The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-08
WARNER MILLER TO FARMERS.

overproduction Caused Depression-In-
crease of Population Brings Remedy.
Ex-senator Warner Miller was one of the
speakers who addressed the farmers of Os-
wego and Onondago counties at their
thirteenth annual picnic at Three Rivers,
n. Y. The ex-senator told the agriculture
lists that the signs OF the times were bright
ening for them. Among other things, he
said:
THE immediate cause of the depression
in the field of agriculture and the low
prices OF farm produce is the large over
production. Farming has simply been
following the memorable laws of supply
and demand. This depression in our
country has been no greater, however, than
in England and other countries. 1t has
not been SO great as in England, for the
farmers there are turning their wheat
fields into meadows because they cannot
compete with the Dakotas. The cause of
this overproducuon can be found directly
in the rapid building of railroads in
the West, opening up vast fields,
which require only blowing to- make them
yield large crops. The two Dakotas pro-
duce all the surplus wheat in our market,
or an amount equal to that surplus, and if
road had been deferred twenty-five years
there would have been no surplus. This
building of Western railroads has operated
against the Eastern farmer. Many parts
OF this state are especially adapted to the
growing of wheat and corn, but we have
had to give up these crops to. large ex-
tent and resort to dairying. Formerly.
our lands Brought high prices. because
they had been improved and fenced, etc.,
and they returned a very fair profit to
owners on investments of from $3.50 to
$500 an acre. All this was changed when
large, fertile tracts in the West began to be
given away for homesteads or sold for $125
an acre. From this cause Eastern farms
have fallen during the last twenty-five
years third from their old value
Il think, however, that there are RENE
dies. The last census shows that our
population is about 65, 100000. AT present
our agriculture could support only about
100000 or 100000. OF course, if the
population should increase at a more rapid
raIe than the development of the farms. it
would take only few years for the demand
TO equal the supply. Such Is the case, as
is shown by statistics. Take, for instance,
the matter of wheat growing. The acreage
is nearly 3 0O0, 900 less han il was four or
five years ago. Four or five years ago the
acreage OF wheat reached a maximum, and
il has slowly decreased ever since. We
this country. If the present rate OF in
crease in the population III excess of the
production continues for the next FIVE
years, we shall not be producing more than
We consume. The Tide will have turned.
and think il has turned already. What |
have said about wheat is oily partly true
OF corn. The average of corn will not in
crease so rapidly hereafter as during
the last five years. Perhaps the pros
poets for improvement in the great indus
try OF dairylng are not so bright as in
other lines of agriculture, because when
the West goes out of wheRt-growing il en-
tiers the field OF cattle raising. Take Iowa
for example. IL has been looked upon as
one OF the greatest of wheat-growing
states. but now IL ranks next TO the stats of
New York In dairying, and is the second
state OF the Union in that respect. The
remedy for the depression of dairying is
more difficult to find than remedies for de-
preston in other lines OF agriculture. The
decreased acreage of wheat is tending to
bring back the wheat belts to that crop,
and ! predict that the improvement in the
next twenty years will be yet greater, so
that he state of New York will rely upon
diversified agriculture instead of on
dairying alone. 1t is impossible for the
farms In the West to keep up with the
population. The remedy must come, and,
rs have said, it will come within the next
I'VE years.
Another cause OF the agricultural de-
preston has been the condition of the
currency. There has been TOO little of it.
The passage of the recent silver bill has had
marked influence on the prices of agricuI-
turai products. Even in India the price of
wheat has increased materially. II is true
that part of the advanced price has been
due 10 short crops. but not all. The in
crease IN the circulating medium is sure 10
be potent factor IN making agriculture
more profitable. While the farmers have
been having hard time. the skies are
brighter for the future. Within the next
few years. five years at the most. the con-
dition OF agriculture will be greatly i'm
proved"
Mr. Miller touched somewhat on the
place or the farmer in politics and spoke of
the reforms OF The farmers clubs were
sgiiaiing in the matter OF taxation. He
recognized the fact that there was great
need OF reforming taxation, but he saw ser
ious d Thculty IN making the laws in regard
10 ievying on personal properly as stringent