Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-24

= SOURCES OF WEALTH.
Now, that a truce has been soundeC
by the Contending ofice-seekers anC
the wogreat national parties, we invit,
( a discussion, through the columns ofth,
APPEAL, Of everything that concerns
the prosperity of the South. We invit'
contributions upon such subjects rs Ou'
railroads, our rivers, our fairs, u expo
sitions, labor, immigration, the sources
OF State and national wealth, and par
ticularly upon such questions as viii
build up the agricultural interest of the
South. In Fridays APPEAL an Ole
citizen Of Mississippi, venerated for hi:
years, ana admired for his talent, and
respected foI his inhexible honesty, fur
nished the AIrPEAL with an able article
in regard to the negro and the labol
5 question. This morning one Of the OldesI
and most intelligent farmers Of Shelby
county gives his views upon a subject
which is Of vital Importance. We in
vite the farmers Of Tennessee, Arkansas,
Mississippi and Alabama to make
known their views through the columns
Of the APPEAL, for it Is the farmer who
contributes to the wealth of the country
by his perpetual toll. Everything begins
with. him. Every day Of the year has
its various and its continuous operations,
all directed, however, to this one point,
10 bring the greatest quantity Of produce
rom q given number Of acres. Such is
he nature Of his work that little can be
done to expedite or shorten the process.
Every foot Of every field must be passed
over by the pillow. There are no FIRE
horses yet invented to do this at the rate
IF twenty miles an hour. The plowman,
therefore, must rise early and work late.
His labors, TOO, must be generally on-
fined 10 the hours when the sun is
above the horizon. In autumn and
in winter these are few. He must
work the harder during that part of the
year when the days are long. Every in
dustrious farmer is continually adding
TO the substantial and permanent wealth
II q nation. He is continually adding
TO the productive power, which is the
best species Of wealth. His savings, if
any he make, 90 back into the soil, to
increase its fertility, or they go into fix
lures, which add comfort or diminish
he Iabors of all coming years. The
awnings of the farmer, and be cannot
make anything only by the most assid-
uous industry, increase the fund that is
most wanting, especially in such a coun-
try as this-agricuItural capital. The
farmers of this country can do nothing,
they say, for want Of money. How are
they ever to get it, but by the improve
ment Of their farms? As things have
been managed in this country
hitherto, there has been a ten
iency TO deterioration. The rad
zeal mistake has been committed of
supposing that the best investment for
he farmer is the purchase Of more land,
whereas, in most instances, the better
policy would have been, the better culti-
walton Of that which he already had.
The plan has been to exhaust the n
field, and then turn to another. Such a
plan can result in nothing but ruin.
Nothing has been more neglected in this
country than agriculture. The soil Of
the United States is capable of sustain
ing two hundred millions Of inhabitants
better than it sustains thirty. One
hundred years ago, the population of
England and Wales was only six mill
lions, and a most miserable living did
they get-black bread, barley cakes and
oatmeal porridge were the main food
Of the rural population. Since that
time, the population has more than
doubled, and ia ordinary times FAR bet
ter than half the number did then.
Their agricultural productions have in
creased more than three hundred mill
lions Of dollars, and yet the productive
powers OF the whole island are scarcely
as great as those of the single State Of
Illinois. But agriculture, to flourish,
must have a market. a market must
consist not merely of a place, but OF peo-
pie not engaged in agriculture, and en-
ployed in something that supplies the
human wants. And the nearer it is
found TO the farmers door the better
the less Of his productions are spent in
getting them to market. Agriculture
can flourish then only where there is a
large population engaged in manufac-
lures and commerce.
The second source Of national wealth
is manufacturing industry. No nation
ever became wealthy by raising the raw
material, aud then exchanging it
for the manufactured article. The
manufacturing people always have the
advantage. They may work day and
night, summer and winter, in fair and
stormy weather. An agricultural popu-
.ation work only in the daytime, when
the earth is free from frOsts, and when
he clouds are not di~sburdening them
selves upon the earth. A manufacturing
population can avail themselves 10 any
extent Of the aid Of machinery. The
fall Of water in the town Of Lowell is
made to do the work Of a million Of
human beings. Everything the farmer
raises must be brought out Of the earth
By main force, by hard work. The farm
er's productions are bulky, and are often
consumed getting them 10 market. The
m~anufactured article is usually compar-
.tlyely light ia proportion to its value.
The farmer, moreover, Is obliged 20 take
the chances Of ~unpropitious seasons, and
occasionally a short crop. But no varia-
tons Of the seasons have W been
known to produce a short crop of boots
and shoes, and drouth has never been so
great As to blight the labons of the loom
With these advantages, a manufaetur-
ing people viii always continue 10 keep
an agricultural people in debt. Towns
and cities viii spring up among them,
and the very fact Of a condensed popu-
lation gives them great advantages.
BOSTON.
Boston, OF It's press, which is gener-
ally the mouthpiece Of the people, tells
The country very plainly that it needs no
help. The Transcript speaks out boldly
aud to the point. It says the honest
truth is that "the fire has caused no
suffering which the ordinary charities Of