The Wahpeton times., 1890-05-08

their business in immediate proximity to
trade centers, where the widest information
in reference thereto is readily obtainable.
Our farmers organizations are wisely seeking
to supplement this want for the farmer; the
agricultural press is earnestly working in the
same direction, and one of the most impor-
tant duties devolving upon this department
consists in gathering and promptly distrib-
uting reliable information on all those subj
which are eessentiallyinteresting to the farmer.
1t remains for him to avail himself to the in
formation thus supplied as his chief protcc-
ton not only against ovcr-supply of certain
products but against possible over-reaching
on the part of purchasers. The farmer must
look with suspicion upon any attempts to
abridge the sources of his information, His
advantage will always be in tile fullest
knowledge of the facts. He must
carefully. etltU the character and
the qilality OF his products rather than
mere quantity, and always bear in mind that
the best goods at the best obtainable prices
that are the most readily sold Many of our
farmers have been lAnd.greedy and fad them
selves the owners of more land than they can
properly care for in view of the comparative.
" high price oflabor in the rural districts
and In view Of the fact that but small por-
ton OF mankind. comparatively, can profit
ably control the labor of others The pru-
dent farmer will limit his efforts to that which
tention must he given, especially on our
Western farms. to the raising by the farmer,
for his own use, everything that may be uti-
lized by himself and lis household, 80 far as
climate will permit.
have passed over these various causes
briefly. do not deem it necessary to dwell
upon them at length, but will merely reiter-
ate the fact, that for them the remedy is FEAST
BILE, and it depends upon the farmers them.
Of this responsibility. but l n,a thankful to
say, that owing partly to their own efforts.
there exist to-day in many States, valuable
instrumentalities capable of materially aid
ing them In their work. and to-day, in this
country, no farmer need be without all the
aid that knowledge and science can impart.
Farm mortgages.
homes and lands is unquestionably discour.
aging the extreme, and while in some cases
no doubt this load may have been too readl.
ly assumed, still in the majority of cases, the
mortgage has been the result of necessity.
except. of course, such mortgages as asrepresent
balances OF purchase money, which ore rath.
er evidences of the farmers ambition and en-
terprise than ofhia poverty. On tho other
hand those mortgages with which land has
been encountered from the necessities of it's
owner, driving high rates of interest. often
taxed in addition with q heavy commission,
have to-day. in the face of continued depres-
sion in the prices Of staple products. become
very irksome and in many cases threaten the
farmer with loss sfhome and land. It il q
question ofgreat difficulty to oil those who
seek to remedy the ills from which our farm
0yu ,RorSn A \ r.,
finds it takes more of his products to get q
dollar wherswith topay back the dollar he
borrowed than it did when he borrowed it.
The interest accumulatee, while payment of
the principal seems utterly hopeless, and the
very depression which we are discussing
makes the renewal Of the mortgage most diff
ficult: Many people are disposed to asssci-
ate this phase OF the subject with the ques-
tion OF an undue limitation OF our curren.
cy. Many carry this line of argument to
extremes, but it is by no means impossible
that these subjects are correlated. However,
the question of currency is now receiving
special attention from another branch of
the government; legislation on the subject
is now pending before Congress, and we can
no doubt look for an early and satisfactory
solution of this vexed problem.
After discussing the question of transpor.
tation, gambling in farm products, mbina-
tions and middlemen in trade he comes to q
consideration Of protection for the farmer.
Inow come to the consideration of ona OF
the Rravest causes In my opinion Of the pres.
ent agricultural depression, but which am
happy to state can be effectually and directly
dealt with through national legislation.
cultural products estimated at prices paid
the consumers are about equal to our agri.
cultural exports estimated at prices paid to
tile farmer, yet such is the case. Our i'm.
ports Of products sold in competition with
those actually produced on our own soil.
amount to nearly $115. 900 900, and as
much moro could be produced on our own
soil under favorable conditions. We must
surely conclude that We have here another
cause Of depression. The subject is 90 vast
that cannot disnias it briefly. Indeed. /
can do no better than to repeat here views
already expressed by me on this subject. I'm.
ports OF agricultural products.
OF all the wonderful phases of development
OF which the United States furnishes such
striking exampies none 10, perhaps, moro re-
markable than tho wonderful increaee-to-
tally disproportionatet to our increase in p6p.
ulation-in our imports OF products wbicl,
are distinctly agricultural In 1850 theim.
ports OF such products amounted to 80.
00O, 900; for the fiscal year ending in 1850
they amounted to the enormous sum OF
$S56, coo. GOO, an increase Of nearly 900 per
cent, while the increase in population during
less than 500 per cent. This Is ali the more more
remarkable when taken in conjunction WITH
the fact that this 10 pre-sminentIy Iacricui-
tural country: opening up year after year.
with . rapidity that has alarmed the pro.
dueers Of the Old World, immense tracts Of
country to be devoted exclusively to t,liape:
al the moro remarkable when we realize.
iurthermors. that over 20 per cent Of our to.
tai exports ere tie direct product Of ths soil
Accompanying this extraordinary move.
msnt there has been during The past decade.
in which the greatest increase Of such i'm.
POI Rcrts he TAKEN =, s place. STEADY decrease in
reasoaable man the conclusion mu.t i. y ~ ~.
yicss. nsasly, that n the line q prod dusts,
49, - e1ssptioa q settoa, 1pen vhish -;