St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-11-29
DOES FARMING PAYf
r. the almost universal complaint among

If the almost universal complaint among
farmers at the present time were well
founded, there would be but one answer to
this question. Not only would it be that
farming does not pay. but that farmers
were on the verge of ruin. We apprehend
that the complaint is not made with any
uniform or even definite idea of what
would be paying farming. Nor are there
many farmers who really know whether
their farming pays or not. IL does not at
all follow because prices of all kinds OF
farm produce are low. that farming does
not pay. 1t may be that other things are
equally low, and that the balance is as
good as ever it was There is tendency
among farmers when prices are low to find
fault with the manufacture of machinery
and with railroads and the government
instead of looking into. the facts of the case.
If farmer can buy as much as he ever
could with his produce, his farming pays
as we'll as it ever did, although he may not
handle as much money. Edward Atkln-
son, the highest statistical authority, main
tains it'll facts that measured with the
cos of production now and in bygone
wears, and by the present rs well as past
pure chasing power of what the farmer pro.
duces. farming is as profitable as ever If
|
produce, there has also been decline in
| the price of farm machinery since 1880 of
| from thirty to sixty per cent. The same Is
true of groceries, dry goods, etc. The
| Ornnqe Judd Farmer SAYS the farmer has
gained more by reductions in his favor,
| than he has lost from the decreased value
of his products There is too much pes
simism among the farmers and about farm
| ing. To find out whether farming pays,
one should first ascertain thespresent value
| of the farm, and compute interest on that
at the legal per cent. Then add to that
the value Of the labor of man ard beast
expended on the farm, and whatever is
|aFxDended for implements, fertilizers, etc
! This would make the debtor side of the
farm. For the creditor side we have the
produce of the farm. This includes what
is sold, which is definite. Besides this we
must also add what is consumed by man
and beast. This latter is not taken into
consideration in estimating the profit OF
farming, and here the great mistake is
made. If the labor of man and beast is
charged to one side, what they consume
must be credited to the other. Add the
use of the beasts outside the farm, for
pleasure, etc, would go to the credit side.
The farmer does not take in that his living
is as valuable as that of the mechanic.
Bring all these things into the account,
and credit his living and other things as
others pay for them, and then if the two
sides balance, farming has paid.
1t may be also that the farm has beer
permanently improved, which is profit
VIII ch will bear interest in the future. 81
few farmers keep account of these things
that they cannot tell whether their farm
ing pays or not. II they find IL Themselves
in debt they conclude that farming doe:
not pay, while the fac. Is, they are IN dep
from other reasons, and would be in deb
in any other calling just the same Inc
trouble is in themselves, and not in The
farm. Besides, there is great difference
in the value of the labor of farmers Tha
of one may be worth twice as much as tina
Of another One is good farmer and thu
other is poor one, side by side; on'
plays while the other works, and on
works harder and wiser than the other
Brains have value in farming as well a
industry. We know of one farmer VIII
keeps an account with every lot on hi
farm. credits it with the interest on it
value, and with all it produces at marEe
prices, and charges it with all the labo
put on it. He knows not only whether Ia
lot pays, but also what pays best on til
; lot. That farmer is ranked as most in
telligent farmer, and is growing rich. TIL
living of farmers is different. and here
> where the profit is used up or saved. Al
old Quaker, esteemed very honest, used t.
> say to his customers. GAS l live, canno
sell that for any less" And for years n
one noticed the emphasis he put on tn
words to tell the truth, until one of hi
customers replied to him, LAS you live
then you must live differently" AS b
? lived, his business must pay large profits
, otherwise lie must change his style of liv
, leg. Here is the trouble with farmers an
! ali classes; the style of living Is too ex
pensive for the product of their labor.
d one must have fine carriages and his hous
f be furnished with Brussels carpets an
q piano, and other things to correspond, b
o cannot expec. his farm to pay for then
If his wife and daughters must have sill
dresses and other things to match, thel
cannot be surplus.
But the manner of living has nothin
really to do with the question whethe
farming pays. The question is simpl
this: Does farming pay interest on none
o invested, and fair price for labor b
slowed? The farmer boasts of his ind
9 pendencs, and may take day off when b
I pleases, and gets good food and plenty {
f 1t, and his calling is respected, and if b
>. farm does not yield large profits. it givs
comfort and health and home, and nothin
1 pays better in this country than to rails
|, farmers SONS and daughters.-CtncSnndt,
in New York Erangeltst.