The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-12-24
QI'e Sentinel.
Thursday, Dec. a.. 1885.
Crop Values and Low Prices

Crop Values and Low Prices
The crop reports Of the Depart
ment of Agriculture show that WI
are in an era of low prices, and
that, while the farmers have little
causessto complain of their crops
the prees, with few exceptions,
have been growing lower. There
is reason, however, for believing
that they have finally reached the
very lowest limits. American
wheat and corn have got so cheap
that European countries have
abandoned all idea of competit-
ion. and are now devlsing plans in
the way of "protection to home
industry," TO keep out the Ameri-
can product. which is running
their own farmers. In the mat
ter OF wheat, not 4 little of the
present depression is the result of
the Vaccinations OF the specula-
tors and others who, taking ad-
vantage Of the fact that Europe
needed the American product,
forced it up to an excessive price,
induced the cultivation of the cer-
eals in the colonies, where labor
is cheap, and brought new com
pehtors into the field that would
never have appeared, never have
begun the cultivation of this pro-
duct but for our own shortsighted
policy. The price of wheat on
the farm fell from 81 cents in Dec
ember. 1883, to IS cents in 1884: |
There has been some advance
since, and the price is now placed
at III cents, but this is still far |
below the average of previous
years. The farm value of wheat
last year was IS per cent. Lower
than for the ten years ending in
1879. The cereal is cheapest in
Nebraska, bringing only 81 cents
there, at which price it barely re-
pays the cost of cultivation. In
Massachusetts,, on the other hand,
it is 81 25, showing the cost of
transportation. The great prob
lem of the country, therefore, is
to secure reduction in the trans
portation rates, which will result ;
in an improvement of the price :
on the farm.
With wheat there has been an +
improvement of nearly all the
other cereals over last year save
corn. Corn values are excep-
tionally low, the average price i
obtained being 33 cents, against +
36 last year, and Al cents for the !
previous five years. b
Mr.. Edward Atkinson, of Bos- I
ton, in recent publication dis v
;usses the fall in prices. He h
holds the lowering of the prices |,
If all food products is the most a
fact in the history of t;
his generation. Vast areas of
erritory have been opened to o
agriculture. Invention has been u
'pplied to the production of every L
'ariety machinery by which ag- it
.icul,ural products may be more h
'asily and more profitably raised. c,
he preservation of food by arti- il
icial means has been compassed te
While all the appliances oftrans- Sc
'ortation have been revolutiou- a.
zed. Mr.. Atkinson illustration az
5 to the point: ''In 1850 the "
,reater part of the wheat now
in Europe could not VI
ave been moved $50 miles with ".
'ut exhausting its value; now IL
wheat is moved half The way w
ound the world at fraction of al
S value, and the equivalent of ce
ne mans labor for one year on in
ne far plains of Dakota is wheat 4.
nough 10 supply one thousand ci
nth bread" Could such a re- .,
oiution as this In the production at
f that which is the chief cost of hi
ife be unaccompanied by a re- w
luction in the price of all COM NJ
nodities which labor createsg o.
he same is true ofclo;hins. I'm Eo
he conversion of cotton and wool ii,
nto fabrics, it can readily be ks
roved that one factory operative Y,
an do four lines the work which 81
ne corresponding operative ac
ould accomplish between the -
ears O! 1910 and 1850" In every NJ
her branch of Industry. like o;
lbor- saving aud labor economic m
lg transformations have taken -,
lace. "Pro:luclive power of Un- TT
e Sam" says Mr.. Atkinson in A
lnming up, considered "a a In
mere to individual, Is at least ~:
bubble in 1885 what it was in s.r
1880" sa,
sal
We ere glad to learn that DR.. in:
agrauler has been appointed ceI
at Somerset. The ap- Sc,