The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-04-24

" D~
This results either from the fact |
that our farmers have little or moth |
ing to sell or buy elsewhere. Prob |
ably both these reasons explain the
situation.
As a rule our farmers have little |
to sell which the town will buy.
Grain and stock are the chief pro-
ducts of the majority OF the farms.
Poultry, eggs and butter are the
products which find a market in
town. The greater part Of the grain
raised in the county is consumed on
the farm. The little surplus, here
and there, may find purchaser in
town. In fact, although the guam
tity Of grain sold in town is not
large, the demand is even greater, as
rule, than the supply offered from
the county. Many farmers are,
themselves, importers of grain. The
greater part of the -four which is
consumed by this community is i'm
ported from Pittsburg. Our farm
ers make no effort to compete with
the outside market in the matter of
grain, -four or any like products
which form the principal articles of
consumption in every community.
When they sell grain or other like
products of the farm it is only when
purchaser has sought them and
proposed good round price for the
exchange. There is nothing like
competition for the trade in grain
ever witnessed among our farmers.
From all appearances they are the
most indifferent spectators, and are
Just as well pleased if the town buys
it's grain in California or England, as
if they bought it in Monongalia
county.
This indifference on the part of
our farmers results, as we have init
mated, in part, from having little or
no grain to sell. There is scarcely
farmer in Monongalia county who
would be disconnected by having
all his surplus grain left on his
hands. He does not raise it to sell,
and it is only chance that there is
surplus after his stock have safely
, passed the winter season. He does
not, therefore, lose any sleep if there
is not ready demand for that which
remains.
, Moreover it is fact not disputed,
however views may differ as to the
cause, that our farmers would put
themselves to any inconvenience to
trade at their county seat, but would,
perhaps, seek foreign market, both
to buy and sell, if it were equally ac-
cessible.
1t is time that both the habit and
the feeling, which brings about this
condition of things were put aside
If we go into any other county seat
in this or other States we find the
| farming population making it the
+ center of trade for all they have tc
3 sell and buy. A mutual prosperity
is engendered by so doing. The
money that would otherwise &c
!, abroad is thus kept at home. Farm
ers, on the one hand, have conven
lent market, and the county seat i.
built up and improved in popula
ton and wealth, from which The
whole county shares a proportionat'
advantage. The county seat is al
' much part of the county as any
other part of the territory, and thu
prosperity or misfortune of the ont
cannot be separated from the other
Two or three things are suggested
from the foregoing considerations
which it may be profitable for on
. people to reflect upon. First, oul
county farmers will find it great,
= to their individual profit, as we'll al
. to the profit of both town and coun-
ty if they will at least, raise enough
grain to supply the home demand
. The money which goes out of thu
county to purchase grain is sufiicien
i of itself, to make our local business
dull, and in time to impoverish tn,
county, -
Secondly, since we have railroad
the county seat must of necessity be
come the shipping point for ever,
farmer who has anything to sell
Our town merchants ought to be
= come, naturally, the middle-men be
~ tween the farmer and the outsid
market. The town merchant cal
greatly encourage the farmer to be
y come producer on larger scale i
" he will put himself in communica
8 ton with the outside market and b
=" ready to offer the farmer price 70
his products. A business of thi
= kind, though having a small begin
ming, will gradually grow into profit
able proportions for both parties, be
side bringing the town and count.
8 into closer business relations.
= Lastly and chiefly, our farmer
u must sooner or later come to tn
u conclusion to increase the producing
&c capacity of their farms. They mus
/ raise more than they consume. I'm
T. til the time shall come when man
e ufactories are established in tn
county, we must depend on the prod
ucts of the ground to bring us none
4 to buy that which we cannot pre-
le duce.