The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-25
THE FARMERS TROUBLES.

The Board of Labor Statistics of Iowa
has been investigating the interesting ques-
ton of the cost Of raising corn in that State.
A large number of circulars were sent out
by the board to farmers in every county III
the State, and the replies carefully noted.
From these it appears to be the opinion OF
a large majority of Iowa farmers that to
live, and earn interest on the cost OF his
farm, the farmer must be able to sell his
shelled corn on the farm at 80 cents
bushel. The product of an acre OF Soou
land planted with corn in Iowa will not
average rty bushels; but calling that an
average, the Iowa farmer reckons that MS
land mnst Weld him gross S12 an acre in
order that he shall live. a majority OF the
farmers who replied to the Labor Bureau
stated that their land had not yleldeu rs
much as this since 1885.
The California wheat grower, raising an
average of fifteen bushels to the acre, and
selling the same at 90 cents bushel on the
farm, only realizes gross 50 an acre; but he
ekes out his income by raising fruit, early
vegetables, and other products which pay
better. When he resorts to higher agricul-
ture and the use of fertilizers, he will raise
his average wheat yield TO thirty bushels or
and his gross income would thus be
doubled. But in the meanwhile he gets
less from his wheat land than the Iowa
farmer gets from his corn land, and yet he
thriyes better than the Iowa farmer. 1t
costs the Californian less to live than the
Iowan. and the varied resources Of his
farm enable him to make money out Of
crops which the IOwan cannot raise.
1lrT lA1 " hhth q
could be made to pay, in the long run, to
raise corn so far from distributing market
as the agricultural centers in Iowa. The
cost Of transportation must in the nature oil
things consume so large proportion OF the
value of the product that but little is left
for the producer. Where the latter markets
his corn in the concentrated form OF pork
or W Risky, he does better; but even that
may be overdone. Too often, it is to be
feared, the farmer who spends a life OF toll
in the central States in raising cereal food,
must come to the old conclusion that agrl-
culture may keep body and soul tosether'
but cannot do much more.
The Iowa farmers, brought face TO face
with the stern facts, seek scapegoat in
every direction, and call Tor interference
by their State and National Governments.
1t is hard 10 see what Governments can do.
The same problem is presented in various
European countries, and the Governments
are straining their wits to discover pana-
cea for rural hardship. They have not thus
far discovered cure which comments IL
self to our imitation. 1t is beyond the
now er of Governments to put up the rice
of breadstulTS; and if laws arbitrarily re-
duce the rates of transportation below cost
the carriers will be bankrupted, which
would merely add to the prevailing distress.
In India the Government fixes freight tar
ifs Tor the railroads which enable the
wheat-grower in the Punjab or in Onde TO
shin wheat TO Liverpool; but every year
the same Government has TO vote a large
gratuity to the roads TO compensate them
for their losses on theiT wheat Iraillc rms
is taking money out Of one pocket to put II
in another. Quantities OF good wheat are
grown on the prairie lands in Russia, back
of Odessa; the land will grow nothing else,
and only an average of about nine bushels
of wheat 10 the acre; hence bankruptcy is
chronic among the farmers, and the credit
OTIS are only restrained from foTeclOsing
their mortgages by the fear that If they
entered INTO possession of the farms they
would be bankru pied too.
The simple truth is that the world has
been growing more cereal food than it could
consume In 1850, forty years ago, this
country produced 100000 bushels Of
wheat and JoO,0C0,COO bushels of corn. We
now reckon that the crops are short whe1
we I reduce less than J00,00o, 600 bushels Of
W heat, and 2,CCO.LO0C0O bushels of corn
Meanwhile British India has entered the
market as a producer Of 100000 bushel:
| Of wheat Russia has increased Ler whea
| export from a nominal amount to over 2o0
! 100000 bushels, and a number of Other
| countries, like Australia and Argentine
have begun to contribute to the food sup
ply. The extension OF agriculture in tn,
last thirty or forty years is a symptom O.
progress, but for the present it is hard OF
the farmers.