Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-06


ube, where the grain crops are saidto
be especially fine this year: Our wheat
crop, az nearly IS can be made out now,
is some, 50 100000 OF bushels less than
the crop OF last sear; and the cern crop
Of the country will probably 4
shortage OF 800, OO1,0 900 Of bushels Under
these circumstances it is not seen now
we a export much OF either q give
our own people the bread they need.
GAMBLING In FARM PRODUCTS.
A New York correspondent recently
had q lengthy interview with oV
nor Seymour on agricultural suo)ects;
The Governor owns and hves on = oVo
acre farm, three miles north oi Itl'a;
but he does not attempt 10 Operate IT,
leaving that part Of the business LOT
tenant. He has been quite i'll nearly all
winter, but is mach improved IN health
inst now. He takes a live interest III
all that is going on around him, and de-
votes a very considerable part OF his
time to studying the needs OF
the producing classes, and more
particularly that element which IS
engaged in agricultural pursuits. 1t
ia 3 source OF pleasure 10 him 10 watch
the gradual development oil the great IN
dustrv, and he keeps pace with the
times on Questions pertaining TO that
department Of production. Nothing
pleases him more than the diffusion OF
intelligence among the farming classes;
and il is his hope that ere long the pro-
ducers OF grain and cotton will adopt the
system of trading directly with the ex-
porters or home consumers, that is in
vogue in the dairy fields OF New York.
He thinks the establishment OF local
boards OF trade in every small town or
grsin-raising neighborhooa would prove
Of inestimable value, and he wants tie
time to come when the farmers will sell
their products in the season, and not
hold on.
"The spirit OF gambling" he said, Vi.
the greatest evil our farmers have to
contend with. Take hops, for instance.
IL q. is an extreme case. More men
have been ruined by holding their hops
for higher prices, when they could have
sold them at thirty cents a pound, than
have been hurt 10y selling in season
when the market ruled ut ten cents per
pound. So with wheat. Farmers are
always holding out for higher prices.
This popularity seems TO be confined TO
the native or American farmers; that is
the reason why they are put al disadvan-
taye when they have to compete with
German and other foreign born farmers,
who sell whenever they can realize a
fair profit. 1t is astonishing to see how
rapidly the best land is falling into the
hands OF foreign-born farmers. In New
York the Irish are becoming very large
owners OF farm lands, and their posses
sions are increasing. Not until the
American farmer rids himself OF the
gambling mania can he compete on
terms OF equality with his neighbors
abroad. II | ever deliver another sgri'
cultural lecture, it will be on the Farm
er as a gambler "-imericdn CUlirat0r.
Gov. S~gYMoUR's views are generally
characterised by great wisdom and orig
inality when dealing with such ques-
tions as considered in the above quota
ton.
But the new role in which he places
the iarmer-that Of a grain gambler
certainly does not apply to him in this
latitude, however well it may fit him in
the Est.
In our view the general public would
be benefited if tie gambling in grain
were transmitted from the middlemen,
who seem to us to have a monopoly OF
the business, to the hands OF the farmer.
Ii is stated that about Ols-hdlf the Thadt
~ The JnitSd States Was sold At Chicago
during tie last ten dnys OF .lugGt. 1t was
not sold BY the farmers, and in fact the
greater part OF what was sold is still in
the hands OF the farmers. But the
pr;ce OF the wheat in the hands OF the
farmers was discounted in advance Of
it's changing hands.
1t was sold by men who had no hand
in raising it; who do not own a foot of
farm land; who did not turn a furrow;
who never scattered a seed; yet who. in
the end, pocket the principal part OF
the profit that comes from the raising.
We prefer that the farmer, rather than
the men who stand between the farmer
and the consumer, should reap the
profit which comes from shrewd mauip
ulations. Both the onsumer and the
farmer would be profitcd by such a
change.
1t is the operations OF the middle men
which makes the profits to the farmer
light, and living dear to the consumer.
We see its effect not only in the matter
OF grain, but in all kinds OF farm pro.
duce. Every year it is making the
prices OF marketing more expensive.
In this market, during the present sea.
son, the prices Of all kinds OF produce
have rated nearly fifty per cent.
higher than last season, and it has cos
the community nearly that much more
to live, not because there was 90 per
cent. less produced, or that the products
OF the season cost 50 per cent. more to
the farmer, but simply because the mid
die men had a more complete control OF
the market and were more bold in as
serting their advantage.
When consumers can buy OF first
hands the farmers-they can afford to
pay q good living profit, and still get
their produce % per cent. cheaper than
under the system Of gambling to which
they now pay tribute. IfGov. SEYMOUR
will inaugurate some system by which
this can be made practicable he will de-
serve the thanks of all classes except
that one which lives by its wits rather
than by the labor of its hands.
BRApSrREEr's report on the CONNER.
cial failures OF the United States, so far
in 1881, announces 1907 during the past
eight months, against 1883 for the like
period in 1890, and 1858 in 1879. The
,o.al ao.ral oOsa1s Tor Tho mast a,ob.