Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-06-25
Decentralization

IL IL " W AN-ANbANN eAAs'N 49,
mists should intimate the belief that
there is, or threatens to be, over-pro-
duction Of the fruits Of the farm. Al
ready our agricultural interests have too
much and too many kinds ofoPposition.
The prevailing low prices Of the arti-
cles raised by the farmer are not to be
accounted for on this ground. Neither
IS the widespread financial trouble to be
attributed to such cause.
1t is readily admitted that local or
General markets may easily be oyer
stocked with various kinds Of manutac.
lures. aud also with those articles o.
consumption that are regarded as luxu'
ries but these bear to the community
an entirely different relation from that
sustained by the usual products of agri-
culture. All kinds Of articles Of COM
merce have shown a corresponding de-
cline in price. If farmers need much
that they cannot buy, the same IS true
ofthose engaged in all other occupations.
The low prices Of farm products are not
attributable TO the absence Of a demand
for them, but rather TO the wanl Of the
money with which to purchase them.
All over this vast land there are now,
and probably always Will be, districts
which need far more meat and graiu
than they have or can obtain. Taking
broader view, the worn and denuded
lands of the Old World are scourged
with terrible famines from time to time.
China, in a few years, has lost millions
of her people from this cause. Syria
and India have been-and the latter now
threatens to be again-the scenes Of
horrible mortality and desolatiOn from
the same calamity. Brazil and Moroc-
co haye also been grieyously affected by
famine during the past year.
For the following reasons we believe
that no section need to fear oyer-pro-
duction Of the necessaries Of life: The
means Of transportation are so rapidly
multiplying that there are always near
or distant communities that may be
reached, that are IL immediate and ur-
cent need of what the farmer raises.
These means Of transportation are con-
stantly increasing. The growth OfpOp-
ulation and the vast extension and null
tiplication Of productive callings
will prevent any diminution Of the de-
mand for the direct and indispensable
means of subsistence,
The nature Of the products Of the soil
is such that in many instances they can
be converted into other forms that may
prove more marketable. If there be mere
corn than is needed, there may be a
scarcity o. good beef. butter, mutton,
pork, etc.. and these can readily be
raised from the corn. Again, there is
such wonderful adaptation in Our soil
and climate. that, at least in manyparts
Of our country, there is vast privilege
Of choice as to what articles shall be
produced. This ought to protect the
intelligent farmer from the disappoint'
ment OF an over-stOcked market.
Millions of our people do not have a
pound of fresh fruit Of any kind for a
great part OF the year. Millions. do not
have a pound of butter for months.
Millions scarcely know the taste OF
good, rich milk. Millions are living al
most entirely without meat. Millions
are to-day without a single article pro-
luced in the garden. Millions do not
taste mutton once a year. Millions
have to live nearly or quite without
wheaton flour. Millions have not enough
cOrn-brcad. Does that look like over
production?