The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-06-05
Profits In Farming.

W + OUCH near the remark maze DV
those whose business it is to till the
soil that there is no profit in farming,
and more frequently since the great de-
probation in the prices of farm prod
ucts. With all due Difference to the
opinions of those engaged in the busi-
ness of farming and who ought to know
whereof they speak, we venture to sug-
gest that their views are not entirely
correct in this matter of profit, for on
further conversation with those who
make these complaints, we find that
they almost invariably seem to consider
that what is sold from the farm is
alone to be accounted as profit, while
no account is made of what goes to
the support of the family or what is in
vested in improvements on the farm.
In conversation with one of our we'll
TODD farmers recently, who is an indus
trious and thrifty man, and is probably
worth $4,000, he complained that he
was only able to save 5000 or $500 a
year from the products of his farm,
after paying his expenses. As con-
trast he mentioned q friend of his who
had about the same sum invested in
funds that he had in real estate, and he
seemed to consider the interest received
on those funds as so much net profit.
We inquired of him how much he
thought he would have left in cash,
after supporting his family, from the
sum his friend received as interest on
his fund? After moments hesitation,
during which ray of light seemed to
dawn upon his mind, he replied, "Not
anything; the sum of his receipts
would not pay my annual expenses,
and as q matter of fact he has nothing
left after supporting his own"
The case of our farmer friend is not
an isolated one; there are many farm
ers who seem to think that what the
family eat, drink and wear; that which
goes TO make them comfortable and re-
spectacle, because it is the product of
the farm and the result of their own
labor, should not be counted as profit,
but only the cash which is left after all
expenses are provided for. We submit
if this is treating the farm fairly? In
one of the cases we have cited the farm
is the capital, the stock in trade; in the
other the capital is invested in bonds,
and that which goes to the support of
the family is as much the product of
capital in the one case as in the other,
and in both cases should be considered
as so much profit on the capital invest
ed; and if the farmer, after supporting
his family and meeting all the years
expenses, has two or three hundred
dollars to dispose of as he pleases,
while the bondholder has nothing left,
it cannot be inferred that the farmers
profits are less than those of his friend.
But, says the objector, "the farmer is
obliged to work for his profits while
the bondholder lives at his ease" Does
this objection imply that it is disgrace
full. unhealthful or improbable to
labor? If so, nothing can be further
from the fact. 1t certainly is not dis
graceful to labor in q country where
every man is the architect of his own
fortune, and makes or mars his condi-
ton in life, and the experience of the
world from the earliest times goes to
prove that a reasonable amount of
manual labor is conducive to health;
and as to profits, where can any class
of men be found more prosperous and
Independent than the farmers of Amer
lea!
Before our farmers conclude that
there is no profit in farming, let them
look the ground carefully over, study
the question in all it's bearings, and,
our word for it, different conclusion
will be reached. Above all. thew
should not look to political parties for
redress of what they regard as their
grievances, for this will only end in
disappointment. The remedy, if RENE.
dy is needed, is in their own hands.
Let anyone having family, who has
been in the habit of raising everything
he consumes, but leave the farm and
move into the city, where every needed
supply must be purchased and paid for
in cash, and he will quickly be unde-
ceived respecting the profits of farming;
and, instead of envying those residents
of the city who have no farms and no
knowledge of farming, he will learn to
commiserate their condition. 1t is
often remarked that the food cooked in
q well-conducted farmhouse relishes
better than that found elsewhere. and
why shouldn't it? Where else can you
find such crisp vegetables, creamy
milk, golden butter and fresh eggsP
Not in the market, surely. In point of
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