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    A GUANO "DIFFICULTY." The last mail by t...

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    Self-Supporting Fabm Of The Sheffield Un...

    which is believed to be very small . The incidental _expenses up to Sept . 1860 have been 66 ? ., which , having been occasioned to a great extent by the erection of the buildings , the committee think they cannot fairly be charged to the farm account . They therefore date from . Sept . 1850 , and set down for the last two years the incidentals at 53 ? ., and the wages of the farm labourer , at 16 s . a-week , 83 ? . ; total , 136 ? . " The report gives in the next place an estimate of the enhanced value of the reclaimed land . In its unreclaimed state its assumed value is 6 ? . per acre , which for the 19 acres reclaimed amounts to 114 ? ., adding to which 137 ? . for incidental expenses and farm labourers' wages , would make the cost 251 ? . By this outlay the land is supposed to be brought up to the value of 40 ? . per acre , or 760 ? . in

    the aggregate , which leaves a credit ot 509 ? . to set against the relief of the pauper labourers on the farm , besides the balance of 15 ? . odd arising from their labour in the process of farming , making together c a sum which covers all the expenditure on manure , seed , rent , and superintendent ' s salary and rations . ' It is admitted that the aforesaid 609 ? . is not available to the funds of the union , simply because the land thus improved did not happen to be purchasable by the guardians ; but that fortuitous circumstance , it is contended , does not detract from the value of this experiment as a guide to other unions which may have the advantage of being able to purchase unreclaimed land in a convenient situation , and thereby giving to the union the entire profit arising from the

    improvements . " After remarking upon the excessive cost of far less efficient labour tests , previously adopted in this union , the report proceeds to remark that the present scheme , while it converts waste land into valuable property worth 40 ? . an acre , it provides unlimited employment for any amount of surplus labour , and for a class of persons incapable of almost every other kind of work . "' It is true , ' continues the report , ' that your committee cannot show that the value of pauper labour here can be realized upon , but they think they can show a large amount of interest . '" The report then proceeds in substance thus—1 . The union is possessed of the large building and two acres of land , at the low rent of 4 ? . a year for upwards of 90 years ; also of 50 acres on a 21 years' lease at 4 s . per acre , and nearly double that area adjoining , secured to the union at the same low rental ; hence , by continually having

    50 acres on lease , and sub-letting every acre ( when cleared ) beyond the quantity necessary for raising food for the workhouse , there will arise hereafter an annual return in the shape of rent for the benefit of the ratepayers . " ' The land already under culture is more than sufficient under ordinary circumstances to produce milk for the workhouse inmates , and whilst bringing the waste land under culture for sub-ietting you produce most of the produce required for the use of the workhouse establishment . '" 2 . A labour test is provided which not only deters the idle from seeking parish relief , but provides reputable and not unpleasant employment for the respectable artisan in times of bad trade , and affords recreative labour to the old and infirm , who would otherwise havo to end their days immured in the workhouse . A number of minor advantages resulting from this union farm are given seriatim , with the particularization of which the report is brought to a close .

    PEOCEEDINGS AT THE FABM . The main body of visitors to the farm left the George Inn , Market-place , at 25 minutes past ten in the forenoon , by a large omnibus and several conveyances of smaller capacity . The day being beautifully fine , the outside places had been taken Up with avidity . After a pleasant drive , the caravan , if we may so term it , arrived at Hollow Meadows a few minutes before noon . The party proceeded at once to the large refectory at the farm , and examined tbe diet of the pauper labourers , nearly a score of whom were then at dinner , imbibing tbeir homely but nutritious fare in seeming contentment , side by side with the larger table already spread

    with the moro dainty viands of the visitors . The dormitories and other apartments of the house underwent inspection in turns , and evidence of cleanliness und comfort was everywhere observed . The party next sallied out of doors , and leisurely viewed the growing crops , of which wo may state in general terms , that they presented a healthy , thriving appearance . Lord Goderich und the other strangers were particularly struck by the great contrast between the sterile aspect of tho expanse of wild moorland and tho fertile little farm which nestled in tho midst , like an oasis in tho desert , and the effect upon tbeir minds was not a little enhanced when informed that that most gratifying metamorphosis had been effected within tho space of about three years . After commenting with great

    satisfaction upon tho crops , and quailing draughts of aqua pura from a sparkling spring which supplies the _establishment , tbo party strolled down to a pieco of land abutting upon the turnpike road , a little above the . homestead , whero most of the pauper labourers were now engaged in the act of clearing und draining a portion of the yet unreclaimed land . They seemed _t' * he , almost without exception , a gang of invalids , from whom no great amount of labour could be expected ; but the burden appeared to be adapted to tho hack with the utmost coiiHidorntion . The number of labo urers at work was 25 . AIkhiI ; a score of them wero resident at tbe farm ; the others were undergoing tho ' test" of having to walk from and to tho workhouse dail y . The bracing moorlund air and the picturesque landscape mode it pleasant to the urban party to stroll

    Self-Supporting Fabm Of The Sheffield Un...

    about , and gave greater interest to their novel occupation . But such was the oxygenic influence of the atmosphere upon the gastronomic system , that the summons of the dinner bell at half-past one o'clock was by no means an unwelcome sound . A dinner followed the inspection ; and appropriate toasts were proposed and spoken to after dinner . Mr . Groves , the Chairman , proposed " Success to the Hollow Meadows farm . " ( Loud cheers . ) It was very pleasing to think that there was such a place where their fellowtownsmen who from bad trade , or sickness , or

    unavoidable misfortune of any other kind , might be sent , and where they might earn their own bread . It was certainly much less painful and less degrading than being in the workhouse . At that farm many drunkards had been reformed and many thoughtless characters had been led to reflection , and not a few had been made better sons , better fathers , and better citizens . There was nothing degrading in tilling the land , whereas the whole systems of labour—oakum picking and corn-grinding by the hand-mills—were both degrading and revolting . He hoped he should never see those mills restored . It was the sincere

    desire of the board to carry out the land labour test effectually and without unnecessary expense , and being a united body he had no doubt of their ultimate success . He felt bound to say that Mr . Watkinson , their clerk , had aided them very much with valuable information , and he had shown a laudable desire that the farm should be managed to the satisfaction of the ratepayers . The chairman concluded by commending the toast , and it was drunk with a hearty good-will . When the " health of Viscount Goderich and the Poor Law Association" were -proposed , Lord Goderich

    said" Mr . Chairman and gentlemen : I was very much gratified when I received , two or three days ago , an invitation from the Sheffield board of guardians to be present here to-day ; and if I was very much gratified by that invitation I must feel still more flattered by the great kindness with which you have received me , and by the cordial manner in which you have been good enough now to drink my health . I fear I have done very little individually to deserve the credit that Mr . Saunders has been kind enough to lay to me . I certainly have been most desirous , if I could in any way benefit the poorer classes of my feilow-countrymen , either in parliament or out of parliament , that I should do so ; and when my attention was drawn , as it was

    recently by a letter from Mr . C . Stark , the secretary of the Poor Law Association , to the principles of that association , it did seem to me that the general principle upon which it was founded was one which was as likely as almost anything I had heard of to elevate , and I hope ultimately to remove , one of the greatest evils under which our country now suffers—the great and crushing load of pauperism . ( Loud cheers . ) I therefore had great pleasure in accepting Mr . Stark's proposition , and becoming a member of that association . That association , as I have said , is based upon a theory—the theory that it is safer and better to employ paupers reproductively than it is to shut them up in idleness in a workhouse—( cheers )—where , if they aro

    industrious men who in the great war of this world have not been able to find subsistence for a time , they would bo taught only to learn idleness and to unlearn the industry that their former life had taught them . If thoy are , on the contrary , idle men who prefer the _workhouso to work ( because tho workhouso is not a house of work but a _houso ofidloness ) , this will make the workhouso tho thing thoy will most dislike , because if Mr . Saunders shuts them up in these deep drains they will rather tako any work in Sheffield than hard work six miles off . But although tho theory of this institution appears vory sound , theory is in

    itself vory little , and in Kngland especially , unless backed and supported by practice . Wo aro a practical people . Wo like facts . It ' s no use to go to tho boards ot guardians throughout tho country or to parliament and tell thorn that you have got a very good theory if they will but try it . Jf you can tell tlieni ono fact—if you can say , ' Ono sot of men havo boon bold enough to make tho experiment , and that experiment has been successful , ' that is worth all tho theory in tho world . And therefore it was that I was most anxious to be present hero to-day . I eanio hero to receivo instruction , and I must say that tho instruction I have received is most valuable and most

    satisfactory . As far as one experiment can go , I should say this experiment is conclusive . It proves at least that under circumstances at all similar to thoso in which you are hero placed , paupers may bo reproductively employed upon wasto land , by which the general produce and wealth of tbo country is increased—that they may be so employed profitably—and that it does not tako long ( for you have been only four years about it ) before that profit may be actually realized . ( Cheers . ) And if that fact is of great iin-Iiortanco in this country it is of still greater importance in Ireland . You have there a poor-law which in its present state it is impossible to work ; and thoreforo I am pleased

    to find amongst the list of members of the poor-law association a largo number of moinbers for the Irish counties and others . It would bo superfluous and impertinent in mo to enter into an explanation to you of tho benefits of a system which you have yourselves been the first to apply and to work ; but 1 . cannot Bit down without expressing to you my admiration of tho noble manner in which you havo made that experiment . I doubt not that you have had great difficulties to contend with , and that you have found thoso difficulties amongst your fellow-countrymen and amongt many of the ratepayers of this town . But you have fought on through those difficulties , and by your persoveranco and your _courago I beliove I may say you

    Self-Supporting Fabm Of The Sheffield Un...

    have conquered . ( Cheers . ) And I believe I may say it is now an established fact that this system may be practically applied . ( Applause . ) The poor-law association has not drawn up any universal scheme . It has not entered , and I think it has wisely not entered , into any measure of detail . That must be for future consideration , and upon that subject there may be many differences . If when I entered I had any doubt that the principle was sound I must say I am now convinced that it is sound . Therefore if my humble efforts in the House of Commons or otherwise can be of any use in the furtherance of tbat principle it will be my pleasure to assist in carrying it out . ( Cheers . )

    Gentlemen , there is one little circumstance personal to myself that perhaps you will forgive me for alluding toone which has made it very pleasant to me to be here today ; and that is , that I am always happy to be in an assembly of Yorkshiremen . ( Loud cheers . ) I happen to have a peculiar prejudice in favour of my own county . I hope it is not an unwise one . It is that which made it doubly pleasant and agreeable to my feelings that I should be elected by a large Yorkshire constituency , and it is that which makes me feel , as I do now , still more grateful for the kindness which you have shown me to-day . ( Great cheering . )"

    Mr . Ironside proposed " The Farm Committee . " Poverty , he observed , arose principally from a want of self-denial , self-exertion , and self-reliance ; and it was the duty of those who had those qualities in a proptr proportion to endeavour to restore them in those who were without them : — " As Lord Goderich had very appropriately observed , work-houses were now idle-houses . In accordance with the principle of the statute of Elizabeth , they are called work-houses , because the poor were to be set to work ; but in time they became idle-houses . Recently , however , a change had come o ' er the spirit of their dream , and the Poor-law Association , of which mention had been made , was an attempt to restore the principle of the statute of

    Elizabeth—to set the poor to work . ( Hear , hear . ) While those gentlemen had been theorizing , they the commonsense plain people of Sheffield , had been practicalizing . ( ' Hear , hear , ' and cheers . ) Now it was quite unnecessary for him to make a speech on this question . He was an old radical , chartist , and socialist , of more than twenty years' standing . He knew Robert Owen , and all about it . ( Laughter . ) They , the socialists , determined they would regenerate mankind , and that they would do it by building a Targe hall in Hampshire . - ( Continued laughter . ) He was proposed on the central board along with Robert Owen , and at the first board meeting he and Robert Owen had an argument on this very simple question . Mr . Owen

    wanted to put on the outside of the establishment some tablets indicating what the building was for . As they were very poor he tried to convince Mr . Owen that it was not advisable to spend 30 ? . or 40 ? . in putting inscriptions on the wall . He failed to do so until he used this argument : — ' Do you see that land on that hill ? And don't ? ou think that if wo spend 30 ? . in muck to put into that and it will be better than putting an inscription on tho wall P' That argument told , and no inscription was put there . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Mr . Ironside ) was now going to show the non-necessity for his making a speech . His speech was on that hill—in the contrast between one side and tho other of that valley in which they were now assembled . Beforo the establishment of this farm

    incendiarism was common . Ihe magistrates had the unpleasant duty over and over again of committing paupers for insubordination . That is now done away with . ( Cheers . ) We have no paupers now , and we shall never again havo a larger number in proportion . Everybody is convinced that this is a real test . The only difference was , as to whether they should goon farming or reclaiming land . Ho would say , go on reclaiming land . They might farm as well as others farm , no doubt . When any ono said it was interfering with independent labour , ho replied , 'That's nothing to me . Have wo produced a hotter population P Because if we have , that i . s inevitable ; and you tako your money-bag argument and throw it to tho devil if you like ! ' ( Laughter . )" Mr . Crowther returned thanks for the Farm Committee . Other speeches were made ; and the guests returned to Sheffield .

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    A Guano "Difficulty." The Last Mail By T...

    A GUANO "DIFFICULTY . " The last mail by the Europa brings news of a . probable rupture between the United States and Peru . A question has been raised as to the right of ownership of the Lobos Islands . The following letter in reference to this subject has been published : — " Department of _Htnto , Washington , Anno Ci , 18 / 52 . " Sin , —I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of tho 2 nd inst ., inquiring whether citizens of the United States can take guano from tbe Lobos Islands , which aro situated near the coast of Peru , without infringing upon tho rights of the citizens , or subjects , or Ooverninent of " any other nation . In reply , I havo to inform you that if those islands should lin vv il It iti (\\ o distance of a marine

    league from the continent , or if , being further than that _, distance , Hhould have been discovered and occupied by Spain or b y Peru , the Peruvian _( Jovernmonl . would have a right to exclude therefrom the vessels and citizens of other nations , except upon such conditions as it , might think proper to proscribe . There can bo no doubt that the title of Peru to the Chincha Islands , whence guano is now chiefly taken , is founded upon the basis of discovery and occupancy . That article- was taken from those islands and used as a manure by the Peruvians anterior to the conquest of Peru by Spain . It continued to be ho taken and used throughout the Spanish dominions in that country , and this practice has been kept up to tho present day . Although those islands aro uninhabitable , the custom of resorting to them from the neighbouring continent for tho

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 28, 1852, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28081852/page/3/