Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-02-20
The "Good Time" and Its Dangers.

The time for which farmers have been
waiting, has come at last. With the
largest crop Of wheat ever gathered in
the country, there has been Q strong
advance upon last winters prices, due
to the unprecedented failure in western
Europe. Beeves are steadily rising in
value, vith little prospect of decline
fat hogs have made n heavy advance
butter, cheese. wool, cotton. all are in
sclive demand at decidedly higher
Rates 4 cent per pound in the gross
OF hogs means a gain OF $50, 600 600 on
the 900 900, go pounds which will
represent the organized pork packing
supply and ther- will be saved for
farmer ami villagers home use about
tWo thirds A. much more. Tue increase
IL tie value Of heef Is equivalent to at
lsasi 50 on OO Oh the years return,
II prices should be susta ned. An i'm
proVrneut OF tIree cents per pound in
c1ee-t, on a wear MAKE, would repre-
seLi fully SlU Oh. 900, and SIX cents on
butter, a gain OF more than $50 zoo. 900.
\ gain Of sl0 per bale would give 10
the Southern cotton growers an equal
advance. 50 We might go through the
list OF productions, and show that AL
average advance Of not much more than
ten per cent would be equal to $780,
DuU, UUl. But We should remem Der
that these producers are about. LAlf of
tile people, using more than half OF this
production Tor themselves aud for their
domestic animals, most Of their hay and
corn to make the meat, part only OF
which they can spare for others, and
other crops Ia a similar compound con-
sumption. Sull the increased gains
that actually tOucE the palms OF the
fortunate husbandmen, will be hand
some. and should prove satisfactory, and
inspire thanktulnt IS to Him from whom
We have seed-time and harvest.
AID right here is place for sugges-
ton that has already entered the mind
Of many thoughtful farmer" Make
hay while the sun shines" Ii mort
gage can be raised, lift it; if small
debts have accumulated, pay them if
u surplus can be laid aside for improve
ment, or for the hel p of those less ia
vored. act the part vi the wise steward,
or of the Good Samaritan. Even little
economy, if there be need of it, may be
practiced to swell the saving that is
made 80 easily. Your good fortune is
we'll advertised strangers are coming
to share it. What if there should soon
be much larger surplus, and u much
smaller foreign demand 1.-THE latter re-
suit is sure to Gomez, with debts un-
paid, aud interest accommodating day
and night and Sundays, and vision of
the sheriff in the near distance 1t is
probable that while many will be thus
wise, a large class may spend two dol
lars for every one made by advance in
prices-running into varied extrava-
gance, getting in debt in am bitious un-
dertakings, and possibly acting the part
of lambs among the wolves of some
which is sure to end in ruin. Much of
the misfortune of all classes comes from
inability to hold level head in sea-
son Of sudden prosperity. And it would
be we'll for farmers, and all others, to
remember that this business "boom !"
is quite as big as it ought to be for its
age that danger Of bursting by and
by is not impossible that it may come
much sooner than would be convenient,
with sequel Of two, three, or five
years more of depression and distrust,
when the frightened rich would live on
a moiety of their income, and the poor
starve for want of work, and at the end
mortgages BE- foreclosed, and the rich
find themselves richer, the poor poorer.
Farmers, 60 steady! and prove, as
usual, the balance Wheel Of the worlds
industrial machine.-N. Y. Tribune.