The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-01-31
FARMERS.

Shy
FARMERS.
Much we'll grounded sympathy Is
being expressed for the farming fra
ternity, who, from the low price 81
their produce; find 1t diticult to re-
alize 40 much from their crops as they
think they should. Many eauses have
been assigned for this sad state Of
things flor when the producing class
arc hard up, the community generally
sre in . similar condition.. and num-
Der Of remedies proposed, many Of
them worthy; some Of them appa-
rently plausible, but really gravely At
fault; and still others trining. We
will not say to which Of these the
communication belongs which aI'-
pears In another column nndsr the
startling heading Of Farmers, wake
up!" Our more thoughtful readers
win readily catalogue it after reading
It. Tho writer rails against retail
desicrs, &C., urging the formation ola
..rings' to starve them outi We can
not conceive how the producing
ciass"-i.e e., the farmer-would be
bensaated by adding to their number
Afrom tho CONSUMING clsss'-thc re-
ftailers, tradesmen, &c. In other
words, were all tho people OF An
drow county farmers, we believe the
tendency Of the price OF produce
would be downward instead OF up
ward. Rings" are successful IN &C
complaining purposes sometimes. but
impossibilitics they can not do, and
when such things arc tried, those "in
the ring" arc not infrequentiy the
euffercrs. Nothing can be gained BY
attempting to dam up the avenues Of
trade, which eau alone be controlled
by the great law Of supply and de-
mand.
With much show Of reason. the
high freight tariff charged by rail
roads 10 alleged As the prime U OF
low prices offarm products. In some
measure this may be the fact. Much
expense is attendant upon the rnn-
ming Of Q railroad. A large number
of good workmen are employed at
good wages-engineers. aremen. sta
ton agents, conductors, clerks, &C.
and It would not be difficult to place
rates SO low a. not to be remunera-
tive to the company. The rate for
grain from St. Joe to Chicago Is. we
believe, 1--WE dollars and forty cents per
tun, and we sre inclined to believe
the railroad, In justice to themselves.
oould not reduce their rates to Al ex-
tent sufficient 10 relieve the farmers
Of their produce at greatly increased
prices.
But why ship so much OF u pro.
Auee? The reply 10 It must be sent
Esst, to the great marketing cities.
Why? These denselv populated cities
and districts are largely manufsctur-
Ing-makIng things that farmers and
others seei-and the demand Of these
consumer upon the agricultural
districts for breadstuffs 10 what Gre
ates the market. In this connection
we msy probably quote the follow.
ing extract:
One-scventh Of the cotton cloth,
one-third Of the wooden goods, and
o~ne-fourth Of the iron and steel uscd
In this country, annually amounting
in value to the sum of SIG, 1900,
are manufactured abroad.
The brcsdstuffs to feed the opers-
tors who manufacture these goods
sre shipped thousands of miles. cost
ing for transportation several times
the original cost at the place Of pro-
tuction. Il there no means sT bring
ing these factories and their .kou-
sands Of consumers over here, whore
the place Of production And I'll. mar
kst may not be 30 rcmote-enshiiug
the farmer to realize for his produce
the greater part now paid for freight.
and having. his purchasing market
that much nearer homer II appears
to MS that manufactures Of articles
we need, established in Il OWN
neighborhood, would not only pro-
vide our manufactured articles near
or our own doors, bat would provide
farmers with . convcnicn; market :or
their productions at good prices.
which would sot be 30 much depend
upon the tariff Of railroads. Encour.
'agcmcnt to manufacturers would
have the effect Of keeping tia money
ut home; would create more stable
markets closer Ut hand; and also im-
crease the population, wealth. hsppi.
ness and real prosperity Of the coun.
try. There IL no immediate extrica.
siul from thu position orr farmers
jast now hud themseiyss In, but .
such rs We have indics.cI
would tcip them IN the future.