New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-22

An economic student and Democratic sen
ator were asked the same question" hat Is
the cause of agricultural di~lrcssY' Mr.. Id
ward Atkinson replied Il venture to que~-
ton the existence Of any general distress among
the farmers. or Of any excessive ana Widespread
burden of mortgages" But senator Vest re-
Plies "Thc high tariff has depressed asti-
culture" Which tells the truth? Mr. Athin-
son is a wcll-lnown advocate of Free Trade
but he has reputation to sustain rs student
Of facts. Mr.. Vest laborcd under no such en-
balra,,mont. and it was easy for him to assert
"Tho tain has depressed agricultural
Mr.. Atkinson reasons that the increased pro-
luction OF farm products. notwithstanding their
low prices. contadictS the theory of general
distress rs does the report OF mortgage and
loan companies. which affirm that farm mort
cages are being readily met and paid of. The
crop Of corn in 1SSl was nearly l,SOO.u 600
bushels, and the average price on farms was
35.7 cents, but the farmers went ON raising
more. and last year produced = .il3.0O0 900
bushels. and the average farm price Is reported
rs 9S3 cents. The crop Of wheat went over
d.. OO0. 600 bushels in 1854, and the farm
price dropped to Gl.J cents per bushcl. Last
wear the yield was 1905 900 bushels, and
tho average farm price reported is COS cents.
These facts do not entirely support Mr. Atllin-
sons views, for there has been a Shrlnllagc IN
the area sown tO wheat. and apparently be-
cause in parts of the country its production has
ceased 10 be profitable. The production OF
corn may hitherto have been encouraged by
the power of marketing it with profit in the
Ia, In
low enough to cause a shrinlagc in area here
after Nor are there such public records OF the
MORTGAGE loans made and paid as to render the
COMPARISON Mr.. Atkinson suggests entirely
convincing
1t is fact that many farmers suffer from
other causes, to which Mr.. Atkinson also re-
fcrs failure to keep pace with the times IN
improvements and the use and care of tools,
and want of wisdom in adapting their crops
10 The state Of the markets. Mr. Vest admits
even more: "Thcy can diversity their crops,
and by that means make their calling much
more profitable" But that is true only whore
manufactures or other industries have provided
a market for other crops besides the great
staples. Yet Mr. Vest curously asserts that
manufactures have been unduly stimulated, and
that "instcad of fewer tilcrs Of the soil, we
need more" Mr.. AtkinSons remedy has much
more sense; farmers do need more careful and
scientific methods and can do much to anchor
ate their own condition. Yet the fact remains
that farm products are selling at exceptionally
low prices corn lower than ever on the farms,
wheat about 3 cents per bushcl above the low
est average on record, and beef at lower prices
than in any previous year except 1879 1t
would be strange if there were not some de
preston.
The obvious and natural remedy is the one
which Mr. Vest for political reasons refuses to
admit lie is like the patient who, being
fanatically inclined toward one school of medi-
cine preferred to die rather than to be cured BY