The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1890-04-10
AUX CENTRE HERALD.
THURSDAY April 10, 1890.
"VEIY THE FARMER IS NOT PROS
PEROUS.

The Forum" is, by all odds. the lead
ing monthly magazine of our country
Its writers are hrst-c' ass, and its range
OF subjects, while quite extensive, is also
quite practical. On tins account its III
fluence is great and unceasing.
The Forum for April has an article
under the above heading that should be
studied by many of our readers. We
cannot abridge the tables Of statistics
upon which the reading of this article is
based, nor can we give them in full. A
general view OF the subject must content
us, at present.
The article commences with quota
ton from the Hon. John G. Carlisle
who says:
1.-The American farmer, although he
cultivates the most fertile soil in the
world, and ought to be the most pros
porous member of the community, is con-
srantly engaged in a hard struggle to
secure a comfortable support for his
family and a moderate education for his
children; and to pay his taxes and keep
out of debt"
The writer says that the farmer justly
thinks "the times are out ofjoint" when
such state of things exist, and he pro-
ceeds to investigate the causes OF their
distress. He examines dispassionately
the effect of the tariff, of trusts, specula-
ton, transportation rates, ETC., admits
that they all may have had some evil in
fluence, but he says in conclusion:
THE logical conclusion from the evil
dence offered is, that the trouble of the
farmers due to the fact that there arc alto
gether too many farmers, too many cat
tie and swine, two many bushels Of corn
wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat ano
potatoes, too many tons of hay, and toe
great a production of nearly all othe,
farm products for the number of con
sumcrs."
One of the statements on which thl:
conclusion depends is the tolowlng
During a period Of 80 years, ending
III 1889, population, farms and the
products of the more important staples
increased as follows:
Population, 125 per cent.
No of farms, 26O per cent.
Cattle, 125 per cent.
Swine, So per cent.
Bushels of corn, 257 per cent.
Bushels of wheat, $50 per cent.
Bushels of oats, All per cent.
TO this increase OF products beyont
population he fall in profits is attribut
ed. Mr. Carlisle's relrence to the fac
that our FARMERS cultivate the most
fertile soil in the world" only adds force
to this views. Fertility helps to glut
the markets. Commercially speakin.
if our lands were ten times richer thar
they are, our farmers would only b.
poorer on account of lt-unlcss, indeed
we can succeed Ill getting the rest OF tn
world to allow their lands to lie idle TO
the sake of furnishing us q market to
our surplus of gram, vegetables and cat
tle-which is not likely under any Cir
CumStanceS.
AS for this conclusion, what is there Ii
it that is strange? Given an almost I'll
innate amomnt of good land, at CHEAP
rates, and a vast surplus OF workers
what else could reasonably be expected
than surplus abundance of food pro
ducts?
But, after all, are the farmers wors'
off than other people who are trying tt
get living by trading, manufacturing
and day labor? Anew succecd-tne man
fail to do more than just scratch along
80 into bankruptcy, or get out OF bus'
ness in some manner. We are all in tn
same boat 1t is hard shedding" TO
everybody except the great capitalist
who can do as he willard with safet
and profit.-[Moutscello Times.