Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-07-12
DOES IT. THE TARIFF NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AGRI-
CULTURAL DEPRESSION.

The New York Bulletin in double column editorial
June 80 unfods its little tale OF woe in regard
to the poor farmer and tho chief cause of agricultural
depression" and endeavors to show in what an une-
quail struggle the poor farmer is engaged 10 order
to maintain himself, and, finally, that the protective
policy of the past thirty years the and respon
sible for all his tronbles-al of which from strictly
nou-partisan paper is important If true"
Now is there dangerous impoverishment" or "ex
traordinary depression "unasualy o'o prices for
farm productsg We will take the four years Just prior
to the during James Buchanan's administration,
the close OF the sixteen years of low duties or tariff
for revenue period, and compare the prices of what
the farmer received then for his principal products,
and see just where he stands Chicago, being then,
as now, the controlling market. take their quota
tons:
In 1858 wheat sold in that market at SO cents; in
1850 at so; 1861 at So cents Corn sold in 1853 30
cents 1860 at 27 in 1861 at 20 cents. Oats sold in
1853 at 101 in 1860 at 1G cents in 1861 at 49, Live
hogs sold in 1861 ct $780, and in 1862 at S175 None
of the above great staples have during the period Of
twenty eight years of protection sold at any APP
proach to the figures are they near it now. The
farmers may want to 60 back to those times, but we
think not. Freight rates, which give the producer
another advantage, have been lowered since 1870
from Chicago to New York, 81 per cent corn, and
50per cent. wheat. The average rate in 1870 was,
on corn, % cents per bushel; 1885, 1899 cents; on
wheat in 1870, 80 cents in 1885, 15 cents, part of
which decline in freight must result in favor Of the
poor farmer.
Now let us look at the buying side OF the farmers
account and see how he stands under protection. We
will go back beyond 1880 to show how great has been
the decline in what he has to buy. Take Moving
machines $780, then sS5 Farm wagon, now $50,
1t nj
pers s130, then $685. Sugar, now Gle, then 1Oc.
Salt Sacks $685. then 1926; Kerosene, 13c.
then 25c Clothing and dry goods 80 to so per Ct less
Iron and nails, 20 to % per cent ess-So that there
is not one single article recall, that can
be named used farm that has not been cheaper
ed within the past % years from 10 to so per cent.
simply by manufacturing ourselves, and in other
branch of business has greater laborsavng progress
been made, thus giving the poor farmer not only
cheaper TOOLS but more mouths to fill and an enlarged
homo market for his products
| We have had twenty,nine years of continuous pro-
tective laws and the nation at the end finds itself
prosperous and independent with results such have
never been equaled in history, and has no paral-
lei in the recorded history of the world.
In 1860, after fourteen years of low revenue
tariff business Frustrated and agriculture depress.
ed. as our figures show. We then had neither money
nor credit; both are essential. We have a surplus
now and a spotless credit No thing, standing
alone surely tests the wisdom of the nations policy
as the nations credit
We would suggest that increased production not
only in our own but new producing countries such as
India for example, that in 1870 exported hundred
and forty-fve thousand bushels, in 1889 exported
thityfive millions, the chief cause and DOT the
tariff. The wonder is that prices well aintan.
ed and many thinking men believe that it was by the
enlargement of the home market, through the opera.
tons Of the tariff that has prevented much lower
level for farm products.-JourRal of Commerce.