Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-02-13
Tho End to be Sought in Farming.


Tho End to be Sought in Farming.
From the Homestead.
The influences which surround
and control western farming are
mainly the natural conditions of
soil and climate, as we'll as the adj
vantages and disadvantages Of mar
ket. All these have a bearing upon
the success of the farmer. The ov-
reproduction of any one commodi-
ty, and consequently low price, and
the reaction that is sure to follow,
are important subjects to be consid-
cred.
The demands of n home and for
eign market must be studied and
understood by the farmer as well as
the dealer, in order to determine
the crop to be produced, and the
time and manner of marketing
Our western prairie land, while
new and fresh, is well adapted to
all the cereals. For a market for
the great surplus of the west we
must look to foreign countries that
are purchasers and consumers in
stead of being producers. The
vexed transportation question that
comes before our State and Nation
al Legislatures for solution, is one
that seems to flatter the producer
that better times await his future.
But while this problem of cheap
transportation is being solved, let
us not hope too much for it's final
results, or be lured into the idea of
a cure for all our ills, as cheap
transportation results more espec-
tally to the benefit Of the consumer
than the producer. All our prairie
lands, while new, are adapted to
grain growing. and after a few
years cropping our lands become
better adapted to grass Of the cult.
waited varieties. Nearly all of oul
new lands arc first occupied by men
of moderate means, and not able to
own stock to any great extent.
Tie inevitable low prices fol-
grain in the west must be under
stood and provided for CHEAP
transportation can never give great
relief to this condition of things
and we are thrown back upon oul
own resources for a means of relic
that will make grain raising pay
expenses and give a fair compensa
ton to the laborer.
In the absence Of home manufac
turing, which furnishes read,
home market for farm produce, ",
find the true key to our condition
The necessity Of cheap production
seems inevitable; to meet this con
dition of things in the west, we fin'
as near as can be estimated, tina
wheat can be raised in Iowa, takin!
as a basis the average yield, at
cost Of one dollar per bushel; ais
that corn costs 25 to 80 cents pc
bushel, and oats about the same
the cost of marketing, 5 to 10 cent
more per bushel, to be added. No
over two-thirds of these prices cal
be realized through succession o
years. Now the question comes in
can grain, by any means, be grow
in the west at reduction of one
third it's present cost to meet thi
condition Of the market? answe
that it can. And the simple shor
road that will bring that about Cal
be secured by an act of the Legisla
ture prohibiting all stock from run
ming at large.
The immense cost Of fencing OF
the new prairie eats up all tina
would otherwise be profit. TIL
cost Of fencing also keeps the ne,
farmer poor and retards the settle
ment Of our State.
On the other hand, it may be al
gued that this prohibition law woul,
materially injure the live stock in
terest of the State. In answer t.
this l can say that l believe it woul,
be great benefit to this interest
The only source of profit in stool
growing on the western prairie i
i'll keeping proper number Of goo
healthy animals, under proper re
straint, with good care and plent,
of feed at all seasons of the year
Our frontier farmers can better at
ford to have their stock hcrdet
where they have open range, as wilt
grass is of short duration, and cat
tie turned loose usually cause mor'
trouble in hunting than the cost O
breeding, and any seeming profit il
turning stock loose on the common
is only imaginary.
The farmer that has farm wei
fenced with live and durable fence
and the greater portion Of his lane
in the tame grasses, with proper
number of good animals to consume
all his feed, has much the advantage
of the grain grower, and such sit
uation on farm in the west, il pro
perly managed, will give any man 9
good living. This condition in a
few years can be very cheaply OBJ
tanned on the prairies, with proper
protection against marauding stock,
which is a great curse to any civil
lied country, and constant obsta
Gle to settlements on the prairie.
The people of a State are natural.
ly clamorous against innovations OF
sudden changes, and through estab
lished habits, however wrong OF
pernicious those habits may be-
they arc apt to view with a jealous
eye any infringements upon what
they suppose to be their natural
rights. But l ask what legal OF
moral right has any one to turn
stock loose outside of his own prem
Uses? I contend that it is n viola.
ton of all principles of right. A
true and correct understanding oil
its bearing upon the agricultural in.
terests of the State would induce
every farmer to favor this much
needed stock law.
MILTON BRIGGS.
heliogg, Ioaca, Jaa., 1874.