The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-08-21

States to any section of this State from
one-quarter to one-half cent per pound.
This, taken in connection with the
fact that the Gulf States contain un-
cultivated land enough to produce
more than double the crop of 1887,
ought to convince any one that the
present system of cotton culture
in North Carolina will lead to
bankruptcy and ruin. The culture
of wheat is less profitable than
cotton. Our wheat this year cost on
an average one dollar per bushel; in
favorable years it cost US sixty to
seventy-ive cents per bushel. l am
informed by a responsible merchant
that he can have the very finest -four
from the Northwest laid down at any
depot in this State in car load lots at
four dollars per barrel. So it is with
oats, corr and hay; each delivered here
at or below the cost of production.
This presents a gloomy future; yet
we must meet it, and the only way I
can see to meet it is to do as the farm
ers of Old England and New England
have done" throw out q the land
that does not-pay for cultivation and
is unfit for pasturage, increase the
number of acres of pasture, and by
high manuring and thorough tillage
increase the production per acre of the
lands cultivated. Much of our land
is too nearly worn out to make pas
lures for horses and cattle, but will
support sheep; and sheep husbandry
can be made the salvation of our agri-
cultural interest. 1t is true we have
no home markets like the countries
referred to, but we are within twenty
four hours of New York City, and
a find a market there, and the great
cities that intervene. -
manufacturing State; those who may
live to see it, will have a home market
for a diversified agriculture. Until
then we must by thorough tillage and
high manuring increase our product
per acre of the land cultivated and
keep other lands in pasture.
Not only have the railroads and
telegraphs forced a change in u
agriculture, but they possess a power
of taxation and patronage dangerous
to the liberties of the people. They
have centralized our government and
trusts, combines, pools, monopolies,
are their offspring. A friend now
past three score years and ten related
to me the following incident:
"When | was a young mar | visited
Boston. [ carried a letter of intro
duction to Mayor Quincy. He re-
ceived me with that hospitality for
which he was distinguished, and in
vited me to a banquet given in honor
of the completion of the first forty
miles of railroad that entered Boston.
In his speech at the banquet, Mayor
Quincy said: We have completed
forty miles of railroad. If we
can build forty, we can build eighty;
if we car build eighty, we can build
two hundred; if we can build two
hundred, we can build one to the lakes;
if we can build one to the lakes, we
can build one to the Pacific Ocean.
Give me the transportation of a peo-
pie and I will control them"
Prophetic words. My friend has
lived to see the prophecy of this dis
tinguished Bostonian fulfilled. Pat
ronage, free transportation and money
can nominate any candidate for Office
higher than the Legislature, or falling
to nominate can defeat their opponent.
What department of the State or
National Government is free from the
faint of free transportation. or tele-
graphic franks ? "No man can serve
two masters" 1t is believed that
some who r elected as representa-
tives of the people are retained as at
torneys of the corporations. Senator
Beck, of Kentucky, introduced a reso-
ton. in the United States Senate for
bidding any Senator to act as attorney
for a railroad IN whach the government
aoas interested. It passed, but the
next day was reconsidered and de-
feated, thus giving the sanction of the
United States Senate to any of it's
members to act as an attorney for cor
porations, &c. It may be good for
the corporations, but it is bad for the
people. The motto of syndicates,
trusts, combines, pools and monopolies
is, emo legislation is good legislation"
Hence their desire to retain members
as attorneys to keep off legislation or
to shape it so as to render it harmless
to their interests. Our laws were
made for a past era, and we have
o NJ upon our statute books that
meet the era of steam and electricity.