The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-11-08
DECLINE OF THE FARMER.
CAUSES or DEPRECIATION OF FARM LANDS
IN THE EASTERN STATES.

IN TIE EASTERN bTATkS.
From me Springfield Republican
An article in the current number Of
the Quarterly Journal of Economics
by Alfred ii Peters discusses the pro
bable causes that have combined TO de-
preciate farming land in the Eastern
and Middle States--a subject just now
especially engaging the attention Of
the community affected. Considering
the causes more commonly cited as at
work to produce these results, he re-
CARDS Western competition as of less
potency than popularly supposed. The
Eastern farmers lower rate of interest,
smaller outlay for machines, less waste
and more thorough cultivation Offset
the Western advantage of lower pric-
ed, more fertile and easier titled lands.
This is, perhaps, putting it too strong,
and, if the Eastern farmer were neces-
sarily confined in his efforts to grain
raising, it certainly would be; but
when propinquitv 10 markets, trans
portation facilities aud the adaptable.
ity of the lands to great variety of
agricultural effort are considered, we
are driven to the conclusion that of no
particular necessity is the Eastern
farmer handicapped by Western COM
petition.
Then, as to the purchase of land
during the initiation period of the war,
it cannot be said this writer thinks,
that the agricultural class suffered
more than other classes in the decline.
There has been no advance in the
price of labor and payments in kind
have had to be replaced by money
payments, which has placed the farm
er in more disadvantagous position
than formerly. Direct taxation since
the war has been an increasing burden
to the agriculturist, and while tariff
taxation has weighed heavily upon
him the decline in the cost of produc-
tion and prices in many dutiable COM
modities the world over has been such
as to in great measure offset this
load. All these considerations apply
equally to Western farming conditions,
| and hence constitute no special cause
for the decline of Eastern farm lands.
There has been impoverishment of
the soil, but not generally and only
through bad management. "On the
whole says Mr.. Peters, agriculture
in the Eastern and Middle States has
been as profitable in the last ten years
as in any other ten years of the ma
tions existence save during the wal
period"
That is perhaps questionable, but
let it pass. The main consideration
yet remains: Has agriculture been al
profitable since 1870 relatively with
other occupations as before the war;
Mr.. Peters practically admits that il
has not. There we have one poten
cause of the depreciation of farming
land. But what is the cause of thu
decline? We are thus brought bacl
again to consideration of the equit,
of the distributions of present govern
ment burdens and social rev ards ant
ipunishments There can be no doub
that, while the Eastern farmer ha
not of enduring necessity been harme,
greatly by Western competition an,
has some advantages not enjoyed b,
the pararie husbandman, the con
trasts between returns from landed an,
iother ind ustries ace far sharper
the East than in the West aud sc
, cial lines are much more closely drawr
Hence we may have special reason
for the depreciation of the Easter
lands which does not equally apply t
the west and if to this be added tn
, failure of the Eastern farmer to NOR
readily adapt himself to the change
conditions forced by Western compt
tition, two leading causes for whic
search is made have undoubtedly bee
. found
e And out of the first of these com
social and moral influences which M
7 Peters rightly considers more potter
e in driving people from the farms tina
most others. The homage paid I
to wealth in the Northern Unite
States for the last quarter of a Gel
r tury has turned the heads of the oun
er portion of the agricultural class an
3 SET it adrift where the great forum,
have been and are being made. 1t
not that farming fails to yield a cor
D Portable and independent exis,anc
4 but that it fails to bring the sudde
: wealth with resulting social and p,
3 political rewards and consderatio
which less exacting effort in 9TH
lines of industry has 80 often brough
, The isolation of the farm aids
: Strengthening these influences. III
love of individual independence is I
, longer the force it once was in til
: country. The subserviency and depen
t ence of the ordinary city calling coun
Y as nothing to the glanor, intensi
and superficial polish Of the life the
possible, This is the worst feature
the whole subject and marks a ten
ency that is fraught with danger
the Re epublic.