The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-01-13
TIE JOURNAL.
ADrpres on

PRESIDENT ID. c. RTCHMOND,
Delivered at the Asinual Meeting Of tho
Erie County Agricultural and Horu- /
cultural Societv,
ATNIIAN, DEC. 2sTH, 1870
FE55ovy srr1uERs OF THIS SooIEIf -
rrrz -. oT1r-rUrrrN: In the kino EhGtl-
dencs "a Cod We are permitted to assellole l
al ne annual meeting Of the hrst year OF oui
Society. ali consi5e,iny |
- 49, 40 i has been organized. II /
o,,,feT~ e-c hundred and hfty Members
r,t- ----4,,,-S have been vel attended and |
- 5;sc-s-iSus have, hope, been pleasant |
s1S nroStabls to the members and public
eensFaiiy.
F.rmers' clubs ars springing up rapidlv in
ali sections Of our State, and viii accomplish
much to improve the agricultural and horti-
cultural interests Of Ohio. Erie county is for
ward in every good work, and we hope not to
see her behind hand in this important matter
The formation Of our County Society is very
different from some others OF our Stats. We
unite the agricultural and horticultural inter
ests, which are twin sisters, especially in this
county which has so large a horticultural pro
duet, besides being decidedly grain growing
section.
The intention of our Society is to hold meet
ingss on invitation, in the different townships
once g month, on the last Thursday Of the
month, to discuss both agricultural and horti-
cultural subjects. 1t is desirable chat town
ship clubs be formed in all the townships IN
this county
Berlin has set us a noble example by having
live, wide-awake township club, less than
year old, which now ranks among the pest ana
largest township farmers clubs IN the State
Their meetings are very instructive and inter
ssting. It is q fact very generally admitted,
that farmers do not have that concert OF ac-
ton necessary Ior their own interests. They
attend but few meetings for the discussion Of
their business or their rights. Other profess
ions have their regular meetings, attend 70
their own interests and keep up with the
times.
Some of our farmers do not take nor read
the agricultural papers Of the day, but fancy
they know it all themselves. If this class live
long enough they will surely find out that
they have many things Jet to learn Farmers
IN this country are not serts, but we should
occupy a high position In society ana main
tain our rights, which we cannot do unless we
are well informed in regard to the leading
subjects of the day; in fact we should have
fund Of general information, equal to any
other class of our citizens.
To do this Is, in tact a, duty that We owe to
our country. We must depend upon the vlr-
tue and intelligence Of the people of the rural
public. There is too much corruption in our |
large cities to be trusted with this matter.
The formers OF this country Esve abundance OF
time, and there is no excuse for their not be- /
ING as well. OF better informed upon all sub
iecss than any other class Of our citizens.
We should cultivate our lands well-knoW |
how 10 raise good crops. We also must cul- |
tivate our minds, and store It with useful
knowledge. The older grow, the more sec |
this error In myself and other farmers.
Agriculture is the oldest, noblest, and most |
useful EMPLOYMENT Of man. We grow the |
wheat for the people of all other professions 10 |
eat are th EO.s..aIion Of sll, Dut there is very
little attention paid to the subject OF agricul- /
ture in matters Of legislation We shall not |
find it profitable, nor should 1t be permitted, |
to hold political or theological dispUtations at
our meetings. It is right, however, to discuss
and agitate questions which interfere with our
lust rights, come from what source they may. /
will call your attention to the Canadian /
barley trade, which has nearly ruined that in |
terest IN our State, thing much to be re-
GREETED, as it is the least exhaUsting TO tho
soil of any Of the cereals. After this
crop is of, the land Is In fine condition
for a wheat crop.
While the manufacturing interest Is pro-
tected by a tariff Of over thirty PEI cent, bar
levS,avs only duty OF fifteen cents per bushel,
and wheat twenty cents per bnshel. In Cana
da they have no foreign shipping market for
barley, but a good market for wheat. For
the last three years Excepting last year. Can
adian Barley has averaged about 81 90 per
bushel In 1868 the price was over 81 per
bushel, paying then only duty of seven per
cent. In the Cleveland market barley is quo
ted twelve TO fifteen cts. per bushel higher
than our own.
Canadian Barley, grown IN a more North
ern climate, is Of q Superior quality. The
I 4 - ]
then pay the Canadian grower the same price
that he pays the Ohio farmer, giving the pre-
ference to the Canadian article. In fact, the
Canadians pay no duty on their barley. We
also have to compete with their cheap labor
and low price Of land, and it is very difficult
to sell Ohio barley to the brewers unless it IS
a prime article, when the market IS crowded
with the Canadian articles. Canadian barley
cannot be sent to Europe, for in that country
they give larger crops of superior article at
less cost. Owing to this state of things, bar
ley is the principal crop of Canada, grown
OF the American market To show the in
crease Of this trade;there was imported into o.
wego, which is the principal port Of entry, In
1868, only S,202 bushels, IN 1869 the enormous
amount Of 3,l97,023 bushels Of barley. Be
tween siE and seven million bushels of Cana
dian barley year is imported into the UNI
ted States. In 1868, 64S, 900 bushels Of barley
were imported from canada into the port Of
Toledo. More barley was imported this year
than was grown In the State. There was
grown in the State of Ohio last year only
1853, ,426 bushels. Last year 25,OOO bushels Of
Canadian barley we're received at Sandusky,
and q, ,249 bushels grown in our country.
Brother farmers, is it necessary at the pres
ent time to import from foreign country into
Ohio any grain at ali, especially barley to make
lager beer, for which it Is principally used
In the north of Europe barley is used to
considerable extent as food for the people.
At Akron, in this State, there are two mills,
using 600 bushels per year, manufacturing
what they call Pearl Barley, nice article,
taking the place of rice. This business should
be encouraged.
wish also especially to call your attention
70 the salt monopoly. By some corrupt legis-
lation in the State Of New York, q company
called the Salt Company Of Onondags, has OBJ
tanned exclusive night to use the brine, costing
them only one cent per bushel. 1t is reported
that they have, or are about forming conneo-
ton with Saginaw, KansWha and other salt
works, to keep up and control the price Of salt
over wide extent country. Last year the
price of salt was steady at 81 As per barrel
The same gslt selling st Chicago at g 20 per
barrel They also sold the same salt In Can
NADIA at 81 90 per barrel. The following cur
ious bit of history may be interesting: After
shis company had arranged matters to their
sausiacuon IN the State Of New York they
turned their attention to Washington. hl
March, 1851, tariff on salt was four cents per
bushel. In August it was raised to twelve
cents per bushel lew months later in 1867
we find the duty increased to eighteen cent in
bulk, and tWenty-four cents per hundred
pounds in bags. You viii see that this COM
pany Is protected by tariff of over one hun
Srsd per cent Salt which formerly cost 81 u
70 81 70 per barrel, this company now charge
S2 so per barrel A large company honestly
managed sho7ld reduce the price of an article
like salt. This company made last year 1862
237 bushels A small profit on so large an
amount would pay them well. The honest T
capital of this company is reported at Sl66,0
The profits per year are said to be 1881, 1000. !
I believe In a reasonable tariff to protect the 8
honest manufacturer, but not to build up mo- n
nopohes TO Cypress the people.
We farmers are large consumers OF salt; it
is prime necessity Of life, and should be fur
nished at the lowest possible rates. Also our b
lake fishermen use large amount OF salt in =
the fish trade. The rich merchant may not
0se half-barrei Of salt IN a year, while each 7
Of NJ poor farmers is compelled to buy several
barrels for farm use during the season. Again,
the fishermen Of the New England States are S
allowed, by clause in the tariff act, to buy
salt in bond free OF duty, 70 salt fish. Why !.
not do the same thing by our lake fshermenY
Also let the farmers OF Ohio obtain salt in 6
bond free Of duty for putting up 5heiri pork Z,
No, they are LETT out in the cold as usual. It .
Wolnd benefit the farmers ofOhio If part of the
duty was taken from salt and added to the C
tariff ON barley. G
The tariff on wool looks well on paper; but 4.
b. the underValuatiOn of imported wool, or
some other way, they have pulled the wool
over the farmers eyes; and the result is that
wool growing is no longer a paying business. 2
e1or evaI I 4