Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-23
The Corn Crop.

their corn crop for less than its value
Millions Of bushels have been con.
tracted in the last fourteen days at
half its real value, There is no corn
in Kansas, Nebraska, and a large
portion Of Missouri, to tattcn their
hogs, and they are being driven and
sent on cars into this State by thous.
andS. to fattcn on our corn. Humid
reds Of men have been and are now
in our State, contracting for our corn,
and in few weeks most of our sur
plus will be engaged. Hold on.
When there is Il demand for corn the
farmers should have the benefit of it,
instead of spectators and large feed
ers. These men are now making
dishonorable appeals to the sympath-
les of Iowa farmers, representing
that they have lost their crops in the
grasshopper and chinch bug regions,
and have to seek other States for
corn to prepare their hogs for market
to save their families from starvation.
The truth is, those sharp moneyed
men saw the situation. They went
to those afflicted regions and taking
advantage of the necessities of the
farmers have bought their hogs for
less than their value, while partner
was in Iowa pleading charity and
buying corn.
On Monday the Gath of August,
we saw on the cars three men who
were going from county to county, in
Central Iowa, contracting all the
corn they possibly could. And they
said there were men III all the corn
growing counties.of Iowa doing the
same. Not knowing to whom they
were talking they felt a considerable
satisfaction in telling us that they
would make 100000 Oh the corn
they have contracted in one county.
This is the old story. Farmers toll
through summer and winter and then
sell the product of their labor for
half its value, and then growl at hard
times. The corn of Iowa this year
ought to place our farmers in an in
dependen position, but $3O,OOO,OOO
of its profits will go into the pockets
of spectators from other States.
And this warning will do but little
good. Too few read the papers that
are their true friends. Most of the
agricultural papers are edited by men
who have to buy instead of having
produce to sell-hence all their
sympathies are with the buyer, and
they rejoice when produce is low.
Heed not the story of every one
that comes to you pretending to be
from the devastated regions. Sell to
all at the prices which the circum-
stances will likely conspire to and to
your crop. When there is scarcity
in one region, and we have plenty,
then is our opportunity. To sell low
then will be giving to the rich
trader and Spectator. Justice, mcr-
cy, or charity demand not this course
at your hands. But the devastated
regions around rs will appeal to us
in 4 righteous cause this winter and
next spring. 1t will then be our duty
to give largely and literally. The
demand on us will tax our ability
and all our charitable impulses to
their utmost extent. At no period
in Iowa's past history has there been
such demand on our stores of food
and clothing. And it must be given
with no misery hand. Money and
provisions will have to be given by
the millions instead of hundreds.
The appeal will come to all, and it is
we'll for every one to begin prepare
tons at once. For this purpose
husband the bounteous crop Of corn,
and not squander it to heavy specu-
lators, or large stock feeders. The
poor homcsteader in the frontiers Of
Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, Iowa, and
Minnesota, will not come to you to
contra YOUR corn before YOU are
fully aware what it is worth. Many
of them have not the means of even
reaching the land of plenty. But in
due time they will come through an
accredited agent, when it will be
time to try your liberality to the ut
most capacity. Then will be the
time to give, and not sacrifice your
corn now to spectators,
We are earnest in this matter, as
we know millions Iof bushels are be-
ing contracted every week for less
than half what it will bring in thc
market before next May.-Reqister.