Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-03-05
The ssCood Time" and lts Dangers.
The time for which farmers ha,

1he time Tor winch farmers nave
been waiting, has come at last With
the largest cropof wheat ever gathered
in the country, there has been a strong
advance upon last Winters prices, due
to the unprecedented failure in west
ern Europe. Beeves are steadily ris-
ing in value, with little prospect of
decline; butter, cheese, wool, cotton, all
are in active demand at decidedly
higher rates. A cent per pound in
the gross of hogs means gain Of $780,
100000 on the 5000, 100000 pounds
which will represent the organized
pork-packing supply; and there will be
saved for farmers and villagers home
use about two-thirds as much more.
The increase in the value of beef is
equivalent to at least 100000 on
the years return, if prices should be
sustained. An improvement of three
cents per pound in cheese, OH years
make, would represent fully 10000
600, and six cents on butter, gain of
more than s5O,0OO,00o. A gain of
$40 per bale would give to the south
ern cotton growers an equal advance.
So We might 60 through the list Of
productions, and show that an average
advance on not much more than ten
per cent would be equal to $500, 00O,-
900. But we should remember that
these producers are about half of the
people, using more than half of this
production for themselves andfor their
domestic animals, most Of their hay
and corn to make their meat, part
only of which they can spare for others
and other crops in similar compound
consumption. Still the increased gains
that actually touch the palms of the
fortunate husbandmen, will he hand
some, and should prove satisfactory,
and inspire thankfulness to Him from
whom we have seedtime and harvest
And right here is place for "a sug-
gestion that has already entered the
mind of many n thoughtful farmer
"Makc hay while the sun shines If
q mortgage can be raised, lift it; if
small debts have accumulated, pay
them; il surplus can be laid aside
for improvement, or for the help Of
those less favored, act the part of the
wise steward, or of the good Samari-
tan. Even little economy, if there
be need Of it, may be practiced to
swell the saving that is made so easily.
Your good fortune is well advertised;
strangers are coming to share it. What
it there should soon be much larger
surplus, and much smaller foreign
demand, (the latter result is sure to
come, with debts unpaid, and interest
accumulating day and night and Sun
days, and vision of the sheriff in the
near distance. It is probable that
while many will be thus wise, large
class may spend two dollars for every
one made by advance in prices run
ming into varied extravaganza, getting
in debt in ambitious undertakings,
and possibly acting the part of lambs
among the wolves of some Wall street.
Beware of such a result, which is sure
to end IN ruin. Much of the misfor-
tune Of AZ classes comes from inability
to hold level head in season of sud
den prosperity. And it would oe well
for farmers and all others to remem-
Der that this business boom is quite as
big a. It ought to be for its age; that
danger OF bursting by and by is not
iupcpc;hla. HAT - ,no,, .o,.o ,..,..l
sooner than would be convenient, with
a sequel, Of two, three. or five years
moro of depression and distrust, when
the frightened rich would live OH
noiety Of their income, and the poor
starve for want Of work, and at the
end mortgages be foreclosed, and the
rich find themselves richer, and the
poor poorer. Farmers, so steady, and
prove, as usual, the balance wheel Of
the worlds industrial machine. ~.
y. Tribune.