The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-04
CORN
It's Low Price the Main Cause
of the Farmers Movement.
The Lowness Of Price a Result Of the
Government Embargo On the
Alcohol Trade.
Beneficial Effects that Have Followed from
the Renewal Of that Embargo.
Eastern Hostility to Western Interests.
(Concluded.)

ago. when corn in Illinois had nearly lost
its commercial value, and was worth little
more than the cost Of transportation in
New York; and when, in spite of this, our
distiIleries were comparatively idle. At
that time, being in New York, / took par
ticular pains to make inquiry upon the
subject Of the export of alcohol among
houses trading in that commodity. The
testimony gathered from the most reliable
sources was emphatic, that it was practi-
cally stopped, and as good as prohibited,
by Government regulations and surveil-
lance, and that orders from foreign cor
respondents for cargo-lots, at figures that
left a handsome profit, had to be, and were,
constantly refused; and that it was Meth
er safe nor possible for merchants to touch
it, even with the strictest intentions OF hon
esty toward the Government. Shortly at
ter, there appeared in the Tribune (Feb.
IS, 1879 letter from A. A, Ferret, of
Sterling, ILL.,, emhodying the same COM
plant OF this sale obstruction to his trade
from j. s. Miller, distiller OF that town,
who was trying to export his product.
Although the price of corn had long
been below the cost of production, it was
at this time that its depreciation had be-
come matter of notOriety all over the
country, and trade of the East was being
injured on account of the impecuniOsity of
the Western farmers. 1t was at this time
that the farmers themselves were uprising,
and were holding their first State Conven-
ton at BLOOMINGTON. 1t was at this time
that the heart Of our Government, whose
feigned purpose is to dispense prosperity
10 all American industry, was touched with
compassion or fear. 1t was at this time
that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
God bless him for his condescending
kindness changed his ruling, and remOv-
ed restrictions to the export of alcohol by
releasing the distillers bond at the sea-
board, and taking the bond of the export
er in its stead. BY this final concession,
traught with the benignity of = real pur
pose, the expectation of Western corn in
the form of alcohol
BECAME A POSSIBILITY,
and to engage in it a safe, a legitimate and
profitable business.
This business, which had only been
waiting for this privilege, Immediately de-
veloped itself with vigor; and Commits
sioner Douglas naively announced to the
country, through the press dispatches,
that, in the now. growing foreign demand
for alcohol, the farmers of the West would
find an additional market for Their corn,
and that they had better not burn it, as it
would be worth something. He did not,
however, confess how that demand had al
ways existed, but had hitherto been de-
MED them through his instrumentality.
MARK THE EFFECT
this change in policy has already had upon
distilling and the demand for corn in Hi
nois. The distillers, after having been in
active or entirely idle during long period
of plentiful and almost worthless grain,
suddenly, Notwithstanding failure OF the
corn-crop are reused into general activity
all over the State. You report, in the
Tribune of Dec. "a, 1873, that in Chicago
The distilling business has exhibited I'M
usual activity during the past year, princi-
pally owing to the cutting down of the tax
on exports, which has stimulated to the
manufacture of alcohol to the full capacity
Of all the houses. The distieries of Pc
oria are running to their full capacity, fill
ing foreign orders, and, to meet them, are
consuming 10000 bushels Of grain daily
They are paying between j5 and 60 cents
per bushel for corn; and are seeking
the same corn at 80 cents in the country.
that has been boarded for two or three
years because they have not wanted it,
The distillery at Milan, near Rock Island,
% ~ ANA OPCi 1llpiii dhA 10 oCJNluS OuI iHlO
Iowa for corn
American alcohol takes precedence in
Europe for quality; and it is demonstrated,
by what they are now doing, that the dis
tillers can pay remuneratve price for
corn in Illinois to make alcohol for that
market. 1t is my belief that, had they
never been denied that market, their CON
sumption would have used up that surplus
which has killed the price of corn during
the past few years.
The Protectionists of the East are
DELUDGNG THE FARMERS
OF the West with the promise that more
protection will build up manufactures in
the W est that will consume that surplus.
Will the protected capitalists of the East
tell us when they intend to move out
West and build factories in Peoria the OPP
eratives in which will equal the consump
ton of corn now being made by the dis
tlleries there, which consumption they
controlling the Government, from Congress.
down to the Commissioner Of Internal Rev
enue, are responsible for having pre-
vented?
Mr.. Ferret, in his letter which / men,
ton, says 'To me it has always beer
one of the unexplained mysteries. why
the Congress of the United States virtually
said to the farmers of the West, Yor
shall not have the advantage of this outle
for your grain" 1t is no mystery to mt
why it does so.
THE EASTERN STATES CONTROL OUR GOV
ERNMENT,
and to secure their premacy, they shap,
the legislation OF Congress for the enact
ment of laws restricting the trade of tn,
country to their interests, no matter how
tyrannous and ruinOus those laws may b,
to others. The-resources of the East con
slst in her manufacturing establishment
and manufacturing population. Outsid
OF her acquired money,-and she own
the bulk OF what is in the countryside
salvation depends on her ability to feeC
her working people Her own agricultu
raj resources are as nothing to that end
The surplus OF Ohio and Indiana will no
do it. She has to look to Illinois and he
kindred States for bread and meat. 1t 4
from Chicago that she must be fed, and sh,
knows it. TO cheaper this food to her, sh
makes strenuous efforts.
Before we bothered our heads abou
rates OF transportation, Massachusetts ha,
nearly finished the IIoosac Tunnel; an
the East had the railroad question studie
out, agltated, and put in motion, long be
fore we commenced on it. At the Decatu
Convention, her Cheap Trausportatio
League had its agent, Mr. Furgusson, @
Troy, delegated to observe how the farm
ers were moving, and to urge them TO o.
operate. 1t is true that the West need
no urging IN this matter {; but in it, is Mas
sachusetts striving for the purpose of rails
ing the price of food in Illinois or is m