St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-24
FARM PRODUCTS.
Some of the Reasons That They
Don't Net the Farmer Enough.

Some of the Reasons That They
Don't Net the Farmer Enough.
At the recent meeting of the Ohio
Board of Agriculture President Cham
berlain, of the Agricultural college, de-
livered an address OH the above topic,
of which the following is brief synop-
SIS:
With the opening statement that
farmers of the West were concerned
more with the selling problem than the
feeding problem, as they have plenty
OF food but low markets for their prod
ucts. President Chamberlain declared
that there is feeling all over the coun-
try that the agriculturist is being
wronged. While we have seen harder
times they affected all alike, but the
farmer is now suffering most of all.
They stand impositions longer than the
laborer because Of their accumulated
surplus; at the close of the week the
labOrer fluids his wages gone and moth
ing ill sight to live OH, and there is
strike; but the farmer only discovers
after long time that he is coming out
behind. The causes of the depression
which are commonly assigned are
taxes, railways, the demonstration of
silver, the tariff, over-prOduction, land
OwnerShips, trusts, mOnOpOlies, etc.
But looking deeper we notice few
facts. First, the gulf between the pro-
Queer and the consumer is widening in
certain things which the farmer pro-
duces but not in others. This is not the
case with what the speaker very aptly
termed natures original packages"
such as fruits, seeds, vegetables, eggs,
poultry, live stock-all such things as
the farmer finishes on the farm and
may sell direct to the consumer without
the intervention of manufacturer or
middleman. In these products there
has been even slight
advance in prices and the margin be
tween the producer and the consumer
has remained relatively about the
same. But the margin has increased
terribly on the manufactured farm pro-
ducts, such as oatmeal, roller flour.
dressed beef ga hog must be given for
a ham," is the saying in the Vest, but
ter, maple syrup, etc. These points
were elucidated, illustrated, and en-
vigorous manner, Three reasons for
this state of affairs he found in ~ adult
Grafton; (2) in manufacture under
patents, and (3) trusts. The operation of
either of these causes is impossible or
difficult with natures original pack
ages" although the railroad does affect
these. An egg cannot be adulterated
as can maple syrup; there Is no bogus
substitute for the colt raised on the
farm; the producer can take such prod
ucts direct to the consumer without the
opportunity being offered to manufact-
urers to adulterate or substitute. 1t has
come to pass in Iowa that poultry, colts
and cooperative creamery bu tier are
about the only products that pay the
farmer.
The lessons for farmers from these
things are several: First, raise natures
original packages" as much as possible,
and get as close to the consumer as
possible; one middleman may be neces-
sary, but avoid more than that. Second,
practice home and cooperative manu-
featuring, such as lard, hams, corned
beef. poultry. butter, cheese, maple
syrup, etc., and keep the product pure.
Third, buy all provisions at wholesale
for cash; narrow the margin in buying
as we'll as in selling. Fourth, kill adul-
teratiOn by law as the meanest kind of
stealing, and encourage home manu-
facture. Fifth, limit the monopoly of
patents to the public good. And lastly,
study trusts and the three bases of their
permanence: (D Control of the raw
material: (2l manufacture under pat
ents, and 81 transportation facilities;
and also study the railroad problem,
which is at the bottom of many trusts
and monopOlies.