Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1883-11-22

from this well constructed sophis:ry, and
without the ability to successfully initiate
their superiors, affirm boldly that wherever
the railroad exists prices are high. We
this statement to the MontaAa
farmers. who until now have been without
a railroad, and who have never sold their
eggs for less than fifty cents a dozen or their
corn for less than dollar bushel. They
have been entertaining some fear out there.
that the advent of the railroad would cut
into their prices very materially, and we
confess that we have thought their fears
were well founded. BIT we told them quite
recently that while this would be the inevi-
table result of enjoying the luxury of a rail.
road they would find compensation in the
fact that what they were compelled to buy
would also be cheaper. B 4 perhaps we
had all better stop and thiuk the matter
qualified statement that the railroad always
increases prices. Ii this is true. there is no
knowing where the prices for Montana farm
products may 60 to now. Eggs are likely
TO be worth dollar dozen. and pumpkins
tive dollars apiece. Under the statement of
the Wisconsin man, il the Montana farmer
cold get along without buying anything he
would soon be bigger man than old Van
derbilt. But there is the rub. He must buy
as we'll as sell; and in his anxiety to earn
his pass, the Wisconsin genius has put no
limit TO the articles which the railroad will
raise the price of, He simply says thar it
always increases prices. So the Montana
farmer who has been .oncelled to pay forty
forty dollars tor an inferior coat may now
have to pay eighty. 1t is a nip and tuck
race between prices according to this, and
if that is 80 the farmer can conclude at once
that the town will get the best OF the coun-
try, and he had better emigrate where the
railroad has not vet made its appearance.
The claim is a silly one, which when made
without any qualification would nauseate
even railroad man. Fifty years ago we
had in the West but a small population, and
the land was abundant, 40 that nearly every
This was largely done in Chicago forty
wears ago. The railroad came and made
Chicago possible and a fact, but it cut no
more conspicuous figure in doing this than
our farms have. AS Chicago. and other
cities grew. and the East became less self
sustaining, the demand for farm products
increased. and with an increased demand
came an increase of prices. But things are
different now. The energy of the people is
displayed by their pushing westward, " hith-
er they go and open up the country and
build cities years and years before the rail
road comes. The towns and cities in Mon
tana are an illustration OF this. And when
the railroad pushes into these sections it
lowers the price OF farm products, precisely
as our Montana friends think it will, Tor it
will largely increase the number of farmers.
But the farmer will be able to obtain what
he buys cheaper, and will be able to dispose
OF larger amount of products. Instead of
raising prices to-day, the railroad lowers
them. There is one exception which is fire.
quently harped upon by the menOpoly-bound
press. Land is made salable, and therefore
brings better prices. But that is no advan-
tage to the settled practical farmer 1T is a
disadvantage. IL frequently becomes so ex-
tremely valuable that it cannot be used for
farming purposes, A farm in the center OF
Chicago would not produce enough to pay
the taxes on it. Yet the land would not
produce bushel more grain to the acre
than would land in Dakota. The railroad
has come with its disadvantages as well as
its advantages. Every intelligent man is
willing to accord it tull credit for what it
has done. We could not now get along
without it, and tit is properly managed the
vast benefits that will confer upon the farm
er, will sink its attending evils out OF sight
But, as an intelligent tarmer said 10 us last
week. at present it is a mighty expensive
convenience to the farming community, and
must continue to be as long as it is permit
ted to charge upon the principles OF what
the raffic will bear instead of what the sew
ice is worth. Its management upon this
latter principle is all that the public requires
and opposition to this requirement by the
railroads puts them in anything but an en-,
viable light. 1t s position that proclaim:
them self-confessed high-handed robbers. L
man approaches farmer and offers his
services, and the farmer tells him he will
pay him what his services are worth, the