The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1884-02-29
DIVERSIFIED FARMING

VI iiOAlh bdhOld nave De-
come SO lncensed at what they deemed
IAe eAtortlon of railroads. elevator
men ana mlller's association, that
they sent, at the invitation of the lat
ter, a committee of fourteen of their
most reliable citizens to investigate
tlle charges OF which they complain.
Alter thorough inquiry into all the
alleged abuses at Minneapolis and
elsewhere, they report back to their
larmer friends, that most of the
| grievances are without foundation
ana III nearly all cases they find the
railroad lManitoba) and the associa-
ton (mlllersl doing all they can for
the benefit of the farmer. 4 sub
! committee, appointed by them to in
! Nestlgate rates, makes the following
useful suggestion IN regard to diver
slled farming, which, in turn is heart
| lily endorsed by the committee of the
whole.
| In this connection it may not be
| out OF place for this committee on
rates to bring before the farmers the
necessity OF diversified farming. not
! only us matter of profit, but also as
being one way of remedylng the diff
Guilty. Natdre never intended ours to
be aught else than an agricultural dis
/ trlet, or coal and IRON ore would have
/ been placed convenient for use. Be-
! lng then an agricultural country, let
US take fun advantage of its oppor-
| tunities, and not devote all our time,
| energy and care to- raising wheat
alone. In doing SO we are neglectlng
! valuable interests and running a Serl-
| ous risk of financial disaster should a
! failure OF crops ever occur. When
| We have absolutely nothing but wheat
to ship, the railroad company is
lrushed with traffic for few months
! i'll the fall and early winter and Tor
the rest Of the year has 4ttle to do.
| They must, therefore, make the rates
sufficiently high III order To pay Them
| for keeping the road open LII slack as
/ We'll rs busy seasons, ana tor the eN-
ira hauling of tfeir cars as previously
explained If farmers once com
mtnctd raising stock, there would
soon be lots to ship oHt, and the trailic
he more generally eqnallzed, conse-
qnentiy lower tariff might De eH-
ilected. Less machinery would ne
needed. the farm made more sei1-pio-
daeiue, and railway rates saved IN
each item. This is but one view Of
il. the other being the more import
AMI one that the ldrnet would hoi pc
wholly relying on one source Tor his
income. but should that fail. he Shas
then something left to 1all BACK on
sufficient to enable lin to tide over
the difficulty irrespective OF elevator
GRADES, or bad crops. Respectfully
Submitted. +. .. FAILkNEK,
W. y. Roach,
.IoHN DE GROAT.
We are convinced that the suggeS-
ions of the rate committee as 70 a.
yersl6ed farming are tlmely-peieH-
clal not only to the farming interests
bnt to the commercial AS well. De-
nana.,.ra i ALWAYS selvlle. Practl-
r,lly. wheat IS our only ciop. 1t
ehanld moi BE 50. The time has come
IN =our development when we should
raise eur own stock, make oar oN
bu,ter. and instead Of importing poui-
try and eggs. export Tie same. le mas
hae,, demonstrated that our grasses
are as nutritious and strengthening
as any: that hay liatlNe TO the sol ean
ha raised and hushanded at as low
tirnre is in any part Of this country.
W7hy therefore. should We lmpor, our
heel. mutton pork. butter. eggs ana
nanlt,y longer, when they can lie
i,.alneed as cheap AS anywhere Il. the
n,ted states. Why not diversity
an, farming! :" he gods hep those
ma h.ln themselves. We can nd
) remedy for present abuses by beng
more independent. THIS lndepel'.-
anea will come from varied pursuits
,nl from more careful and economl-
cal hnsbandrv. If the Red river VAL.
IT, Win its marNelously productive
.ni is to maintain It's reputation Is
~ nlace Tor industrious ana anpl-
ti.ns men. it must come, III tie opih-
-, nf your committee. through inter
',,.a,ra directed to diversified iarnl-
Ing.