The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-15
Origin of the Farmers Movement.

The farmers movement, says West.
ern correspondent, dates its origin back
about four years, Emigration has been
so great of late years into our Western
States, particularly in the wheat-grow-
ing regions, that the country has been
rapidly settled. This has given
temporary market for breadstufis to the
newcomers, while theywere themselves
making a new farm. But when they
had brought new acres under cultiva-
ton, their labors increased the amount
OF crops, so that 1t became necessary to
send q large amount Of products to the
market. Meanwhile there Ind been a
considerable increase in the number OF
railroad miles in the West. The ex-
tension did not, however, keep pace
with tho development OF the country,
and was inadequate to the trnnsporta.
ton necessities required for the re-
moval of the superduous products. Con.
sequently, each year when navigation
closes, about December l, great
amount OF superAuouS products accumu-
lates to be sent East. The amount OF
these superiluous products annually in.
creases. The extraordinary severity OF
the last winter, and the mechanical and
physical difficulties resulting from the
intense cold, rendered It impossible for
the railroads, after the close Of navign-
ton, to move the crops MS rapidly rs
the demands Of commerce required.
According to the law OF supply and
demand, the scarcity OF transportation
facilities during tic last winter, in.
duced the railroads to increase TIE
prices OF railroad freight. This increase
in the cost Of carriage wns Of necessity
paid by the farmers, and was q Tux de.
Quoted from the price Of their grain ut
the farm. This increased freight tariff
caused great dissatisfaction. There
soon grew up m ill.feeling on this &C.
count between the railroads and the
farmers, the latter insisting that the
railroads were extortionRte in their
charges, and unjust in their discrimina.
tons. During the last five years there
have been many attempts. in the Western
States to control railroad freight tariffs
by legislation. Almost without excep-
ton, the railroad companies have re-
fused obedience to these enactments.
And when suit has been brought by the
authorities to enforce these laws, the
railroads have been almost uniformly
successful in the litigation. This fact
has intensified the irritation on the part
of the farmers. The almost unprece.
denied large corn crop OF last season
brought on u crisis between the rail
roads and the farmers shortly after the
close OF navigation in December last.
The supply OF corn was so much in ex.
cess Of the demand that the price at the
farm in many portions Of the Northwest
was reduced to the price Of fuel, and in
some places even lower, 80 that in many
localities corn was used Us fuel. Mean.
time the railroads were oyerburdened
with the superauous crops to DO con-
veyed to the sea.board. The un.
usual intensity Of the winter created
many unaccustomed obstacles. The
necessary delays in transportation
caused large quantities of breadstufFs to
accumulate in local centres awaiting
shipment. AT the same time the local
storekeepers were pressing the farmers
for the payment Of their bills, which
they could not well discharge until they
had realized from their crops. The low
price OF the crops induced most Of the
farmers to keep them, in the hope that,
in the spring, better prices would be
obtained. These various circumstances
increased the bitterness Of the feeling
on the part OF the fairness toward the
railroad companies, which they accused
Of combining to increase the price Of
freights and to demand extortionate
rates, and is the first cause OF the move
ment now so extensive, and known rs
the Grange"