The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-05-22

As there seems to be a general dispoel.
ton at this time among farmers to know
why their business is not as profitable as
it formerly was, and as 1t should be now,
It will be we'll for them to look into all
the causes OF this general depression
now weighing down their business in
this country.
As the Alliance wave has struck US
something like the Grange wave struck
us in 1872, and we are on the eve per-
haps of general organization, with
view to remedy some of the existing
causes that obstruct the prosperity OF
the agricultural interests Of the country,
and as we want no mistake this time We
must know just when to begin, and
know where to stop. To organize with
no we'll defined purpose as to what re-
forms we intend to bring about, and
make wild declarations and sweeping
assertions as to what we intend to do,
would not be wisdom, and in the end
will injure our cause, if we do not ex-
anime every phrase Of the problem. 1t
is my opinion, and trust that / am not
alone, that the general depression now
upon us as farmers may be traced to
several causes, some of which we can
remove or remedy by united general
organization. Upon the other hand there
are others that we cannot remove, but
will have to leave to the natural course
Of events.
There is no question but that proper
legislation would help us in many things.
In such cases we will have to use the
ballot. We can trust no other class to
do our voting, we must do it ourselves.
But started out to speak ofsome things
that have hurt us and still continue to
hurt us, that neither organization nor
legislation can reach. Let us briefly
consider some Of these things. The last
decade in the history Of the agricultural
interests in the United States has been
a peculiar one. A rapid development OF
large area of new territory, stimulated
by foreign emigration, has largely in.
creased the production of our principal
cereals, wheat, oats and corn, as well as
added largely to the number of cattle,
sheep and swine. In other words, the
ratio ofincrease in production has greatly
exceeded the ratio of increase in popu-
lation, and we find large surplus be-
yond our ability to consume at home.
Our trouble has been to get rid of this.
Every sound political economist knows
that the price of our surplus fixes the
value of our products at home and to
some extent abroad. No people are
going to advance prices when it is well
known fact that there is lying in the
elevator and granery large surplus
awaiting market, with prospect Of an
undiminished supply from the next
harvest, all of which is but a short way
removed from the consumer. This is a
matter beyond legislation. We cannot
restrict production. We cannot limit
consumption. The tariff may restrict
our commerce and effect our exports,
but this is debatable question. The
markets of Europe seem to have been
amply supplied from othersources. Eng
land has been laboring to civilize and
bring under control large sections in
India that have all the advantages of
soil and climate as this country.
Now the question interesting US as
farmers is how long will this state oil
things continue? In our opinion not
long. Why? Well, let us see. The
present population Of the country may
safely be put at 65,0OO,OoO. Now what
increase to this do we want to consume
our products2 Recent statistics show
that it will require to consume our sur.
plus corn crop an additional population
Of $500, 900, wheat l4,000,000, cattle g.
600, 900, swine II, 100000. Take the larg'
est of these, wheat IA, ,OOO, 900, and accord
ing to the ratio OF increase in our popu'
lation the number will be added within
the next ten years; and corn within five
years. At least we may safely say that
within the next ten years our population
will be sufficient to consume every
bushel of wheat and corn and every
pound of beef and pork produced in the
United States. Yes, I hear some one
say, provided production does not in
crease in the same ratio. This is no'
likely to occur. Statistics for the las
two years show that we have nearl!
reached the limit of our corn crop
nearly all the corn belt has been brough
under cultivation. There may be
slight increase in the Indian Territory
but there is likely to be a falling off Il
other sections. Our wheat crop ha
nearly reached the top round. We ma
make some gains in the northwest, bu
the increase will be slow and will b
offset by a diminished supply in othe
parts of the country. The corn GRO