Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-03-30
Kansas City Journal

Kansas City Journal
In the discussion of the agricultural
appropriation bill several interesting
facts were brought out. 1t appears
that congress has been more liberal
with the agricultural department than
usual. But the sum appropriated is
not so large as to indicate any great
extravaganza in faver of the farmers.
The estimates of all the departments
for the next fiscal year amount to $780,
49,, 5O7.65. Out of this sum, the esti.
mate for the department of agriculture
was $500, $3.50, but this sum was cut
down by the agricultural committee to
1885, $50. In view of the small appro-
priation in aid of agricultural affairs it
is well to look at the part the farmers
take in building up the resources of
this country. The census has not been
perfected, but sufficient information
has been furnished to indicate the rap
id advance which the farmers of this
country have been making. The su.
perintendent of the census of 1880
places the value of the farms in the
United States at $l0.196,89O,645: the
value of farm implements at $406.516.-
9O2; live stock, 81, 500, 49,, 1877: fertil-
izers purchased in 1879; $28, 597S56:
fences and the cost of building and re-
pairing in 1879, $77.765,7 1928 Here is
capital to the amount of $12 210,253.-
$40 invested by the farmers of this
country In their business. It is hardly
necessary to call attention to the
amount Of taxes which are annually
paid by the men who represent all this
property. We do not hesitate to say
that this nation receives more good
from the men engaged in agriculture
in this country than from any class of
people. All these benefits come from
the least expense and trouble. As a
general proposition it costs less to col
leet taxes of the farmer. He is not
only willing payer, but his property
is at all times in sight and subject to
the speedy action of the law. The far.
mers cause less trouble in congress
than any other class of people They
are never found in the halls of legisla-
ton attempting to buy legislation. 1t
IS not because they lack the means for
they could by combination support the
most powerful lobby. Because the ag.
rlculturists of the nation do not clamor
for more recognition they are general
ly put off with the smallest kind of al
lowance. Now let us see what the
farmers OF this country accomplished
in 1880 with the capital invested. Of
Indian corn they produced 1,717434,-
. | huo ho1 Of -
wheat they produced 498, SAG, 1868 BUSH
els valued at $474, POI $50. Taking
the grand total of all The principal
grains with potatoes, tobacco, hay and
cotton we have $2,131 ,051 $50 as the
value of their productions as shown
by the census of 1880. Now, what
became of this immense production?
The total value of the exports of the
United States for the year 1880 was
1928, 946, 1853; of this amount 1888, 01O,-
916 came from the products of agricult-
ure. 1t is thus demonstrated that
$3.50 per cent of all the exports from
this country came directly from the
farmers. In other words, the farm
ers of this country not only produced
enough to feed 100000 of our own
people, but had surplus amounting to
nearly 800 for every farmer and farm
laborer in the country. This surplus
Was sent abroad, and was the main
item going to pay the indebtedness of
the United States in foreign countries.
Now, a calling that is capable of doing
all these things should have power
full representation on the agricultural
committee in congress, bat as a matter
of fact, the farmers are in the minority
on that committee, and even the chair
man is, not farmer. When commit
tees are made up that have to deal
with other national interests they are
generally composed of men who are
representatives Of those interests.
Nine of the eleven members compos-
ing the committee on bank and cur
rency in the lower house are bankers.
The farmers, then, who make up the
most important branch of the national
industries, are placed in position in
congress where they are compelled to
submit their interests to the judgment
and decision of committee of men who
are interested in other callings. They
can only expect that the estimate of
their department will be cut down.
But this is not all. When the appro-
priation bills are discussed, we find
congress hampering the commissioner
of agriculture, by insisting that the
various members shall have certain
proportion of the seeds to distribute to
their constituents. This practice is
pernicious in every respect. If these
seeds are to be distributed at all, it
should be done under the direction of
the commissioner. It should be his
duty to find out to whom seeds should
be sent. He should know how to dis
tribute them with reference to soil and
climate. 1t has been the custom of
the congressman TO distribute part of the
seeds and the commissioners the balance.
The result has been that in many in
stances both allowances were sent to
the same party. Then again seeds