Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
Food Exports and National Wealth.

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Food Exports and National Wealth.
In our recent article on "The Road to
Ruin" we gave expression to the too much
overlooked fact, that with the great exporta-
lions of food was going also the fertility of
our best lands. The American A griculturia,
in its March issue, also takes note of this
truth in paragraph headed "Where Our
Grain and Fertility Co." 1t says This
is grand market, it is true, and has APP
parently added much to our wealth. But in
reckoning up the millions of dollars brought
into the country from this source, let us not
forget what it has cost. Have we full
equivalent for the departed fertility of the
millions of acres of grain land in Ohio, Hi
nois and others of our once great grain pro-
ducing states What has become of that
fertility? 1t has gone out in these same
cargoes of wheat that figure up so beauti-
fully in the commercial papers. But what
is to become of the golden eggs when we sell
the goose that laid them ? We do not wish
to be classed as croakers, but when we see
the wheat yield of a section drop from
twenty-five bushels to the acre down to ten
bushels per acre, and the farmers crying to
the government to help them by new laws
on finance, the time has come when the
cause of agricultural depression should be
pointed out and a remedy suggested"
We are glad to see one agricultural jour
nal published from commercial centre that
can in any degree see this thing from the
farmers standpoint These food exports
are indeed rapidly reducing the productive
power of all our Western lands down to, or
even below, that of the East. But that is
not all nor the worst of it. Properly under
tract the fertility from the soil, and present
it in market in the form of food for sale.
So long as he can do this at profit, allow
ing him annually to restore that fertility, or
maintain it, in the process of his labors, he
is working in the line of his proper duty and
functions But in order to do this the food
he makes ought to be consumed, the most
of it, near the point of production, so that
its value shall not be exhausted by trans
portation charges, and its elements remain
available to be again restored to the soil for
the production of succeeding crops. AS the
business is now conducted we are simply
exchanging the fertility of our great West
for the evidences of our national and other
debts held in Europe. The West is paying
the debts, but the Western farmers will not
be the holders of the bonds when they are
thus transported to this side of the sea-
Already it is said that only Sl00,0O0,OO0 Of
our national debt is held abroad. Our great
exports of food have not paid it, oh no but
have transferred it from the capitalists Of
Europe to the capitalists of America.
This is unquestionably gain, to some
extent. We shall pay our interest money
among our own people, and most of il
will be spent or invested here, instead OF
in Europe We are saved, as nation, from
the heavy drains of specie, that would have
otherwise to be sent abroad for this purpose
But whether that will satisfy the Western
farmers remains to be seen.
AS for us, the farmers of the Eastern
states, who are not exporting any food ma
terial, the result OF this impoverishment o
Western lands and the accumulation of TIN
proceeds in the hands of our wealthy neigh
bors will not be an evil, except as we mus
to some extent suffer when any part of on
country suffers. The result must be sool
evident in rise in the price of Western
produce, on account of short crops and al
increased cost OF production. This vii
lessen the Western competition under whic
we have suffered. The accumulations @
money in the hands of our capitalists wi
also lessen the rate of interest. So we sha
gain in better prices for what we raise, an
in lower rate of interest on our mortgage.
But what will the West do about it Ho,
will the West stand it? The West ha
great political power in our national affair
Can we afford to separate our interests froI
hers in this matter? And will not til
working population of the cities, who no
see this Western food material pass the
doors, (where their children stand hungI
for lack of work) on its way across the Sc
make us trouble?
There are those who think the worst
our hard times is over. We sincerely hoI
it is. But we cannot shut our eyes
the fact of the immense indebtedness, n
tional, corporate and individual, that ham
over this people, and which the farmers a
expected to pay. Can they do it witho
themselves being reduced to serfdom in Il
end And will they submit to that a?
in place of politicians we had statesmen
charge of our destinies, we might ask the
questions without despair. But with o
politics conducted as now, what can we no
for, what may we not fear We do n
wish to croak," but it is not croaking
give the alarm when a great danger impen
over ua,