The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-29
DODGE ON rHE DEPRESSION.
a Department Report Discusses
tho Troubles OF American Farns-

a Department Report Discusses
tho Troubles OF American Farns-
ere.
The prevailing depression in Aneri-
can agriculture is treated by 6tatisti
clan j. r. Dodge in the March repdt
OF thsdepartment OF oiagriculture. y
prevalence OF low prices 10 noted, I'D
the feeling OF discouragement In ruraA
circles throughout the world ia ind
dic4ted, but it 10 less severe here than
in other countries. Though prices of
implements, utensils and fabrics are
also low, the farmers interest account
is unreduced, and his mortgage harder
to lift. The main cause OF low prices
is referred to the inexorable law OF
supply and demand. Wheat and corn
are cheap because OF overproductiOn.
Immigration has increased the popu-
lation 100000 In 10 years. Tho
nter-continental areas have bean
carved into farms free to natives and
foreigners, opening millions OF acres
to cultivation. Railroad extension
has stimulated production and over
WheImed the east with western pro-
Mr.. Dodge says while there 10 an OK
cess OF production OF lew staples,
like wheat, there are insufficient sup
plies OF many other necessary prod
ucts, and total absence Of scores Of
Others which should furnish profita-
BILE employment to rural labor.
There is a too narrow range Of crou.
ping. Diversification 10 essential to
agricultural salvation. There are Inn
ports costing two hundred and forty
millions OF dollars per annum OF agri-
cultural products which should be
| produced here. These are sugar,
animals and their productions,
| fibers, fruits and nuts, barley,
leaf tobacco, and wines. The
statistician treats OF what ha
characterizes as the folly OF wheat
growers, insisting on going Co the au.
| tipodes for binder twine, while q mill
| ion acres OF fax 6bre 10 wasted In ad-
| joining fields, and when they could
grow hemp enough In six months TO
bind the wheat OF the world. This is.
no says. excepted only by the twin
folly OF cotton growers, who are wild
Co 20 to India Tor juts, when 1T viii
grow in their cotton fields 90 readily
as weeds. Depression more intense
will result, it is predicted, II farmersl
4 continue to restrict their efforts.
Another serious cause ofdepression.
he says. is the exorbitant share 0i
farmers products taken by lddle-
men and carriers. The army IN deal.
ers in futures disturb the natural dow
OF trade, check expectation by a tenn
porary rise, to be followed by lower
prices and greater fluctuations. Spec
ulators depress prices when careers are
full, and boom them when farmers have
nothing TO sell as at present. The
community is infested with peetilsnt
swarms of nonproducers. The curse
OF speculation blights and consumes
the result OF honest INDUSTRY. L,eechas
fasten on every product OF labor and
suck from il the life blood oi profit.
Men who producenothing. who neither
toll ON farms nor spin IN nfactories, are
absorbing the wealth sof the country
by combinations without censciencs
and service without equity. IL IL npg
gested thav farmers may be compelled
70 retail their own fruits and vegeta-
0les, sell their own meats and manu-
facture their own -four.