The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-04-17
A FARMERS PLEA.

A FARMER's PLEA.
Tread an article not long ago on the
causes of so many farms being vacated. |
After reading it through, | found the |
sum and substance of it to be that the
people who occupied these farms thought |
they could do better elsewhere. Being a
farmer myself, think can explain the
main causes of so many being vacated
and falling into the hands of the tax col
lector, also the shrinkage in farms and
farm property.
The dairy product is adulterated to
such an extent that it is only question
of time which shall go, the adulterated
dairy product or the honest dairy butter.
There is compound of ingredients
called oleomargarine. This butter was
manufactured in France during her
struggle with Prussia, and also during
the German seige of Paris, and was soon
after introduced into this country, where,
under the Democratic Administration, 1t
got it rights recognized by paying two
cents revenue on each pound manufac-
tured. The damage to the producers of
pure butter which has resulted from the
manufacture and introduction of cleo
margarine and spurious limitations of the
natural product is well known; the rec
ords of our farm trade show it. Our ex-
ports had reached value of $1,000, 600
per year when the appearance of cleo
margarine among our shipments excited
distrust of foreign consumers. Since
that time the demand has dropped to
S2,0O0,OO0, a loss to the dairy men OF So
100000. There was exported from the
United States in 1887, 1856, 1913 pounds OF
oleomargarine, and exported from Bos-
ton alone in 1899, 1891 ,S95 pounds.
There are 1859 people in the oleo bust
ness; twenty-three manufactures. There
were So. G64, 024 pounds manufactured in
1899; in 1888, "a, 325, 520; in 1887, 32,54l,-
936. This amounting to lO2, 33l ,4SO
pounds: profit to the United States, 81
046. 620.60, and the loss to the producers
of honest butter many times that sum-
There were in 1880, 4,OOS,9O7 farms,
valued at $40, 1877, 006, 776. They have GER
tainly shrunk One-quarter; in fact there
is comparatively no sale for them at ALL
Now why this loss? In order to explain
we will have to commence with the COW.
Ten years ago a good milch COW was
worth $50 to SIS; now from S25 to $50.
Butter years ago from 40 to 45 cents per
pound: now II and rs cents. Hay now
is very low and stock won't average over
S13 per head, not including oxen. Hay
two tons of hay; loss to the farmer Sl2
per head. Taxes must be paid and in
terest, for the most or large per centage
of the farms are mortgaged. The only
way left is to sell stock for what it will
bring. Sell the hay to pay taxes and
other bills. Hence the low price of hay.
Selling the hay is farmers last resort;
next comes foreclosure of mortgage or
selling for taxes, and then is added to
the list of deserted farms the cause, as
given by some. that the occupant of that
farm thought he could do better else
where or preferred city to country life,
Under the Democratic Administration
and to live up to Democratic principle,
the COW being a Republican, must 90,
and the hog and the Western steer was
proclaimed for dairy purposes. This is
costing the country more than the civil
war and three times as much as has been
paid out for pensions since the war.
Every beeve averages 4OpOunds of sub
stances used for butter purposes mixed
with lard and other ingredients. The
hog five pounds. We understand by this
that 40 pounds is taken from the dead
carcass of every slaughtered beeve. This
is mixed with cows butter. We also
have margarine, butterinc and dairy but
terine, which is not taxed by the Reve-
nue. Department. To what extent imita-
lions are mixed with pure cows butter
and sold as such is not known. 1t is
thought to a large extent. There is also
large amount of oleo imported into this
country.
The attention of the Secretary of State
has been called to it and he recommends
immediate action among those interested
in the dairy industry. In 1881 there were
147 ,905, 6l4 pounds of cheese exported
from the United States, in 1899, S4,990,-
S2S, a loss of 60,000,000, representing 49,
600, 600 loss to the trade of the country.
The shipments to England have fallen of
more than 50,0000OO. A statement from
J. l.. HarwOod Banner explains it. He
makes complaint through the Secretary
of State to the Agricultural Department
at Washington.
LIVERPOOL, Jan. s, 1890.
DEAR SIR:-The Directors of this As
sociation wish to draw your attention tC
the expectation from the United States
to the United Kingdom of what is termed
filled cheese. This article is compound
of SKINNED milk and grease, such as
oleomargarine or lard. My Directors be
lieve that this product is exceedingly
harmful to the dairy farmers of YOU
country. This product is neither whole
some nor palatable, but is injurious tC
the American cheese trade, as it curtail'
consumption of the pure article, and il
disgusting the community with Ameri
can cheese. We believe the remedy liei
in prohibiting the production. We ash
for your assistance in this matter, anC
trust you will put this into the hands o
the Government.
J. L. HARDWOOD BANNER,
Secretary.
You can see by these figures that thi
Government loses about 81 10000 OF
the export trade of the United States OF
butter and cheese, and the loss to til,
dairymen of this country is over 5000,
100000 on the dairy product, farms anC
farm property. Our means of liveli
hood are thus impaired. Creamerie
where honest butter is produced are fail
ing or going out of the business, and tn
same with cheese factories.
Producers of milk are to be paid &C
cording to the price of butter. Adulter
ated butter and cheese is the creates
curse that was ever perpetrated in thi
country; it is rObbing the honest pro
Queer. Three States have called for ait
in the last few months and more will fol
low suit if something is not done, AM
that very soon. Ohio has prohibited tn
manufacture or sale of oleo. say, re
instate the COW and make clean sweel
of all adulterated dairy product. Hav
nothing for sale or offered for sale bu
pure cows butter. If this could be don
every vacant farm would be occupied
Farmers would not feel as though the
were on the road to ruin and want. NeN
Hampshire and Vermont are Offering in
ducements for Swedes to come and occu
ply the deserted farms. Under the exist
ing laws they are paying in thei
money, only to go as their predecessor
went, the farms to be added once NOR
to the list of deserted farms. Let tn
Government say to these men, the farme
and old soldier who defended his cOuntr
in time of need, go back to the old farm
and as you have defended this country S
we will defend you against any fraudr
lent or imitation of your honest product
and may you never feel in your declinin
years that your home is being under
mined by any compound called or sold a
anything put pure cows butter.-Fdrmt
Il. in Boston journal.