The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-05-16
ing the price of the food staples,
and insuring prosperity and COM
fort to all.

fort TO all.
No other panacea will cure hard
times, a profitable outlet, by di-
versi.ication and extension, fol
constantly augmenting rural labor
can alone make rural industry
profitable. If the policy of going
abroad for all fibers, except cotton
shall be put into permanent prac-
tice, md for all sugar and fruits,
barley and oil seeds, to be paid
for in corn and wheat and cotton,
which are already crowded into
foreign markets to the last pound
and bushel, there will be no neces-
sity for single tax to make the
farmers land valueless, and no
need of account books or pocket
books, and little demand for books
of any kind.
And yet there is gross ignorance
abroad of the extent of these limi-
tations of our agriculture, and of
the means of recuperation. Many
of our farmers are delaying the
emancipation of rural industry,
and seeking to import cordage to
bind upon thier backs still closer
their present burden. Instead of
enlarging the range of profitable
production, they are seeking to re-
strict it, The wheat growers in
sist upon going to the antipodes
for binder Irvine, while million
acres of fax fiber is wasted in adj
joining fields, and when they
could produce hemps enough
within six months to bind the
wheat of the world. The cotton
growers want to go to India for
iute, which viii grow in their cot
ION fields as readily as weeds. If
We viii not produce the twine to
bind our sheaYes, we shall have
40 right to complain of so cents
per bushel for the one or five
cents per pound for the other.
Jute is not grown in this coun-
.ry to any appreciate extent, but a
good substitute has been adopted.
The low grades of cotton manufac-
-ured in the A inch bagging
makes better covering for cotton
than jute. We will have to pay
more for it tbs year than lutte. !
The manufacturers of jute are now
their bagging ut one half
lie priae they sold it for two years
ago, but it is to our interest to buy
cotton bagging, and thereby en-
its manufacture, not as a
matter of sentiment but as a
question of self interest and politi-
,al economy Hence the Farmers
Alliance of the south has adopted
cotton bagging.
During the last ten years more
han two million workers in agri-
armed with improved i'm
have been added to the
seven millions that were making
,orn and wheat and cotton, and
hall they still insist on the same
United range of effort, walk in
he same burrows their fathers
and seek to live and die
n the same over done and profit
ess routine?
If SO, agricultural depression
viii become chronic and intensi-
led to a degree not known at pres
INT. Shall farmers hug the chain
IF their independence, limit the
range of their industry, refuse to
strike out into new paths, and
sink into comparative idleness and
There are millions of
hem too intelligent and enterpris-
ing and ambitious to cooperate
in any such scheme of self-degra-
lion.
1t has been stated in this report
that there is a tendency to extrav-
agance in town life, which is imi-
lated in rural circles. This may
indicate progress, however it
should not be encouraged. What
wa farmers should strive to ex
eel is in identifying our homes,
making them the happiest
and dearest spot on earth to our
selves and our children, also in
the management and cultivation
Of our farms, the care of our stock
and last but not least the care of
ourselves.
The next synopsis of the agri-
cultural report will probably be
written by Mr.. Sim Whitfield, as
that gentleman has promised me
to do his part in writing up agri-
cultural reports that may be of in
terest to the readers of the News.
Luck and Labor.
Luck IS waiting for something
to turn up. Labor, with keen
aves and sfrOuo will will turn ND