The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-04-04

Thus the staple products OF agriculture by
increase Of farms. by railroad building and
laqd settlement and the increase OF agri-
cultural implements are grown 10 excess,
while other products with which our farm
ers are not familiar are neglected and left
to foreign labor 10 produce. while our own
rural labor il only partially employed, or
else in crowdlng production of these old
staples, and still further lowering prices and
intensifying dissatisfaction with the results
OF agricultural effort II is futile 10 attempt
to delay the law Of supply and demand. 50
long rs farmers insist on growing only the
bread. grains. cotton. tobacco and cattle.
aud 20 neglect other products which are
needed. which we import ut cost OF more
than <1o.voo.co annually. just long viii
the iamentation over low prices continue.
Dlversfcation Is essential ~ agricultural
salvation. There are writers and speakers
who are doing incalculable injury by their
influence In repression Of any tendency TO a
wider range Of rural production. encourage
ing Incidence and idlcncss, paralyzing en-
terprse. intcnsifyIng rural inertia and en-
couraging dependence on foreign produce
ton and the draining OF the resources of the
| country 20 foreign lands. They appear TO
deprecate any effort toward ndcpendc nee
/ or the cultivation Of self reliance, the slim.
| ulatlon Of invention. the self acquisition 81
| manual skill. or the development 81 the
| rural taste. Their advice points in the a.
| rection 81 aimless poverty and practice al
| serfdom-
| POLLY OF AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS.
| The agricultural exports OF the United
\ States during the past year amounted r.
about s5a0,vo.0)) az the seaports. or about
| xf000O0,00 on the farms. The agricultural
imports amounted 20 over xsis.poo.n 0l at pc RI.
OF shipment. and fully Noo.0o.coo with
frcights and commissions added without
| further allowance for undcryaluation Thu.
II takes most ~ our agricultural exports &
pay for agricultural imports. These import
are largely food and fibcrs The heavier
Items for lsss - we're rs follows.
sugar and mnias-es .*.......S 327r. s
Animals and their products, except
Fibcrs. animal and vegetable I'LL. 5si5s'a'
Fruits and nuts s........ ............. r.1tt. III
Barley and other ccreals........-.. s,aFI.11
Tobacco. leaf. 1855. "a
Nines.....-. ........s-......... ','V5,s'
Total. S2gs.ass. a.
Most ~ this importation should De pro
duc.d here. and many minor products no
named: VA fact. there l. iitficOn the list. ok
cept tea and coffee. that should be imported
There are many plants yielding fruits, dye.
medicines and other products useful In tn
arts. or for food. that could be profItabl,
grown, after suitable experiment, for IN
supply ~ a demand already existing. or Il
~ created. and utilizing rural labor and IN
crcasing the wealth ofthe country.
THE nArAcious MTDpLhMAS
There v further cause Of low price
which farmers should Understandings ain
} cult 20 remedy, demanding serious consider
/ alton and wise action. II is found ia III
! combination " carriers and iniddlcmcn
4 absorb large share Of the proccedso on III
r sale 81 farm products. Bccvcs are sold b
I growers for seven tcnth- 10 three. fonrths
ID ~ A ~ NJ Ig
X y sold 10 consumers IN the retail markets
n little, u any, reduction from tho highc
9 prices ~ the last twenty wears For Il
stance. prime rib roasts have been sold
l. Washington during that period for TWEEN
J. cents per pound. and sirlon steaks for u