The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-04-24
WAsnISGroN, D. g., April 23.-Secre.
tary Rusk, OF the Department Of Agri.
culture, has given the following letter to
the press; ..
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE,
OFFICE or THE SECRETARY

| !
send out an expression OF my views In
letters covering merely phase or por.
lion OF the questions involved. Such q
course would be MUST TO myself aud 10
those who address me. l can only con.
sent to express my views, such rs they
are, on the entire question, reviewing
the whole subject and considering it in
all its various phases.
What is 10 be done? Such is the uues.
ton which con!ronts every thinking
nan. Too many Of those who arc Civ.
ing the matter consideration look at il
from only one point Of viaw. Que at.
tributes the difficulty to one cause, and
oncto another, and most people seem
to regard two orthree causes 1t most rs
entirely responsible for the present con.
dition OF affairs. This is mistake.
The fact, however, explains tou certain
extent that soine OF the remedies pro.
posed, bid fair, il carried out, to bring
about result as Objectionable us the
present situation. Great discouragement
is very apt to lead to extravagauce in de.
vising remedial agencies, and we must
beware OF remedies that may be worse
than the disease. 1t is only by a very
careful diagnosis o! the case thu! We can
possibly attain to efficient remedy. The
present agricultural depression, it seems
to me, can be traced to a combination OF
many causes, 80 many that probably no
man can enumerate them all. | will
only endeavor to point out some which
seem to me more directly responsible.
They may be divided into two classes.
First: Those causes inherent to the
farmers themselves and for which they
alone can provide possible remedy.
Second: Those over which the farmer
himself has no direct control, and the
remedy for which must bc provided as
far as remedy is possible, by law, and for
such legislation the responsibility de.
wolves upon the legislative bodies oi the
States and Of the Nation.
WHAT THE FARMER MUST DO.
I will contine myself to mere enum.
Grafton Of the first class OF causes indi-
Gated. On many farms, regret to say,
We find depreciation OF the productive
power OF the land due to careless culture.
We find want too often OF business.
like methods, due to the fac. that in
earlier times business training was not
regarded as an essential preparation for
the farmers work, whereas, today, with
altered conditions, when every penny,
and l may say every moment OF time,
has to be prohtably accounted for, and
in tile face OF worldwide competition. n
successful farmer must be rs well trimmed
and careful in business rs the store.
keeper, and his equal in Intelligence and
general education. Nor are tile i'm.
portant questions OF supply and demand
Of market prices studied with the yipi.
lance which characterizes the methods
Of our merchants and manufacturers.
The last, moreover, have the advantage
OF transacting their business in immedi.
ate proximity to trade centres, where
the widest information in reference
thereto is readily obtainable. Our farm.
ers' organizations are wisely seeking to
supplement this want for the farmer;
the agricultural is press earnestly work.
ing in the zane direction, and one
Of the most important duties devolyinp
upon this department, consists in gath
ing and promptly distributing reliable
information on all those subjects which
are essentially interesting to the farmer
It remains for him to avail himseli oi
the information thus supplied us his
chief protection not only against over.
supply Of certain products, but against
possible oyer'reaching on the part Of
purchasers. The farmer must look with
suspicion upon any attempts to abridpe
the sources Of his information. His ad.
vantage will always be in the fullest
knowledge Of the facts. He must care
fully study the character and the quality
OF his products rather than mere quan.
tity, and always bear in mind, that
whether prices are high or low, 1t is al.
ways the best goods at the best obtain.
able prices that arc the most readily
sold. Many Of our farmers have been
land.greedy, and find Themselves tho
owners Of more land than they can
properly care for in view OF the com.
paratively high price of labor in the
rural districts, and in view OF the fact
that but a small portion OF mankind,
comparatively, can proltably control
the labor Of others. The prudent farmer
will limit his efforts TO that which he
can efficiently perform. Again,-more
attention must be given, especially or
our Western farms, to the raising by the
farmer, for his own use, everything TIM,
may bs utilized by himself and his
household, as fur as soil and climate vii
permit, @-..g
~ FARM MORTGAGES.
j The burden Of mortgages upon farms
homes and lands, ia unquestionably dis.
couragiug in the extreme, and while il
some cases no doubt this load may hay.
been too readily assumed, still In tn,
majority Of cases, the mortgage has beer
the result OF necessity. l except o
course, such mortgages us represent bal
ances Of purchase money, which ar,
rather evidences OF the farmers ambi
ton and enterprise than OF his poverty
On the other hand, those mortgage
with which land has been encumbere,
from the necessities OF its owner, draw
ing high rates Of interest, often taxed il
addition with heavy commission, hav
to-day, in the face OF continued depres
sion in the prices OF staple products, be
come very irksome and in many case
threaten the farmer with loss Of hom
and land. It is question OF grave dill
Guilty to all those who seek 10 remed
the ills from which our farmers ar
suffering. At present prices the iarme
finds that it takes more OF his product
to get dollar wherewith to pay bao
the dollar lie borro we'd than it did whe
!, he, borrowed it. Tho interest account
lates, while payment Of the priacipl
: seems utterly hopeless, and tue very d,
! preston which we were discussin
! makes the renewal OF tho mortgage mo
. difficult. Many people are disposed