The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-03-19
[Cor. THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
TALKS BY AN OLD FOGY.
No. 3.

Your editorial entitled 1.-The FER
tilizer Tax" was badly needed and to
the point. The farmers need stirring
up on this subject. 1t might be we'll
to discuss the ~propriety of taxing the
farmer directly for the purpose.
Direct taxes in the form Of internal
revenue on brandy and tobacco has
been denounced on the hustings, and
i am sure this direct farmers tax is
equally Ubiquitous. In its present form
is it Just ? Does it not favor monopo-
hes? [ know it favors the strong and
is oppressive to the weak. If my
premises are correct the fertilizer tax
must be unjust.
Suppose you and |, reader desire to
manufacture fertilizers from bones,
adding fish scrap to supply ammonia.
Our capital being limited we could
only place a small quantity on the
market-say 100 tons yearly. We
would have to add to the selling
price $500 per ton to. pay the direct
tax; and however honorably our goods
were made, however beneficial to the
soil, we could not compete with large
dealers or manufacturers. The manu-
fcturer who places 5000 tons of
guano per year in this State would
only have to add 10 cts. per ton to
pay his direct tax. Here is inequality.
Unjust taxation is always oppressive.
To-day the law makes the poor
struggling manufacturer, who ought
to be aided-at least encouraged-pay
n tax of $500 on each ton, while the
rich corporation only pays 10 cents
per ton.
This may be a good way to build up
small factories all over the eastern and
central portions of the State where
guanos are so largely used; but if it
is we are so obtuse that we cannot
zee it.
Before March, 1879, all dealers sell
ing guanos in this State had to pay a
tax of SO cts. per ton in addition to the
privilege or direct tax. Would not a
tax of SO cents per ton be ample now?
By referring to the 10th annual re-
port North Carolina Agricultural Elk
pertinent Station, page Is, you will
find the estimated cost of all analysis
since the Station was organized to be
only $50, 600. At SO cents per ton,
SIS, 900 tons-less than we use in one
year-would pay for all the fertilizer
analysis aver made by the Station.
Are not the merchants and lawyers
and oonI&o1 Iofo Quito DC no,7oh 1nfoy,oc40I |
IN the health of the State as the farmer?
To say to the contrary would be to
SANDER them. Have you ever seen
the Board of Health doing much work
in the rural districts ? Is it not mainly
for the benefit of cities and towns that
the Board of Health exists? What
are geological surveys made for? For
the benefit of the State or the indi-
Vidual? In our ignorance we thought
Is was for the State at large. Does
the citizens of Ashe get much benefit
from the oyster survey ? If our hopes
m reference to the oyster fields are not
blighted-will not the cities of Raj
Charlotte and Wilmington use a
thousand times as many oysters as
Watauga? If so ought not the citi-
zens of the cities named help to pay
the expenses? If the State is to de-
rive a revenue from her oyster lands
then ought not the State to pay for
the survey and not the farmer alone?
This is equally true of the Immigra-
tlon Department. Divorce these para
SITES from u department if we must Ego
it alone"
We have a State University, we
to aid it literally, and the an
of the Board of Health, of the
geological survey, all ought to be made
where State aid is given. 1t seems as
our Agricultural College is to re-
celve nothing but what the farmers
contribute. If this blind and narrow
is to be persued then the State
University ought to receive nothing
but the Involuntary contributions of
professional men and merchants. One
plan is equally wise and just as the
We have been niggardly in
our appropriations to schools and
colleges.
Last year there was made at the ex-
pense of the farmers Sc analyses of
marls and shells, 80 of minerals and
ores, and AZ of waters. Is the farmer
benefited more by these analyses than
the merchant ? if not why should he
pay for them while the merchant pays
not one cent. Let me illustrate this,
and my illustration will be true in all
save names. Mr.. A. is a wealthy citi-
zen of the capital city; he hears of
marls; he has a number of analyses
made, The farmer pays for them. Our
chemist tells him they are valuable.
Mr.. A. then buys the land, manufac-
lures fertilizers and sells them to us
for just all he can get for them.
I think these parasites ought to be
cut off and let them pay the State