The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-10
CO. ) rar,ners and Markets.

WEDNESDAY. -. NV EMO 'ds' Asss
The Farmers and Markets:
so,ne Il the writers about the condition
~ ,ne farm;ng interests seem TO iAbor uader
she error that farmers are peculiar sufferers
IN haylng great dlsfacalsy 10 obtaining money,
and in being compelled 70 pay high interest
upop Il. Theconplaint is that the difficulty
and the high rate demanded for money are
encountered OF a time when the farnes, more
than formerly, requires II 70 pay monthly
hires OF saborers, and cash for things that
we're once bought on credit.
Certainly high inserest Is oppressive; Dut
It Is the result OF circumstances over which
there can be ne control. Social disorder
want Of confidence, national calamity OF
whatever else that brings embarrassment,
nnoduce those troubles which time ana
change or circumstances alone can heal. fet
these consequences fall enaal alike. If there
be ruin it is confined to no class; but per-
hsps the commercial cisss is The sharpest SUI.
ferer. as that class is exposed 70 the most
direct effects OF pecuniarys regulsion.
Interest for ,he use of money that Is dis.
proportioned TO The gains on labor and the
pursuit Of commerce tends to cripple the en-
terprise apd paralyze the energies Of bor'
rewers. The tendency is to multiply the
number OF unfortunate men, to force pro.
perry into market, and forced sales causing Q
shrInkage Of values. The assets OF the In
solvent are insufficient to pay their debts,
and their friends are dragged into ruin
along with them. - Is
Every man sees that this but subjects the
source OF loans to losses and increases the
evil which has produced the failures and
loss !: high interest and short time. indeed
money Ia raised in value. distrIst is 10.
creased. and money harder to get. Tnat
the merchant and farmer are both victims 70
this course of things we know. The
farmer, indeed, labors under peculiar
troubles 10 being further from the banks
and being able to comply with bank regula'
lions and requirements with less facility
thanthe merchant. Is that bad for MIN, or
rather worse than it is for the merchant!
We doubt 1t. We rather think that the man
who borrows the least money In these
tines-po matter what he vents to do with
money-is the best OF. Few enterprises and
fewer regular occupations that we know OF
can pay very high interest for money and
prosper. Therefore the man who curtails
his business and gets along without borrow
ing Is the best off. The best remedy-and
time forces 1t upon us-is to retrench, cut
down business, and await better times.
High rates OF interest are in the main the
result of public necessity and that state OF
disturbance which: inspires apprehension,
and the rate of interest embraces both in.
terest and insurance against loss.
The country wants that which will restore
confidence, reSssure enterprise, and stimu.
late afresh the regular commerce OF the
country. The repeal Of the resumption law
would relieve the public mind and put mat
tiers in the way to easy and permanent re-
sumption.
But as we have before remarked, the ma
tional trouble, financial as well as social,
comes from the errors OF reconstruction.
No remedy can be complete while the evils
entailed upon the country oy a great national
crime exist.
We may reasonably suggest to the agricul.
tural community that they are not peculiar
sufferers from the state Of finance. We are all
in the same boat; and thousands there are
who. in the midst of their troubles, envy
what they consider the happy lot OF the
farmer, with his corn, wheat, potatoes, cab
bsges, COWS. pigs, aud chickens. Troubled
az we know the farmer to be. we yet think
there is no great reason why he should envy
any other class of society.
we know that in Virginia the farmer is
put to disadvantage for the want Of near
markets. The genius of the South was be.
fore the war agricultural. Tilling Of the
soil was congenial with slavery, and it was
also agreeable to people remarkable for the
reflective and philosophical turn of their
minds. The retirement and the serenity of
country life were favorable to the cul,iva-
ton of the most admirable virtues of
society. 1t may be easily deduced
from the public character of the
State that commerce did not especially at.
tract tie interest of the people nor invite the
investment Of their means-the gains from
their rural pursuits. 1t is not surprising
that the man who was at one time the most
prominent representative Of such society
should speak of great cities as great sores
upon the body polite, and 1t is
not surprising that the abolition OF
slavery should not 80 find the State
with numerous market towns, each con-
yenient to one or other of the different 10.
cafities. For the want of these many neigh.
borhoods have no market sufficiently near
them to make it profitable to cultivate great
many things that, with near market, would
add largely to the resources of farming.
This disadvantage has become matter Of
concern with agriculturis.s. Our friends in
Amelia and Pow hatan have endeavored to
supply the want Of market towns in mea-
sure by establishing what they call local
markets or fairs on the principal thorough.
fare that passes through their neighborhood.
Two OF these have been tried-oue at Chula,
on the Danville railroad, in August, and one
al Amelia Courthouse In October. They
are reported to have succeeded. We are
glad OF it. We can well imagine that after
due notice the farmers, and butchers, and
traders, and hucksters, might drive trades
practical and ben efieial to all parties, saving
the farmer great deal Of trouble, and in