New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-07

All aNCia pIOtoCtiOu VI uttCcu per Ctut. "
ell the farm productions of the nation-wheat,
corn, rye, potatoes. hay, butter, cheese, cattle,
sheep. horses, hogs, poultry, wool, and all
other agricultural products-s not the only
benefit farmers receive from the tariff. And
yet they might derive infinitely greater advan
tages than they do from this policy of encour,
agement to American industry. Some of these
neglected opportunities We find in a suggestive
article upon the subject from the Philadelphia
Press The fact that commission merchants
who deal 10 farmers products are permitted to
make much greater profits than the farmer
does who raises them is one. A produce dealer
of ordinary business tact is sure to accumulate
a comfortable property in few years, while
the farmers, who are 50 situated az to be obliged
to employ these middlemen, find their profits
small, and the gain in wealth from year to year
very slow. The charges Of the commission
merchant are heavy tax on the producer.
There are many commodities from the farm On
which the actual profit is less than the dealers
commission. Then, while there are houses in
this business that are the soul Of honor. and
can be trusted with the handling of others
property without suspicion Of dishonesty in
the transaction, there are, unfortunately, others
that are not, and consigners sometimes find
themselves suddenly subjected to loss from the
want of honesty on the part of those to whom
they have entrusted their property. False re-
turns, carelessness in the handling of produce,
neglect in care, and lack Of proper efforts to
make sales are evils that exist to the great
detriment Of farmers. And as yet there is no
interested every spring. as they begin to get
about the work Of the farm and anticipate an.
another seasons crop, and the Importance of
marketing them to the best advantage But
among the many suggestions there is nothing
practical, and it is matter of strong doubt if
mers who are toe far away to be their own
agents SO long As they are dependent upon the
city market.
"What is wanted t, meet the cases of farmers
is such general aud extensive development of
manufacturing and whatever other resources
may exist throughout the rural districts as
shall furnish farmers with local markets sufi
cient for the profitable sale Of whatever they
may have to dispose Of The undeveloped man.
ufscturing resources of this State east of the
mountains are immense, and could they be de.
veloped to the extent of similar resources n
some of the New England States would add
immensely to the wealth. population. and gen.
eral prosperity of the State. And these ad-
vantages ought not to lie longer unimproved.
There is capital enough for their Development
There are millions Of capital lying idle at this
time and locking for profitable investment, and
there is good reason to believe that, with lit
tie effort, whatever is wanted to begin import
ant manufacturing enterprises in the rural dis
tricts could be obtained. The tendency has
been to concentrate capital in the large cities,
but while it helps them to put in pretentious
appearance in the census reports, the policy is
not the one best calculated to increase the
wealth and general prosperity of the State. 1t
would be better for Pennsylvania to day if the
most of the manufacturing capital of Philadel-
phia were, employed in the rural districts,
while the city might be able to compensate it.
self for the loss by greater attention to com
merce, ship building, and similar enterprises.
However, no such change is contemplated.
But the need of more extensive manufacturing
enterprises in the State, outside of the cities,
the eastern part particularly. is great, and
ought to be met The subject has not received
such attention from capitalists and political
economists as its importance entities it to. The
work of development might have been begun
years ago, and much accomplished, but there
has been little done as yet, and in this respect
the State stands nearly where it did ten years
ago. The establishment Of one Lowell or
Holyoke would be q great enterprise, and the
beginning of important things, for it is not to
be supposed that one successful project Of this
sort would be long alone.
"The increase in the wealth of the State which
would follow such development as We urge