The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-01-04
no FARNTERa.
S0ue Very Plain Talk by an
ltllnOtA Republican ON the
e11eattOm OF Tart1K-Flgurea
IN &C that Will Interest Fslrm.i

tl e that Will Interest Farm.
iPEoRI, Ill, December "a. 1887
AT meeting of the Ford County
Farmers Institute held here to-
ight, an able address was delivered
BY Senator i. d. Whiting of Tiskil-
wa, Bureau county The fact that
the Senator has for eighteen consec-
utiye years represented Republi-
can constituency in the General As
sembly lends significance to his ut
terances at this time Great cities, .
said he, shave ever been the admir-
alton of mankind. Their grandeur
still fascinates us. The uppermost
pride Of the people of the State of
Illinois is Chicago. And yet, histo-
rians tell US that great cities have
beer be very hotsbeds OF vice and
crime These characteristics still
attach to cities, and it is matter of
grave doubt whether cities alone
could perpetuate free institutions or
even civilization. 1t is fortunate,
therefore, that one-half our popula-
ton, and more, live in the rural dis
tricts with their village centers. It
is essential that this portion of our
people should enjoy prosperity
Otherwise cities will drain away
the more intelligent and prosperous
portion. Rural life ought to be at
tractive. Here nature displays all
her charms. Here art may come in
endless forms. Every breath of
country air is an inspiration to
health. To perpetuate the best re-
suits agriculture must be prosper
GUS; but, unfortunately, agricultural
prosperity is declining. Every far
mer before me, and every storekeep-
er who deals with farmers knows
that 1 speak the truth. The evil
fruits of this decline are already
made apparent The lands in my
county of Bureau have certainly de-
clined in value more than SIS an acre
within the last ten years. This loss,
if sustained in the same proportion
throughout the State, will aggre-
gate s200,0OO,0OO.
"The agriculture of New England,
except in special lines, is in ruins.
Go through the once splendid farm
districts of Western and Northern
New York, and you behold
INCREASING DILAPIDATIoN.
The farms of Jefferson andsSt. Law
rence.counties, which were once the
pride of New York State residents,
are not worth as much as they were
ten years ago. In the sweep across
the States from Kansas to Minneso-
ia one half of the farms are under
mortgage at high rates of interest.
Farmers of Illinois, 1 read in the
Chicago Tribune of to-day that one
half the farms in the State of Michi-
gan are under mortgages at high in
terest rates. If this condition of
depreciation continues, many of
these fine farms will pass into the
hands of absentees at the minimum
of cost, and they will thereafter be
run by sub-renters or owners who
will consent to make them
selves drudges to eke out a scanty
subsistence.
"This state of things is not good
for the community. Itis demanded
by public interest and patriotism
that it shall be speedily arrested
Some of the causes of this decline
may be seen and understood and
the cure to certain extent be indi-
Gated. / enumerate the following
as among the
CAUSES FOR THE DECLINE
of the prosperity of agriculture:
"1. The worldwide competition,
which reduces the price of our pro-
ducts to the lowest mark.
2. "The combination and trusts
into which most pursuits are enter
ing to enable them to save to them
selves profit measured by their own
greed.
SO. The extortion in charges and
other wrongs of transportation com
panies, grain elevators and stock
yards.
50. The authorizations, shams and
shoddies in things we buy at rates
which should procure the pure and
genuine articles.
as. The high and exceptional
rates of interest which farmers pay
upon their loans.
46. The unequal and unjust taxes
collected from land in proportion tc
corporate and personal property.
az. The protective tariff system
as it now prevails is benefit to