The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-06-20
THE Farm,
Hindrances to Agriculture.


of old homes cads, if we can believe
what the papers say, is not confined to
New England, but the whole of the
older portion of our country is suffer
ing in the same way. Even from the
"great West comes up the cry that
the profits of farming are not satisfac-
tory, and the foreclosure o. farm mort
cages and entering up of judgment
notes, with the bills of numerous public
sales, show that there is truth in the
cry.
We are told by public men and
writers for the newspapers, that this
state Of affairs is not confined to this
country, but that all the civilized world
is suffering from agricultural depres-
sion yet | noticed in your paper recent.
'ly that an English writer speaks of a
brighter outlook" there for farmers
and if there, why not here?
1t is certainly a remarkable condition
of affairs when tillers of the soil can
hardly make ends meet, and that only
by incessant toll and economy that
mechanics and skilled laborers, who
have no capital invested, strike for
eight hours day and better wages,
and get it, while farmers "get left" 1t
confirms an impression that the proverb,
"Blessed be nothing" has some truth
in it.
There is food for reflection for all
thinking men in this state of affairs, and
having diagnosed our case. let US pro-
coed to suggest remedy. If the pres.
ent condion of affairs is due simply to
the workings Of the claw of supply and
demand" the advice of some agricul-
tural writers, "to farm better, raise
larger crops, at least expenditure o.
labor is good, for by SO doing, though
We get lower prices, our increased pro,
ducts may keep up our income, but at
what an expense of muscle and money ,
If, on the contrary, the prevailing con-
dition is due largely or in part to causes
induced by legislation, or for lack Of it,
let us Set ourselves to work to reach
the seat of disease and apply proper
remedies.
Just here let me say that 1 hold that
the farmer of to day should not be a
man OF mean and mercenary spirit,
whose world is bounded only by his
possessions, and whose intellect is
gagged only by his pocketbook rather
that he be a man who loves his calling.
who considers his farm something more
than means of getting money, and
who makes for himself and his brother
farmers the same rights and privileges
that should belong to every American
citizen.
That agriculture is the leading in
dustry of this country cannot be denied.
1t gives employment to over 100000
farmers who raised in 1886, according
TO government reports, products to the
value of S3,727,2ls, 1894, which not
only maintained them and the $1,000.
600 remaining of our population, but
allowed 10 per cent of this enormous
output of value of 1914 ,230 SOB to be
exported. Notwithstanding these enor.
nous figures there has been a smaller
amount realized to each individual
farmer year by year. In 1870 after
deducting interest on the farms and
equipment there remained 5000 for
each man engaged thereon. This sum
declined in 1880 to the lower average
of 1882 per man, and what the census
of this year will show is only to be
guessed at, but there has certainly been
a steady decline ever since the war.
In 1880 the total value of farms was
placed at $40, ,O96,776. Since that
date the number of farms has greatly
increased by the opening of new lands.
but values have very materially declin
ed in all sections excepting the newly
settled portions.
While the great increase Of agricul-
tural products may be gratifying to
national pride it has not brought the
farmer the same proportion of returns
that capital invested in other business
has. Thirty years ago the farmers OR
producers owned one half the wealth of
this country, but now only one fourth
OF it, other classes piling up percentages
far faster. Let US take figures that are
more conservative perhaps in COMPARE
son with some o. ours. Mr.. Mulhall, a
we'll known English statistican, pre-
sents some striking figures regarding
industrial Ameria, covering period