The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-02-13
Agricultural Decline in Pennsyl.
Vania.

Agricultural Decline in Pennsyl.
vania.
If the business of farming could sue
coed anywhere in the old thirteen States it
ought to succeed in the great central and
fertile State of Pennsylvania 1t is there
also that the value of protection in giving
profitable markets to the farmer can be
practically demonstrated if anywhere-of
markets, too, be it understood, not con-
fined to the populous manufacturing city
of Philadelphia, but scattered all over
the State, where mines and factories,
FORCES and rolling mills abound. New
England has larger multitude of mills
and factories and small manufacturing
industries, but it's climate is harsh and
It's soil for the most part cold, stony and
difficult of tillsge. 1t has, therefore, to
draw large part of its supplies from the
West. 1t is not so with respect to Penn
sylvania, where the soil is good, the farm
ers Industrious and thrifty, and where
mining and the great centres of the steel
and iron industries offer markets for farm
products at easily accessible points
throughout the State. And yet, with
these Wanted domestic markets for agri-
cultural produce, ''the people are leaving
their farms, improved land is seeking
purchasers at a sacrifice, and all values
relating to agricultural property have
declined, even in the fairest farming sec
tions." The Philadelphia Record, in dis.
cussing this subject, cites the case OF
Bucks county, zone OF the most fertile
and favorably conditioned sections Of the
State. The northern half was originally
settled by Pennsylvania Dutch" the
southern half, and much the richest, by
English Quakers and Presbyterians, all
industrious and frugal people. The
Dutch, contend with little and rigidly
economical, have got along and are still
getting along fairly we'll The English
Quakera and Presbyterians, more gener-
Gus hvers, have fallen behind hand.
Many OF them have moved away and the
Dutch have taken their places and are
making "some sort OF a living" out of the
abandoned farms. Yet, even with Ger
man thrift and industry, and markets
close at hand, farm values have fallen
generally one-third, often one half, in the
last thirty years, and sheriffs' sales Of
large old farms are frequent" This con.
ditlon of things led to several conferences
among the Bucks county farmers during
the past winter The principal question
discussed was in what way they could
meet Western competition. With the
West keeping down prices they derive nc
benefit from the markets established BY
the protected Industries, from which they
have been taught to expect so much. The
result OF the deliberations Of the Buck,
county farmers, we are gIatfed to find
is in exact accordance with what the Sun
has repeatedly urged upon Maryland
farmers. This is to break up large farms
into smaller areas, and endeavor to bring
those areas up to the highest poin
OF iertllitY-tO make, In short, each acre
yield twofold or even threetold what /
does now. Here IS what the Bucks coun
ty farmers say Increased competition
can be met in no manner except by con
centration Of energy. Farmers must in
crease their capital, and they can do it il
no other way than by decreasing the siz
OF their farms A farmer must put hi
money, his labor, his manure upon one
half or one.iourth the acreage Of his fore
fathers if he would reap the same tradi
bAOu1l BlOnLos L he tbuubuGJ VI our dRIl
culture Is in that direction. We canno
misunderstand the logic of the facts abov
stated. We cannot deny that big farm
are selling in Bucks county at halt price
and we cannot be mistaken in saying tina
the reason for this il because they are no
paying Investments. Neither can vi
deny that small farms and lots are every
where selling for prices nearer their for
mer vslues.' We have here, in a shor
compass the whole philosophy Of extensiv
farming. If we can beat the West by in
creasing the average yield Of our acre
even one third more than the averag
product of Western farms, with on
nearer markets and less cost of trauspor
tation, we can hold our own If we can
not do this we are fated to 90 to the wal
and farm values will continue to decline
Ball. Sun.