New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-23
AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION
ITS CAUSES AND REMEDIES DISCUSSED BY
SECRETARY RUSK
WHAT FARMERS MUST DO-IMPoRTS AND LIZ
PORTs-G >MBLING IN FARM PROD
UCTS-TAX ALTON

PORTS-G AMBLING IN FARM Phop'
UCTs-TAXATION.
For months past from all parts Of the country there
have reached me communications. many OF ihen No"
large bodies of men, all Of them from persons deNe'1
consideration. and all Of them deeply III e","o'' J."
specting the present condition OF agrcui'"iN '''
SION In most cases the communications S"1A0'' '0
conviction of the writers not only as to 'he sI9'"
If the emergency bnt as 10 its cause or causes ana pos
sible remedies and all If them appeal 70 me ''' S"V
expression of my views on the subject 10
ono Of these communications separately wouu ~ ""c
than any one man undertake To 40 ana "i''V'N',
am reluctant to send out an expression 81 NY WINS "
letters covering merely phase or pof'l"" VI III" '
,ions involved such course would be unjust 70 HN-
cal, and ~ those who address me. ! can OnN con
sent to EXPRESS nv views. such they are on e ell
fire question: reviewing the whole subject ana coh7ue
ing il in all It's varons phases
II would be work of supererogstion at tbs t'me 10
undertake TO prove the existence of severe agrcu"a'
sonression. This is universally admitted kcpie'cn''-
live farmers and farmers associations are constantly
calling INV attention to their condition. urging the
necessity for some measure Of relief. Inc s'ualvh
warrants all the attention which our wses' minus "a"
devote to il. ., ,,o,
u,hat is 70 no done7 Snch Is the question Whlch
confronts every thinking man. Too many OF 'nose
who arc giving the matter consideration look at il
f,s,n only one point of view. one attributes inc u"
cu,ty 10 one cause. and one to announcer anu mus
neople seem 10 regard two or three causes al "o' "
entirely responsible for the present CONDITION OF a"'
This Is a mistake The fact. however, explains -
ce,toin eytcnt that some of the remedies proposed
bid fair if carried out, TO bring about a result d"
jectionable as is the present sitnatoh' "iV'.
couraecmcnt is very apt to lead to extravaganza III "
vsInc remedial agencies. and We must De"a'c "
remedies that may he worse than the oiscasc'
only by a very careful diagnosis OF uhe otsV '''
ran possiby attain TO efficient remedy Inc P''S''''
agricultural depression, it seems to me- can DC "
10 "A combination Of many causes, so many INA,
nrohah,v no one man can cnumerate them all. VIII
onIv endcayor to point out some which seem 20 INV
more directly responsible. They may he dN'ocu i,''
,ro classes. First: Those causes inherent to the
farmers themselves and for which they alone can pro-
vide a possible remedy second Those over WIN"
Tho farmer himself has no direct control. and the
remedy for which must be provided as lar Is Ie"eu'
* possible by law and foi such legislation ule re
sponsbilty devolves upon the legislative BODIES oi VIC
States and Of the Nation.
WHAT THE FARMER MUST DO
7 will conanc myself TO mere enumeration Of the
first class of causes indicated. on many 1ar"S'
regret TO say, we find depir'""'
the productive power Of Inc H'"
10 careless culture. We find want
often Of business like methods due TO the iac' '''
in earlier times business training was not re-''N
as an essential preparation for the farmer worm
whereas TO-DAY with altered conditions, when eN'p
penny and l may say every moment Of "n' u.s.
to be prohtably accounted for ana III INC "'o ~
world wide competition. successful farmer "'"'' "
as we'll trained and careful in business a. inc S'Vc
keeper and his equal in intelligence ana e'"0'''
education Nor are the important questions Of supply
aud demand Of market prices studied with the VII
Iarce which charactcrizes the methods OF our mer-
chants and manufacturers. These last moreover
have the advantage of transacting their CUISINES !"
immediate proximity 20 trade centres, where the "us
information reference thereto Is readily oD''"a"'
(nr farmers organizations wisely seeking 10 sup
element this want for the farmer, the agriculture"
n,css is earnestly working in the same direction ana
enc Of the most important duties devoklng upon 'l'
Department consists in gathering and promptly "'7-
tributing reliable information on all those SUBJECTS
which are essentially interesting to the farmer II
remains for him to avail himself of the Information
thus supplied as his chief protection not Only against
over-suppy certain products. but against possible
oyor reaching on the part of purchasers the FARMER
must look with suspicion upon any attempts 10 aN-'
the sources of his information His advantage VIII al
WAYS be in the fullest knowledge OF the facts lie must
care,ullv study the character and the quality Of IN,
products rather than mere quantity, and AWAY Deai
in mind that whether prices are high or low, ii Is
ALWAYS the hest goods at the best Obtanable prices
that Are the most readily sold. Many Of our farmers
have been land greedy. and find themselves the owners
OF more land than they can properly care Tor
in view of the comparatively high price OF labor h
q small portion Of mankind. comparatively, can profit
ably control the labor Of others The prudent farmer
win limit his efforts to that which he efficiently
pertorm Again.-more attention must be given.
especially on our Western farms, 20 the raising Us
The farmer for his own use, everything that may be
utilized by himself and his household, as FAR a. soil
and climate will permit.
have passed over these various causes briefly.
7 do not deem it necessary to dwell upon them 10
icncth but will merely Ieiicrae the fart that f1r
hem the remedy IS feasible. and 1t depends upoa {
farmers Themselves to provide if. No one can
relieve them OF thi. responsb.lty but am thankful
10 say that owing partly to their own efforts there
exist to-day in many states valuable instumc'iai
ties capable of materially aiding them in their w'r.
and today in til, country. no farmer need be witt
out all the aid that knowledge and science can In
part.
FARM MORTGAGES.
The burden Of mortgages upon farms. homes and
lands Is unquestionaly dscouragirg in The extreme.
and while In some cases. doubt this LOAD NAV
have been too readily assumed. stiil IN The majority
Of cases the mortgage has been the result Of nerc
tity. | except Of course. such mortgages ~ fcprr
sent balances OF purchase money. which are Iaih'"
evidences of the farmers ambition and cnterpii- @
than of his poverty. on the other hand those
mortgages with which land has been cncumbc;rd from
the necessities Of ito owner. drawing high rate, o.
interest often taxed in addition with a heavy COM
mission. have 10 day. in the face Of continued de-
preston In the prices Of staple products become very
irksomc. and in threaten the farmer with
loss OF home and land. II Is a question OF
difficulty % all those who seek ~ remedy the lis from
which farmers suffering. At present price,
fhe farmer finds that II takes more OF his products
TO get a dollar whcrcwith to pa; back the doli1i
he borrowed than il did when he borrowed it. The
Interest accumulttc.. while payment of the principal
.cems utterly hopeless ana the very depression which
We are discussing makes the renewal Of tdc MORTGAGE
10 ared /. IN 4tp
this phase Of the subject with The question 81 an
Undue limitation OF currency. Many carry tais
line Of argument t. extremes. but IL Is By
impossible that these subjects correlated. How
ever the question of currency is receiving
special attention from another branch OF the GOV,
crnment Legislation this subject j. now y nd
irg before Congress. and can. doubt. look foi
An early and satisfactory solution Of this vexcd
problem.