The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-27
THE HARD TIMES OUT ON THE FARMS.
An Experts Opinion Of Their Cause
and Effective Remedy.
Much humbug in the Cry for the
Markets of the World.
Diversified Products and Fewer Mid
dIemen Would Help Matters.
Especial to the Pressl

WASHINGTON, March 26.-The March re-
port of the accomplished sta tistcian of the
Department of Agricu lturo, j. r. Dodge,
deals with subject of great interest at the
present time, the depression in agriculture.
In Maine, as elsewhere, this depression is
felt and talked about from one end of the
state to the other. The statistician's report
does not particularly refer to the agricultur
al conditions of New England, but what he
says applies to the whole country Much is
heard in Congress at the present time about
the hard times the farmers are having, es-
pecially in the West. These hard times the
statistician explains on several grounds. In
the first place the farmers bases his expe a.
tions upon the high prices of those war ii es
when his business was receiving an extraord
mary stimulus. Then there has been an in
, crease of production in this country even
more rapid than the increment of population.
America has long been the synonym of pie
thora. Her people probably consume more
than those Of any other nation, and have
larger surplus for foreign needs. Immigra-
tion has been heavy and unrestricted; rail-
road building has been stimulated until an
empire of new and productive lands has been
opened and these lands have been given ad
libitltm to settlers of native or foreign birth.
Speculation first, and profitable untilization
afterwards, have been the motive for settle
ment and development which have astonish-
ed the world and caused overproduction and
low prices. So it happens now that while
the agricultural product is three or four
times as large as it was 80 years ago the pop
ulation to consume it is less than three
times as large The foreign market mean
while does not respond. Every nation is
seeking to produce its own food, with the re-
suit that the market abroad is cut off more
and more each year for our farmers.
Wheat illustrates this. The statistician
says that in wheat overproduction has de-
stroyed the growers profit Wheat growing
has become philanthropic mission for sup
plying cheap bread to Great Britain ard en-
couraging her manufacturers: to keep
wages on low plane. The northwestern
missionaries are still diligently sowing
their seed and floating their bread across the
waters, and mourning that the profits do not
return to them after many days of weary
transportation. The area of the crop Uf
1889 included about ten million acres more
than the home consumption of the year will
require; and the price in Liverpool has of
late been the lowest for a century. "We
cannot force foreigners to buy our bread"
says Mr.. Dodge. There has been mass of
of the world for wheat. Less than fourth
of the people of the world eat wheat. Half
OF the people of Europe scarcely know its
taste, while few of the nations of Asia and
Africa have any knowledge of it. South
America is now no market for -four, as more
what ia fbnrQ than rpnuirpd fnr do.
mestic consumption. and an annually en-
larging outlet for wheat is now sought in the
distribution of the surplns., Australasia
makes more than Rome supply: India has
rope always has wheat to sell. leaving only
western Europe to supplement. its nearly
full garners with the contributions of all
other countries. those of Europe
included. OF the average average four Sl
rope, only half bushel comes from other
continents, and this is practically the meas
ure of the market for the wheat surplus of
the world, a market which neither reciproci-
ty nor the persuasion of any international
comfy Can enlarge"
The same is true of meat as of wheat. In
order to remedy this Mr.. Dodge thinks farm
ers should produce many things which we
now buy abroad, thus diversifying their pro-
ducts. He says
"The agricultural exports of the United
States during the past year amounted to
about $3.50. 600, 900 at the seaports, or about
$400, 900 900 on the farms. The agricultural
imports amounted to over $34S. 100000 at
ports of shipment, and fully $500, 600, 900 with
freights and commissions added, without
further allowance for undervaluation. Thus
it takes most of our agricultural exports to
pay for agricultural imports. These imports
are largely food and fbers. The heavier
items for 1888 SO were as follows:
Sugar and molasses. S93 297, ,S68
Animals and their products, except
Fibers, animal and vegetable. 59,453,93
Fruits and nuts tS............,......... 1S,745.4l7
Barley and other cereals. s.............. 8,971,722
Tobacco, leaf. ......................." 1O,96S,226
Wines ........................... 7,706,772
Total. ...........$239, ,464, Alb
"Most tof this Importation should be pro-
duced here and many minor products not
named in fact, there is little on the list, eX-
sspt tea and coffee that should pe imported.
medicines. and other products useful in the
arts or for food that could be profitably
grown, after suitable experiment, for the
supply of demand already existing or to
be created, and utilizing rural labor and in
creasing the wealth of the country"
The middle men are another source of
trouble to farmers. in Mr.. Dodge's opinion.
He illustrates their inroads upon the profits
which should go to the producer by the case
81 Se for NJ says "a sEd BY
the prices of few years ago, and the meat
is sold to consumers in the retail markets at
little If any reduction from the highest prices
of the last twenty years. For instance,
prime rib roasts have been sold in Washing
ton during that period for 20 cents per pound,
and sirloin steaks for the same. There has
been little variation, as general rule, in the
prices of the less valuable cuts. The same
complaint comes from consumers in other
cities"
The middle men are increasing greatly in
the opinion of the statistican, who says of
them: "All kinds of meats, vegetables and
fruits furnish similarly subsistence to
armies of middlemen. Milk is bought from
farms, for the supply Of New York, for less
for 8 cents. The hucksters of city
markets often get as much for hand.
ling product in single day, as the grower
obtained for producing it during a seasons
growth. The contrast between the price of
fruit on the farm and in city market is
markets the prices of variable products are
fixed for the day at early dawn, not with ref
erence to their cost, but in view of the COM
parative quantity, to squeeze from the buyer
the last cent that his patience will endure
without declining purchase. The poor are
robbed still further, when commodity costs
% cents peck, by. charge of 10 cents for
half peck, which is clear penalty of 20
per cent for buying in small quantities. Thus
by every imaginable trick of trade the cost
of buying is increased, while the producer
gets less and less for his products"
1t seems that the farmers sons, who have
fiocked to the cities in such numbers, are
now turning around and helping oppress
their fathers and brothers.
MAINE.