the several counties were directed to appoint in each county, county superintendents of common schools. Ralph K. Finch and Alanson S. Phillips were so appointed for Steuben county. The office was abolished Mareh 13, 1847. During its existence it worked well and gave results satisfactory to the people generally. School commis- sioners were, by the act of March 13, 1847, directed to be appointed by the boards of supervisors of each county-one for each assembly district in such county.
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