New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-07
demand four or five times as great would put
it into their power to exact far higher prices
THE FARIERS' TROUBLE.

Il III
Why do Eastern farmers suffer? why have
prices of farm lands greatly declined, while
many farms in some Eastern States are aban-
doned because their former occupants couid
not get living out OF them? A correspondent
on this interesting subject is answered by ." The
New York Sun" with pertinent suggestions, ana
vet not with thoroughness. That paper is right
in saying that the farmers OF these days i've
less laborious lives, enjoy more comforts ana
Injuries, and spend much more than their
predecessors, while farm products have not ad-
vanced in value, nor have the resources OF
science been employed to multiply the pro-
ductiveness per acre or per hand, as in other
industries 1t also says with truth that the
protective tariff helps the farmer by creating
near him larger home markets for his products
But the greatest of all changes in his condition
remains to be considered.
The farmer of day has TO compete with
the whole world. Instead of the salling-ves-
sells and high freights of forty years ago swift
steamships and low freghts now turn the At
lantio into ferry. Instead of stages and
canals. by which transportation of bulky prod
nets was limited, and for long distances eco
nomicaly impossible thousands of freight
roll on steel rails past the farmer bearing the
products of every part of this vast continent.
He used TO raise wheat and for the years 1893
1878. inclusive, it never sold lower than > 20
per bushel In this market, commanding most
of the time from 81 so to 49, Now Dakota
farmers make profit in sending wheat LOO
miles by rail and selling it here at 70 cents.
The Eastern farmer used to raise cattle. Now
the cattlc-cars and the dressed beef-cars bring
abundant supplies from Texas He used TO
make butter and cheese. which now come in
enormous quantities from Ohio and Illinois,
He uSod 10 raise vegetables for the markets OF
great cities. but now swift trains or swift
steamers from tho sunny South deluge the
markets with supplies some weeks earlier than
he can produce them. He used TO keep poultry,
but now quick vessels bring 100000 600 eggs
in a year from Canada and Holland. Seek IN
what direction he may the farmer finds the
demand for his labor anticipated, narrowed or
wholly cut of, by the greater advantages OF
other climates other states. or by the cheap
labor of other countries. which modern trans
poration places at the command OF Eastern
buyers.
TO Mr. Carlyle il seemed long ago matter
of doubt whether diSancc-annihIlatlng nat
would provo an unmiNcd blessing. The farm
crs of the West and South have been annhllat-
inc distance for forty years. by the building OF
railroads, and then by building other compel
ing roads. and then by state regulations re-
ducing charges and now by an Interstate Com
MERGE law. until it has come 20 be phenomenon
10 get or 70 pay ; cents per bushel for moving
Grain from Chicago 70 Ncw-lor even in
winter whereas 90 cents used 70 be charged
thirty years ago. before the paper money era
Rates across The ocean have been correspond
incly reduced especially on freights this way,
because of the great number of vessels which
come hithcr for the bulky products Of Western
farms. The farmer, Of the West and south
now have quicker and cheaper access 10 the
great mnrkcts OF thi, continent than the farm
ers Of New York and New-Jersey formerly had,
and 10 the millions in the distant states the
change has brought mcalculabc benefit Al
- cents per hu,hol for transportation LOCO
miles if one raises - bushels 70 the acre. the
transportation tax j. : 50 per acre, and in
,oro,, o., and which costs $40 per acre Is only
60 cents Bu' the in'crcS, alone on Eastern
land which costs SlgO per acre would be 80.
II the Eastern land is much Of II cheaper, it
also has transportation to pay, and n Eastern
local rates II II il only little distance from
tho depot. five miles by wagon IS now moro
than equal 20 200 milo, by rail.
it is perhaps unfortunate for many Eastern
farmers that they have been able 10 move.
Western land is free and cheap. The benefits
which others are enjoying they also can share.
20 many make little effort 70 overcome the
now difficulties, but sell ont as best they can
,f al. 4 in
ycntion 70 the processes Of agriculture makes
little progress, naturally, whoro the most en-
crgctic and cntcrpriSing have such induce
mcnis 10 seek new fields of labor The pros
pclity of the West, gained through distance
annihilation has been gained largely at the
expense Of Eastern farmers and perhaps the
end is not yet. But this great change in the
cost OF transportation has created new condi-
tons for faim-owncrS of the East, to which
many have not yet found means to adapt them
..lt