Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-08-08
Farm Interests.

duced by the ANNOUNCEMENT that
the hay crop of the country was
worth several millions more than
the cotton crop. Statistics bore
out the assertion, and every year
the value Of agricultural products
increases, In studying q carefully
arranged table of statistics like that
prepared by Mr. Samuel b. Ruggles
of the New York Chamber of Com
mcrce, for instance, one gets new
idea of the magnitude Of the farm.
ing interests of the country, and
how much Of our property is invest.
ed in the soil and apparatus for it's
cultivation. The agricultural wealth
of the country in 1870 amounted to
Sll,l2I,05S,747, aud was represent
ed by an agricultural population of
5,022,47l. This would give $1,S7S
to each individual connected with
agricultural pursuits. And the an.
ual income to each person connect
ed with this great industry amounts
to $500. The ratio Of increase of
the agricultural population, taking
thirty years for the basis Of calcu,
latiOn, would add another million in
thirteen years; and this would in
crease the wealth of the nation ST.
S7S, 100000. ...
Figures like these tell their own
story. They show plainly enough
that the American farmer is not q
mere appendage to and puryeyor
for the merchant and manufacturer.
He is master of the situation. Els
timated in solid dollars the farming
interest is the most important in the
nation. The individual farmer may
not be of much personal account.
But men get dignity and Importance
from the class to which they belong
and of which they are representa-
tives. And every American farmer
ought to feel that he has additional
value and influence from the fact
that he is connected with the con-
trolling interests OF the country.
He gets far more attention now than
formerly. His voice is heard and
his wishes are needed as never be-
fore. Politicians have found that
it is for their interest to cOnciliate
him, and even Congress has discOv-
cred that he exists and has vote
that it will not do to lose. And the
farmers are themselves beginning
to recognize their interest, and com
bine for their protection and adj
vancement. The Granger clubs
are essentially associations of farm
ers and their wives to elevate the
character and promote the interests
of their class. They want cheap
tools, and merchandise at whole
sale prices. They want to avail
themselves of each others expert.
ence and profit by each others fail
ures. They are anxious to improve
their methods Of husbandry, and
secure larger harvests at less ex-
pense. They find that agricultural
life is necessarily isolating, and
would secure the advantages of So
ciety and friendship by artificial
combinations. They have discov-
cred that all small and petty rival.
ries are wasteful at the time and IA
tai in long run; that the farming
interest is an essential one; that
their hopes lie not in competing
with each other but by combining
with each for the benefit of the
whole. 1t is this new phase of ag-
ricultural life that makes the new
associations in the West so signifi-
cant at the present time. The rail
road conspiratOrs have taught the
farmers a lesson that they are prac-
Using in this way. Railways never
compete when they, can combine.
Their power comes from the com
pactness with which they are bound
together as whole. The cOmpe.
titions are local, aud of no account
in comparison with the agreement
on all points of general policy. The
scattered farmers of a sparsely set
tied State have found that their Sc
curity and profit depend upon the
completeness with which they act
in concert, subordinating individu-
al interests to those of a class
They may make mistakes. They
must learn many things by painful
But there is something
Of better things in this
new conception Of identity of in
5erests in an agricultural population
If six millions. And when the
small farmer in Maine feels as he