The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-06-20
THE FARMERS COLUMN.
Edited by the Pioneers Agricultural
Correspondent.

Edtted Oy Me It0iteers A9rtcautur0
Correspondent.
IS THE CONDITION OF THE FARMERS
IMPROVING.
In 1860 the farmers comprised one half
the population Of the United States and
owned one half the wealth. And that in
1880 they still made up nearly half the
population. but owned only quarter the
wealth of the land. That is the hardest
| worked half OF the population increased
their property four billion of dallars, the
other hall increased theirs twenty -four
Four billions saving tor the hardest worked
half Of our people in twenty years. Twenty
four for the other half in same period.
| Where will the farmer be after another
such decade or two? And what is worse
still, farmers are loaded down with debt,
in the ten states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa,
Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. The
farmers are mortgaged to the amount of
So, Az, 900 0OO,. The New York Times on
this remark: The actual value of the farms
| lying in the ten stat es is to-day about $l3,-
931 ,O0O,O0 In this valuation due a.
lowance has been made for the enormous
volume of emigration which has poured
into Kansas, Nebraska and Minnesota, and
and into the northern portions of Michigan
and Wisconsin since 1880.
All talk relative to this vast sum of
money evei being paid is utter folly. No
agricultural people can pay such sums.
The profit derived from American agricul.
ture is now SO small as to be unworthy of
the slightest consideration. To illustrate
this fact: The interest money annually
drawn from the ten states listed If they
pay per cent only, amounts to $239, ,OOO,-
90. The profits of agriculture do not
warrant the payment of so great sum.
The total value of the farm product Of the
United States was, in 1879, $2,2l3, 3,O0O,0 900.
Of this value the ten states l have listed
produced $8s9, 100000. This was the total
value sold, consumed, and on hand. Say
that the ten states now produce to the value
Of 100000 1900. II but one-half the
farms are mortgaged the produce they
yield is worth $500, 900 900. Atleast $780,
000, 900 of that value goes to pay interest
money leaving $261 100000 of produce to
support 1856, 900 farmers and their families,
or 1924 to each farmer. Out of this small
sum they must pay labor, pay taxes, supply
seed, buy tools. and they and their families
live. The sum is utterly inadequate. 1t is
not possibl. for these mortgaged farmers, Us
a class, to ever lift their mortgages. Legis-
lative enactment cannot increase the price
these men receive for their products, but it
is possible to decrease the price they now
pay for the goods which they consume.
These men, though their names are borne
on the assessment-roll as the owners of the
farms they till, are actually tenants. They
ceased to be free-holders the instant they
mortgaged their land The price they have
paid to protect American manufacturing in
dustries has been their birthright. A con-
tinuance of the system will surely cause the
larger portion Of the farmers whose land is
still unincumbered to mortgage their tands.
!, Now as to the condition Of the Dakota
farmers. We quote from correspondence of
Farmers Voice: A remark from one Of the
great so-called statesman, James G. Blaine,
that during the Republican administration
the great increase of wealth and its equal
distribution has no parallel in the history
of our country. Those acquainted with the
condition of producers will doubt the asser-
r tion. The vast accumulation no one can
deny, but as to the equal distribution, let us
see, being a farmer l shall hold to the tillers
of the soil. The tens of thousands of mort
gagged homes in the most prosperous portions
of our agricultural districts do not 60 to
show that q great amount of the vast wealth
has gone into the pockets Of the farmer (the
} principal portion of the plasters have been
placed on the farmers during the prosper
) Gus time referred to by Mr.. Blaine).
We frequently are met with the consoling
argument that the farmers are extravagant.
This kind Of argument is free and frequently
eliminates from the kid-gloved gentry who
sits in his finely furnishedlofice watching a
chance to take the advantage of some poor
mans necessity or some one who is dealing
in wares at q good profit. These pretended
about the condition Of the farmers as the
average lawyer and professional politician
do about heaven. @'.-
A peep in the homes of the average farmer,
with their bare walls and floors, no music,
and in many instances children brought up
in comparative ignorance for the want of
proper clothing and books to attend school
. the argument is poor consolation, The
farmers of Dakota are advised to diversity
their farming. Illinois. Iowa, Wisconsin,
. Minnesota and many other states have fol-
lowed this advice, The thousands of mort
cages on record in these states do not show
that this is all the remedy necessary: the
wise cry, ''overproduction." this may be the
; cause.
But who ever heard of any one starving
to death because of too much to eat? Who
ever heard Of men, women and children
suffering for shoes because of an overpro-
duction of shoes? .s g..
There are thousands Of people suffering
for the want Of what goes to make up the
; necessities Of life; it is evident that some
thing is wrong. Where is the remedy.
believe that one serious result from pro-
tective tariff is taking from the channels of
commerce the much needed circulating
medium, and placing it in the treasurer 8
vault. Itmight as we'll be in the bottom of
the Atlantic ocean as far as any immediate
. good it is to the people.
The laws Of supply and demand control
the price Of money. History will bear me
: out in the statement that whenever there is
contraction Of the circulalating medium,
the product Of labor is reduced proportion
> ately. Whatever minor matters may appear
to play conspicuous part in causing our
9 present condition, believe our financial
9 system is the principal cause. The discon.
: tent amongst the producers in nearly every
8 part Of the grandest nation on the face ol
: Gods footstool Is something worthy Of seri
! GUS consideration.
It's the duty Of every patriot to search
for remedy. Our Republican press (mon
2 opolistic) says we have the best fnancis
! system on earth and they offer protective
: tariff as q remedy TO our present ills. Tht