The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-05-02
CAUSES AND REMEDIES.
Secretary Rusk on the Present Era
OF Agricultural Depression
The Causes Pointed out and tho Possible
Remedies Advanced = Home and
Foreign Competition b
Transportation Question.


present agricultural depression anu II
possible remedies therefor:
For months past from All parts 81 n
e3untry there have reached me commnnles
sions. many of them from large bodies
men, all ~ them from persons deserSin
consideration. and All ~ them deeply 1
earnest respecting the prcscni condition (
agricultural depression. IN most eases "a
communications suggest the convection 4
thc writers, not only A. 90 the gravity ~ m
emergency, hut a~to a. cause OF causes an
possible remedies. aud an uf Them appe,
g. me for sune expression ~ my views n
she subject 10 answer each one 81 tines
communications separately would be NOR
than any one man can undertake 20 10. aud
moreover, ! am reluctant 10 send ont an "a
preston of my vlows "a letters COVERING
merely q phase 81 q portion of the luv~
tions involved. such a course would be I'm
Just 70 myself and 10 those who address me
! can only consent 81 express my views
such A. they are. on the entire question. RE-
Stewsng the Whole subject and considering
~ Ia all it, various phases
1t would be- a work 81 sunercrogation AT
this time 70 undertake q prove the exist.
ence of severe agricultural depression
This T. unyersallya admitted Representa-.
tive farmers and farmers associations are
constantly calling my attention 70 their
condition. urging the necessity for some
Mta~uFt OF itIFA- Inc situation NArfNuf~
All the attention which our wi<est minds
can devote to Il. What j. u be done3 such
A. the question which confronts every think
ing man. Too many Of those who are giving
the matter consideration look AZ il from only
one point OF view, one attributes the dim.
Guilty 10 one cause. ana one 10 another. and
most people seem % regard two or three
causes az most a. entirely responsible for
the present condition OF affairs. This j. a
mistake. The fact. however. explains 10 N
certain extent that soma of tina rautaIfaz
proposed bid fair. II carried ont 70 bring
about "A result a. objectionable as u the pres
.nt SITUATION. treat uiscouragement l. very
lpt % lead 70 extravaganza i'm devi~ing
remedial agencies. and we must beware az
Remedies that may be worse than the dis.
ease. IL T. only by a very careful diagnosis
seficicnt remedy
The present agricultural depression. II
seems 10 me-, can be traced 20 a combination
OF many causes. 50 many. that probably no
one man can enumerate them all. l will
only ndeavor 10 point out some which seem
60 me more directly responsible. They may
be divided into two classes. ~ Thns.
causes inherent to the farmers themselves.
and for which they alone can provide A pos,
sibie remedy Cd Those over which the
farmer himself has no direct control. and
the remedy for which must be provided a.
far as remedy Is possible. by law. ana for
such legislation ~ responsibility deyolveS
OF the Nation.
I will conhne myself to a mere enumera |
ZION OF the first class OF causes Indicated
pn many farms. ! regret 10 say, we find 4 |
depreciation Of the productive pow ar III ~, |
land due 70 careless culture We find 4
want too often OF business-like methods
1uc 10 the fact that in earlier times business |
training was not regarded a. an essential |
preparation for the farmers work. Whereas
to-day. with altered conditions. when every
penny, and ! may say every moment Of time |
has to be probably accounted for. ma ~
the face OF the world wide competitor. a suc- |
cessini farmer must be as Wen trained and
careful IN business AS the Store-keeDc-. and |
his equal In intelligence and general educa-
zion. MOI are the important Questions 81
supply and demand Of market prices studied
with the vigilance which charactcrizes the
methcus OF our merchants and manufacf- |
urcrs. Ihese last. moreover. have the Al. |
vantage OF transacting their business In i'm.
the widest Information IN reference thereto
y readily obtainable. Our farmers organ
.xstions are wisely seeking 70 supplement
press II earnestly working in the same III.
Lcction; nnu one OF the most important
duties devolving upon this department con
st<ts ~ gathering and promptly distributing
information on Ali those ~uhierfs
which are essentially interesting to tie
farmer.
zHE vALUE or INFORMATION.
~ remains ior him g avail himself q the
tain produces but against possible over.
ssnen,ns on me part q purchasers. The
attempts 70 abridge the sources IL his IN.
His advantage viii always ia in
.ns tuiies. knowiedge Of the facts: He must
~ OF his products rather than mere onan-
tity. and always bear In mind that Whether !
goods at the best obtainable prices lnat a. !
The most readily sold. Many u our farmers
nave been land greedy, and ind themselves !
.rr owners OF more land than they can prop
high price Of labor in the rural districts. and /,
~ sts" OF the fact that but q small portion :
the labor Of Others. The nrndea, !
farmer Will limif his efforts IL thar which ~ ,
emcientiy perform. Again. more atten. !
lion must be given. especially On our W..t. I
crn farms. 20 the raising Nv the farmer ~, i
his own use. Of every thing that NAV beutii. !.
'zed by himself and his household. "a ar 4. \
-9ti and climate will rermit. !
! have passed over these various cansa. !
pffeny. q not deem Il necessary 10 dwell 4
npon lnem at length. but will merely relter- I,
ate the fact. that for them the remedy \. \
feasible, and II depends upon the farmer. =
themselves 70 provide il. No one can RI I,
them 81 this responsibility. bur / am \
1wn efforts. there exist TO-DAY In manv y
states valuable instrumentalities capable ~ !
materially aiding them IN their work. and =
o.uay, IN TINS. country, no farmer need ~ \
without all the aid that knowl.dur ANA =
science can impart. .
FARM MoRrGAGEs. i
The burden Of mortgages unon f.ra. p
ZONES ana lands - unquestionabiy df.cour. n
'ging ~ the extreme, and while IA xn,n. v
'asc- no doubt this load may have been tno a
.eauiiy assumed. still, In the majority IN y
asses. the mortgage has been the result ~ y
except. Of course. such mar I.
ssHes as represent balances 81 purcha.a q
money which are rather evidences ~ ira q
arfncrs ambition and enterprise than ~ p
~ poverty. On the other hand. those mort
Eagcs with which land has been lnruu
,ertu from the necessities OF it, owner y
lrawing high rates Of interest, often taxed q
y huuit!on with a heavy commission. have q
o*uhy, IN the lace Of continued de- preston 8
= the prices Of staple products. became y
cry irksome, and in many eases Threaten Ia
ne farmer with loss OF home and land. II II q
question 81 grave difficulty to All tho.c q
sho seek % remedy the Ills from which onr p
hriners are suffering. At present prices IN. u
afnier nnds that Il takes more OF III. prod. ~
,cts " get 4 dollar where with o. payback "
ne dollar he borrowed than II did when ~ y
~ The Interest accumulates A
ghile payment OF the PRINCIPAL seems utter 4
y hopeless. and the very depression which q
'c are discussing makes the renewal az tho a.
most uiflicult. Many pevple Ara q
isposcu - associate this phase uf the sub. y
rct with the question ~ an undue llmIta. A
ION 81 our currency. Many carry this line a
argument TO extremes. but Ii IL by no Y
neans impossible that THESE subjects are y
however the question 81 cur =,
tncy y now receiving special attention y
another branch ~ the nment. q
on the subject Ia now pcndInv \
efore congress and we can no doubt looE v
q an early and satisfactory solution . fthis q
excd problem. n
TRANSPORTATION. "
The question Of tran.nnrt.tto, n. II