New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-08
TO THE FARMERS OF AMERICA
AN EMPHATIC ADDRESS.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FARMERS
LETTERS TO THE TRIBUNE.

AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PRACTICAL
AGRICULTURfST5 IN FAVOR OF PROTECTION
TO WOOL AND ALL FARM PRODUCTS.
To the Farmers Of The United States:
The committee selected to consider and report
upon several thousand letters received by The
NEw-YoKK TnIBUSEfrom individual farmers agrt
cultural societies. clubs and Oranges regarding tho
influence Of the tariff upon agricultural industry
and the changes in tariff desired by farmers, find
in this correspondence an opportunity never before
presented, and one which they believe the farmers
of the United States will not neglect, TO promote
legislation Of the highest importance to farming
interests. At no convention yet assembled have
many farmers spoken for themselves. At no
gathering has the voice OF so many through their
various organizations, expressed their will regard
ing the duties on imports which affect their in
dus'ry. The voice Of thousands may now become
the voice of millions, II farmers throughout the
country give to the suggestions made in these
letters the consideration and the support which We
believe they merit
The great majority of these letters express tho
conviction that the tariff, notwithstanding de>
fects and omissions, has contributed powerfully to
the growth and welfare Of agriculture. Few are
hostile or Indifferent. An overwhelming majority
Of the writer's realize that the protective system.
by building up other industries, has enormously
enlarged the demand for agricultural products
While increasing the demand, IL has greatly
diminished the number of those who would other
wise have been forced, for lack of other employ
ment, to crowd into agriculture and to compete
with each other in supplying that demand. IL has
helped to bring to this country nine million imm-
grants since its adoption, and during the past
fifteen years not one In twelve Of them have
been farmers farm laborcrs or shepherds; out OF
5000 0O0 more than $500. 900 have been of other
occupations. 1t has especially aided the develop
ment of manufactures and mining near the farms
so that the safest and most profitable of all
markets for farm products has been enlarged. Thus
in the ten great farming States OF the West the
increase in acres Of improved land in farms from
1860 to 1880 was $50 per cent. growth SO
remarkable could not have occurred without dis
aser to farmers. indeed it would have been utterly
impossible, if there had not been far more rapid
growth Of other branches Of industry For dur
ing the same years, and in the same great farming
States the hands employed in manufactures in
creased 25l per cent the wages paid to them in
creased 303 per cent, and the materials used in
manufactures bought mainly from farms increased
$50 per cent. The wages which manufacturing
hands in these States had to spend, mainly in buy
ing farm products, averaged 81 10 for each i'm
proved acre In Is60 and had risen to 81 II for
each improved acre in 1880. The value Of materi-
ais purchased for manufacture in these States,
mainly from farms. averaged 81 OF for each i'm
proved acre in farms Of those States in 1860, but
had risen to 81 SO for each improved acre in farms
In 1880. The following tables, prepared from
census reports. verify these statements: