The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-02-21
a Case in Point,

Toledo Blade.
In the failure Of Congress to do any
thing for the relief Of the farmers Of
the West from the exactions of the
railroads, there seems to be but one
course open. It IS, for the Western
people to turn their attention to 9th
er lines Of industry, as we'll as agri-
culture; to create home market for
their products, instead of seeking an
uncertain one in Europe or the East.
Let Iowa, for instance, open up the
coal deposits that underlie a great por-
ton Of the state; let every section
manufacture the machinery that is
needed i'll agriculture and the arts; lei
mills be erected, and the wheat be
turned into flour, which can be ship
ped instead of the grain; the corn be
fed to hogs, slaughter them and ship
the packed pork; turn part of the corn
into starch and other products; let the
farmers raise more sheep, and build
wooden mills to manufacture the wool
into cloth; in every way possible let
the policy be pursued Of turning the
crude products into manufactured
ones, which can be largely disposed Of
within their own borders, and the sur
plus sent elsewhere to find a market,
rather than to confine their efforts to
the one line of agriculture. Such a
policy will cause manufacturing vii
lagos TO spring up in every section Of
every state, who will afford a consump-
tive market for the farmers aud the
latter, in turn furnish a market for
the products of the industrial skill OF
the manufacturing population. Why
should wool grown in sight Of the
Rocky mountains 60 to Massachusetts
to ba made into cloth, and that cloth
20 back to the same lacality to find a
market? Why should the hides Of
cattle reared on Western plains 20 to
the East to be tanned and made into
shoes, aud harness, and other articles,
when this could as well be manufac-
tured in the West?
Ohio is a case in point. A quarter
Of a century ago, she was almost en-
tirely an agricultural state. Now there
is not a town Of the hundreds within
her borders that is not the seat OF
thriving mechanical industries, Col
umbus, Youngstown, Evansville
Springfield, Dayton, and dozens Of
others, are shining examples among
her smaller cities Of the sound policy Of
diversified industries. Cleveland, the
second city in the state has grown en-
ormousIy since she became a manu-
featuring point instead Of a mere com.
mercial center Toledo is entering
upon the same successful line. The
population of the state has increased
rapidly, but the increase in wealth ano
prosperity has been still greater. Ey.
cry city, town and village that has &
manufacturing population has a wide
belt of country around it whose farm
ers find it far more profitable to de
vote themselves to market gardening
fruit raising, dairying, poultry raising
etc, TO supply the demands Of the
market at their doors, than to raise
wheat and corn, hogs and cattle, to b
sent to the seaboard in quest Of mar
ket The railroads have no chance K
take their profits TO haul their pre-
duets TO a market Their market is at
their doors. and it is a steady one, it:
fluctuations not depending upon a fay.
orable or unfayorable crop in Europe
nor on the chances Of peace or war il
foreign lands. That country is on the
soundest basis which raises its own
food, and manufactures to supply It's
own markets The same rule IS of eq-
ual application 10 a state, or to any
section of state 1t is the plan that
will render our Western friends indie
pendent TO a great degree, Of the ex-
actions Of the railways, and it is the
policy they must adopt if they wish tc
establish their prosperity on sound
basis.