National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-09-12
Origin OF the Farmers Movement.

The farmers movement, says n West
ern correspondent, dates it's origin bacl
about four years. Emigration has beer
so great OF late years into our Western
States, particularly in the wheat-grow
ing regions, that the country has beer
rapidly settled. This has given ,
temporary market for breadstuils to tn,
newcomers, while theywere themselves
making new farm. But when they
had brought new acres under cultiva.
tion, their labors increased the amount
OF crops, no that it became necessary 10
send large amount of products TO the
market. Meanwhile there had been a
considerable increase i'll the number of
railroad miles in the West. The ex-
tension did not, however, keep pace
with the development of the country
md was inadequate to the transporta.
TN necessities required for the re-
moval of the supertluous products. Con-
sequently, each year when navigation
closes, about December /, great
amount of superfluous products accumu-
lates to be sent East The amount of
creasos. 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 naviga-
ton, to move the crops as rapidly rs
the demands of commerce required.
According to the law of supply and
demand, the scarcity of transportation
facilities during the last winter, in
duced the railroads to increase tie
prices of railroad freight. This increase
IN the cost OF carriage was of necessity
PAID by the farmers, and was a tax de-
Quoted from the price of their grain at
the farm. This increased freight tariff |
great dissatisfaction. There |
soon grew up an ill-feeling on this ac-
count between the railroads and the
.armers, tho latter II lsting that the
'ailroads were extor .onate in their
charges, and uni ust i their discrimina.
ions. During the last five years there
AVE been many attempts. in the Western
states to control railroad freight tariffs
" legislation. Almost without excep-
ION, the railroad companies have re-
used obedience to these enactments.
md when suit has been brought by the
authorities to enforce these laws, the
ailroads have been almost uniformly
uccessful i'll the litigation. This fact
as intensified the irritation on the part
/ the farmers. The almost unprece
ented large corn crop of last season ,
rought on a crisis between the rail ,
Dads and the farmers shortly after the ,
ose OF navigation in December last. {
he supply of corn was so much in ex- c
ass OF the demand that the price at the '
rm in many portions of the North west
as reduced to the price of fuel, and in i
me places even lower, so that in many k
calltles corn was used as fuel. Mean s
me the railroads were overburdened n
It'll the superfiuous crops to be con- f
yed to the sea-board The I'M fl
ual intensity of the winter created e
any unaccustomed obstacles. The IL
cessary delays in transportation fl
used large quantities of breadstuffs to il
i'll local centres awaiting b
1pment. At the same time the local O
orekeepers were pressing the farmers o.
the payment of their bills. wh;o' >,
ey could not well dischar~ n.;, ~, IN VI VI
ice Of a '''i Dneir crops. Tho low Fl
~ me crops induced most of the Ia
rmers to keep them, in the hope that. p
the spring, better prices would be b
These various circumstances &c
eres sed the bitterness of the feeling IL
the part of the fairness toward the V,
'lroad companies, which they accused &C
combining to increase the price of in
elghts and to demand extortionate v,
ties, and is the first cause of the move 81
mt now 80 extensive, and known as in
9 " Grange" D,
----------------- pr
Rvut;eb 70