Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-01-28
A Situation and the Outlook,
Western Rural, Jan. I.

condition or the outlook for farmers
is especially bright, yet compared
with the condition of the manufac.
turers and merchants of the country,
or with their own condition at cor
responding time in any one of five
years, the farmers Of the country as
whole have no reason to complain.
The aggregate farm products OF the
country in 1875 were very large and
the money received for them as.
whole will also be large. Some crops
are now low in price, but some, nota-
bly, hogs, are high. There is a good
prospect tor considerable advance
in wheat, although this will n, prob
ably come soon. Debts weigh heavi-
ly on many farmers. The shines"
are dull. The question of the cur
rency remains unsettled, and there is
consequent uncertainty rs to future
nominal values.
But, admitting all that is unfavora-
bic, it is still true that for man of
comparatively limited means there
are to-day few, if any, investments
more secure than good farm. 1t is
better than most city real estate; bet
ter than most manufacturing interests;
more secure than money invested in
ordinary merchandise; vastly more
safe than most speculative investments
What are the lessons for the yesr?
Obviously one prominent one is that
of caution. This is not time for
rash or vcnturesome experiments;
not Il time for mourning additional
indebtedness; especially it is not a
time to risk all on any one crop. 1t
is never safe ''to put all the eggs in
one basket" and this is especially
true at such time as this. 1t is Il
time for wise economy; for paying off
Indebtedness as rapidly as possible.
He who has comparatively little, yet
is free from debt, is much more Sc
cure and in better position than he
who has much more property "orna
meuted with mortgages"
The wise farmer will distinguish
between economy and parsimony.
He will not refuse to make small
expenditure to secure a large return.
He will not use poor seed corn be-
cause fifty cents a bushel over mar
Ike: price is asked for that which is
good; will not refuse to improve his
stock because this will cost some
thing; will not refuse good care and
sufficient food, nor neglect to repair
his fences and patch the leaky roof,
because these things cost something
in time and money. He will not re-
fuse to spend three or four cents
week for an agricultural paper which
will enable him more intelllgently to
conduct his work and help him to
decide when and how to dispose of
his crops.
Each farmer has duties as citizen.
He must not neglect these. With
voice and vote he should work to
secure reforms III town, county, State
and National Government; to pre-
vent frauds, extravaganza, unwise or
excessive legislation. Alongside of
these he must keep in mind his per-
sonal duties; to reduce the general
Indebtedness by reducing his own;
to help bring down too high rates of
interest by refusing to borrow money
unless for some essential; to hel p the
general prosperity by endeavorlng to
so conduct his farming operations
that he may best prosper; to help re-
store activity, and general industry
and hopefulness, by working faith
fully himself, employing all the la
Dor he can make profitable, and thus
manifesting his own faith in the future.
This is not the time nor place for
particular directions. Generally |
speaking, Western farmers should |
work i'll the direction Of producing
more of the condensed products,
rather than relying on grain for cx-
port, in the direction Of these branches
of agriculture which give OPP, ortunity
for considering labor. Except when
there may be danger "f widespread
disaster, As by grasshoppers, as rule
it will be best for them to promp ly
make sales when their crops are
ready for market, rather than enter
the field of speculation. Especially !
for those who have but little wealth,
attention to their Legitimate business
will be wiser than attempts to add to
their profits 10y engaging in trade,
manufacture or commerce.