Sharp County record., 1885-05-28
FARM LABOR.

Ia 1t Foley to Reduce Farming opera
tions Because oS the High Prlce ol
Labor Compared with the Prices OF
Produce?
1t has been said by some farmers the
present spring that, owing to the high
price of labor as compared with tne
prices received for farm produce, less
help will be employed than usual 10
how great an extent farming operations
will be curtailed remains to be seen. lt
is true that farm produce is command
ing low prices as compared with the
price of labor, but how much reduction
farmers can afford to make in their till
age, what they can afford to neglect, or
leave undone, is an open question. Inc
farmers land, teams, tools and brains
are his capital of investment, every por-
ton of which should be used for gam.
His greatest success can only be at
tanned by using his investment to its ut
most. 1t seems to me that II anything
is to be curtailed, it had better be IN
the direction Of unnecessary expenses
which are common to almost everybody.
This is an age of extravaganza, and
many are only too willing to follow the
leading of the age in this particular.
If farm produce is low in price, on
the other hand articles that the farmer
needs to buy are low. 1t is TACT, L
believe, that given amount of farm
produce will produce as many OF the
necessaries of family support as ever 1t
would, have heard it stated recently
that those articles that the farmer needs
to buy, as flour, sugar and clothing, are
thirty-fve per cent. cheaper now than
five years ago. Concerning the prices
of labor, while it is advantageous that
the necessaries of life are cheap, yet
that fact will not control wages which
are chiefly affected by the law OF sup
plv and demand. As to the supply OF
help, for twenty years there has not
been so many seeking employment
from place to place ''tO hire out, as
there has been during the present
spring. And why should it not be so
when there has not been during that
time so much depression in all kinds of
business. From this fact we reason
that wages for farm hands will be low
er, and in fact we know that they are
lowering.
But is not the fact that prices of farm
crops are low, a very good reason why
we should use greater eXertions and
more economy? 1t is better time to
engage in the production Of any staple
article of consumption when it is at ITS
lowest ebb, than when everything is on
the top wave of initiation. The inactv-
itv of the tobacco trade will no doubt
lessen the number Of acres OF tobacco
the coming season, but for this reason
| would not discontinue raising it. In
fact, | would be glad if every body but
myself would stop raising tobacco.
While | would not advise any one to
commence the cultivation OF the crop
who has not buildings and convenience'
all prepared, yet laying aside all ques-
tions as to whether it is morally right
OF wrong to raise tobacco, | do not see
what crop a farmer who has his build
ings erected for curing, can more
profitably cultivate for money crop.
While there does not seem to be a
prospect that anything connected with
farming operations will yield great
profit to the producer. yet on the other
hand | can not see why he may not ex-
pecs to receive fair by remunerative re-
turns for well directed labor, and fair
percentage in return for his investment.
Instead of trying to lessen our products
to correspond with the demand, we
should try to cultivate as much and as
well as possible. A. Smith, Il"
Springfield (MaSS.J Republican.