Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
Friday. December II, 1856.
A WORD TO FARMERS.

As this is Institute week it is but
right and proper that The Democrat
should touch upon question which
directly affects the welfare of the
farmer. The object and aim Of the
Institute is to promote the science of
agriculture, and to spread abroad a
more general knowledge in regard to
the latest and best methods employed
by the most successful and wide-awake
followers Of this very important and
honorable pursuit. The efforts of
superintendent Morrison and his CO.
workers to raise farming in Wisconsin
10 a still higher degree Of excellence, is
deserving of the highest commenda-
ton: and The Democrat bids them a
hearty God speed There is noble
army Of them at work throughout the
country, however, and their ground is
pretty well cultivated. We will therefore
ifilftll NUN iiiliS ~ NJii Il l'AilN
anything to the theory and practice of
husbandry; but will strive to direct the
attention of our readers to a subject
which is al important to the farmers
Of America; but one which 50 far, we
are sorry to say, has not received from
them the consideration il deserves.
It must be admitted that it is an
easier matter for the American farmer
10 raise an abundant crop than it is for
him to find good market for the sur
plus of the crop which he raises The
prim" Importance. That man does
not live by bread alone is self evident,
even if his spiritual wants are not
taken into consideration. From the
surplus product of the farm the numer-
Gus wants of the farmer and his house
hold are supplied; and it is due To the
farmer that there should be as little
hlndrance rs possible to the exchange
Of commodities produced upon the
farm for the commodities which the
farmers consume. our present laws
greatly burden and restrict this cX-
change. to the farmers great injury;
and therein exists wrong that should
bc rightcd without delay. Here we
refer to a question which is political
as well as economical; but III no party
spirit, let it be understood as neither
Of the two great parties can be held
blamelcss for the enactment of that
stupcndous piece OF class legislation
which constitutes the present Infamous
American tariff. The policy of the
government has been To- turn its back
upon agriculture, the great industry
which has contributed more to the
nations wealth and prosperity than
I'LL other industries combined, and to
unduly tOndlc and pet certain SO-Called
infant industries; and the effect has
been not only detrimental to agri-
rculture but also to many other in
dustrirs which under policy of even
handed Justice would all along have been
self sustaining. In no particular has
the neglect of agriculture been ST. fla
grant Us i'll the matter of foreign mar
kets While improvements in ship
building has rcyolutioni2cd shipping
and reduced the cost of ocean freightS,
American farm products are not as
we'll marketed as they were Il quarter
Of Il century ago, and the ruling prices
at New York are far below what they
were in 1859 and 1860 The great bulk
of the surplus of American farm pro
ducts Is sent in foreign vessels to Liver
pool, and sold to foreign merchants.
and thcuce shipped To- more advanta-
tagcous markets. The American farm
or receives only the low price ruling at
Liverpool with frcights, margins. and
the costs of corners deducted; while
the foreign merchant disposcS of his
products Ill markets where they bring
fancy prices. To such an extent is
this one sided traffic carried On that
even the markets of Suuth America are
supplied with European farm pro-
duets. OF American products which has
passed through the hands of European
merchants We have at hand no re-
cent data from which to obtain specific
information upon this point; but as
the condition Of our foreign trade has
grown worse rather than improved
during recent years it is ut least fair to
refer to consular reports published
in February 1888. From these reports
we find that American products were
sold At Liverpool in 1882, as follows: /
Cotton to the value of 500, 900.027: /
wheat, S3}.6TS,S52 corn. $9,993, SOL |
wheat meal and flour, $9,44l.42S; ba- /
con and hams, $3l,S63, 615; cheese, $40. !
60O,6it; lard, S6,99i,Sl6; and fresh
beet, S5,116,519. To say the least this
is rather Wholesale way Of diSpoSlng
Of agricultural products. Is it not
most astonishing to find in the same
volume which contains these tremen-
douS figures the assertion Of Consul
smith, of Carthagena, that the markets
of Colombia are largely supplied with
IitSAtANlN AA'AiA AshiN NliANAt stIN
named butter, cheese, hams, flour and
cotton goods? To shoV how the mar
ketS Of Colombia are controlled by
European merchants. Mr.. Smith cites
the following case:
:" received a small consignment of
line Kentucky Sugar-curcd hams, the
smallest ham of the lot weighing Is
pounds. In vain did try 10 sell them
ut cost price, but the fact that they
We're American prevented the sale.
| turned them over to merchant in
the town and told him TO dispose of
them ri any price rather than have
them spoil. What was my surprise
when few days after he told me that
he had sold them all at Ii cents per
pound the price of the English article
lie explained he took oil all the wrap
pings. placed the hams in smoke
house for few hours, and sold them
rs English hams, stating TO the buyers
that il was new style cut. Since
then, he informed me, he has had sew
eral calls for the new style cut English
hams"
1t should go without saving that
this deplorable condition of affairs
comes from the short-sighted policy of