Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-07-13
Woodlawn Farmers Club.


The July meeting CT he Woodlawn Farm.
ers' Club was held at the residence q f John
Ballepger on The iGs President Pieraon
in the chair
After suudry congratu 'alions about the
improved condition of The weather and an
informal discussion of the beat way to shock
wheat, in which it appeared the majority
thought Gaping the safest plan. the ques
ton box was called for and q list of ques-
tons recently sent out by the Reform Club
of New York for farmers to answer was pro-
duced and read. as folows:
1st Are farmers in your community as
prosperous as they have ever been End,
If so to what do they chiefly owe their pros
periy If not, what hssbeen the chief rea.
sou of the chsDgea 81, Do fsrmers take
lees or more interest than formerly ip econo
mic discussions 4tb, What effect does the
tariff have on their condition ? 9th, Will
bushel Of wheat or barrel Of -four buy az
many necessaries of life as itdid thirty years
ago? 9Th, Have they gained or lost social
dignity ss compared With other classes such
as merchants and mechanics? 7th, Do
farmers soDs show any less willingness than
formerly to become farmers? Ifso, why
Each member was then asked to give bis
The secretary wGs surprised to find the ma
jority On the sffimative side; but in coming
to No. 9. as to the causes OF the said pros.
perity or otherwise, the opinions. were as
diverse az the most saneuine lover of varie-
ty could wish for. In the fret place 1t was
querisd as to what constitutes prosperity.
Some thought q comfortable bank account;
others enough to est aud wear, with good
health and ability to pay ones debts as they
came due; or contentment with ores lot in
life aud so ON ad {ibitum. 1t was thoGght we
| were favored in this locality with agood
| market, and with proper economy money
| might be made at farming; that where 1t
| was Otherwise there was q disposition to iG-
dulge in extravagance OF various kinds.
| This has become fast age, and the easy.
going farmer must not expect to be able TO
| keep up with 1t, but must pursue the sven
| tenor of his way like his ancestors ofsa cen.
tury ago. Then be might be as comfortable
as COW with plenty to eat before fy-time
arrivee. 1t was thought many had found
| thoy were obliged to work aud had gone
at it with will. Many drank less liquor
than they used to and had improved their
methods of farming, ailyvof which argued
| that farmers we're as prosperous aR at any
| time heretofore. But there we're some who
| thought there was stagnation somewhere
| unless there was come ground for suspi.
cion of this sort, these questions would not
have been prompted. Production was am.
pie, but prices we're too low; there was too
much immigration, especially of an object
ionsble kind 30 much land brought under
cultivation at the West; that all kinds OF
produce is grown to excess; many who are
prosperlDg now are doing 80 on the accu.
mutations of their parents during the hush
times. We have heard it stated time and
again-aye, times innumerab!e within the.
| last few years-that there was something
radically wrong in the condition, of things
as affecting the farmers interests. The
oranges, the alliances and, in fact, nearly
every farmers organization throughout the
country for some years have been urging
more thorough cooperation In order
to remedy the existing evlls; and then
to have it coolly stated by representative
| farmers that they are ss prosperous ss
they have ever been, was Ikea clap of thnn-
| der in clear sky; it was stunning. The
question now arises, Would 1t not be we'll
| for the farmers of the country to halt and
| look into things little further-to carefully
Inquire into this matter ard SEQ whether
| they have not been ell this time wasting
their energies over imaginary grieVancesf
As to the Sd question 1t was admitted that
farmers do take more interest in the discus:
sion of economic questions. OF the 4th 1t
appeared that all present favored protect.
I've tariff, and thought the duties on many
farm products should be increased, but re-
fiued sugar should be put on the free list.
The 9Th and 9Th questions were decided In
the affirmative, though it will be remember
ed that the time mentioned thirty years
ago) was period of depression similar to
the present. As to the 7th question, It. was
thought mankind continued the same. It
was the disposition of all to avoid laborioua
occupations aa much as possible.
The next meeting being the anniversary
It was arranged to have basket picnic at
'Huntley" at o'clock p. m. August 10th.
James W. Roberts. q. Lukens and W. Gil
lingham are committee TO procure speskers
for the occasion. W. GILLINGHAad, Sec.