The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-11-13
Origin Of the Farmers Movement.

The farmers movement, says a 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 growing
regions, that the country has been rapidly
| settled. This has given a temporary
market for breadsuffs to the new corners
while they were themselves making a new
farm. But when they had brought new
acres under cultivation, their labors in
creased the amount of crops, so that it
became necessary to send a large amount
Of products to the market. Meanwhile
there had been considerable increase in
the number of railroad miles in the West.
The extension did not, however. keep
pace with the development of the cOun-
try, aud was inadequate to the transporta
tion necessities required for the removal
of the superfluous products. Consequent
ly, each year when navigation closes,
about December |, a great amount Of
superfuous products accumulates to be
sent East The amount of these super.
huous products annually increases. The
extraordinary severity of the last winter,
aud the mechanical and physical difflcul
ties resulting from the intense cold, rem
dered it impossible for the railroads, after
the close of navigation, to move the crops
as rapidly as the demands of commerce
required. According to the law of sup
ply and demand, the scarcity Of transpor
tation facilities during the last winter, in
duced the railroads to increase the prices
Of railroad freight. This increase in the
cost of carriage was of necessity paid by
the farmers, and was tax deducted from
the price Of their grain at the farm This
increased freight tariff caused great dis
satisfaction. There soon grew up an i'll
feeling on this account between the rail
roads and the farmers, the latter insisting
that the railroads were extortionate in
their charges, aud unjust in their dis
ordinations During the last five years
there have been many attempts in the
Western States to control railroad freight
tariffs by legislation. Almost without
exception, the railroad companies have
refused obedience to these enactments.
And when suit has been brought by the
authorities to enforce these laws, the rail
roads have been almost uniformly success
full in the litigation. This fact has in
tensifed the irritation on the part of the
farmers The almost unprecedented large
corn crop Of last season brought on a
crisis between the railroads and the far
mers shortly after the close Of navigation
in December last. The supply of corn
was so much in excess of the demand that
the price at the farm in many portions OF
the North west was reduced to the price
of fuel, and in some places even lower,
so that in many localities corn was used
as fuel Meantime the railroads were
overburdened with the superiuous crops
to be conveyed to the sea board. 1he
unusual intensity of the winter created
MANY nnaeeustomed obstacles. The ne
cessarv delays in transportation caused
Iarye quantities of breadstuffs to accumu
late in local centres awaiting shipment.
At the same time the local storekeepers
were pressing the farmers for the pay
ment 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 10 keep
them, in the hope that, 10 the spring, bet
fer prices would be obtained, These var
ious circumstances increased the hitter.
ness of the feeling on the part OF the far
mess toward the railroad companies, which
they accused of com binne to increase the
price OF lreights and to demand extor
tiopate rates, aud is the first cause OF the
movement now so extensive, ana known
as the Grange"