The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-05-02

as they are, on the entire question, f0vl0w.
ing the whole subject and considering IL in
all it's various phases.
The present agricultural depression, il
seems to me, can be traced to Q combina-
ton OF many causes, so many that prob
ably no one man can enumerate them all.
Twill only endeavor to point out some
which seehtt6 me- more directly RESPONSE
bic. They may be divided inttG " classes.
First: Those causes inherent to the farmA
ers themselves, and for which they alone
can provide q possible remedy. Second:
Those over which the farmer himself has
no. direct control, and the remedy for
which must be provided, IS fer 80 remedy
lie possible, by law, and for such legislation
the responsibility devolves upon the legis-
lative bodies of tho state and Of the ma.
ton.
What the Farmers Must Do:
I will confine myself to q mere enumefa-
ton of the first class Of causes indicated.
On many farms I regret to say We find Q
depreciation of the productive power Of
the land due to careless culture. We find
a want too often Of business like methods,
due to the fact that in earlier times BUSH
ness training was not regarded az an
essential preparation for the farmers work,
whereas to-day with altered conditions,
when every penny, and I may say every
moment Of time has 10 be probably &C.
counted for and in the face Of worldwide
competition, a successful farmer must bs
as we'll trained and careful in business a.
the store keeper, and his equal in intelli-
gence and general education. Nor are the
important questions Of supply and demand
OF market prices studied with the vigilance
which characterizes the methods of our
merchants and manufacturers. These
last moreover have the advantage Of
transacting their business in i'm
mediate proximity to trade centers,
where the widest information in
reference thereto is readily obsainable.
Our farmers organizations are wisely seek
ing to supplement this want for the farmer;
the agricultural press 10 earnestly working
in the same direction and one Of the most
important duties devolving upon this de-
partment, consists in gathering and
promptly distributing reliable information
on oil those subjects which are essentially
interesting to the farmer. It remains for
him to avail himself of the information
thus supplied as his chief protection not
only against over-supply Of certain pro-
ducts, but against possible over-reaching
on the part of purchasers. The farmer
must look with suspicion upon any at
temrts to abridge the sources Of his IN.
formation. His advantage will always be
in the fullest knowledge of the facts. He
must carefully study the character and
the quality of his products rather than
mere quantity, and always bear in mind that,
whether prices are high OF low, it is always
the best goods at the best obtaiuabie prices
that are the most readily sold. Many Of our
farmers have been land greedy, aud find
themselves the owners of more land than
they Gun properly care for in view of the
comparatively high price of labor in the
rural district, and in view of the fact that
but a small portion Of mankind, compare
lively. can protitably control the labor Of
Others. The prudent farmer will limit his
efforts to that which he can efficiently per-
form. Again, more attention must be
given, especially to our western farms, to
the raising by the farmer for his own use
everything that may be utilized by himself
and household az far as soil and climate
will permit.
Farm Mortgages.
The burden of mortgages upon farms,
homes and lands is unquestionably dis
%couraging in the extreme, and while in
some cases no doubt this load may have
been too readily assumed, still in the ma
jority of cases the mortgage has been the
result of necessity. I except, Of course.
such mortgages as represent balances Of
purchase money, which are rather evil
dences Of the farmers ambition and en-
terprise than of his poverty. On the other
hand, those mortgages with which land
has been encountered from tue necessity Of
its owner. drawing high rates of interest,
often taxed in addition with Q heavy ON
mission, have to-day, in the face Of eon-
tinued depression in the prices Of staple
products, become very irksome and in.
many casss threaten the farmer with
the loss Of home and land. It
is a question of grave difficulty to
all those who seek to remedy tho
ills from which our farmers are suffering.
At present prices the farmer finds that it
takes more of his products &c get . dollar
wherewith to pay back the dollar hs Dor.
rowed than it did when he borrowed II,
The interest accumulates, while the psy.
.men!t of the principal seems utterly hope
less, and the very depression which No arc
discussing makes the renewal of the mort.
gage most difficult. Many people are die
posed to associate this prase of the subject
With the question Of an undue limitation
Of our currency. Many carry this line Of.
argument to extremes. but it IL by NO
means impossible that these subjects arc
correlated. However, the question Of cur
rency is receiving general a~ttentention
from another branch Of the, government:
legislation on this subject 10 now pendino
before congress, aud we can no doubt look
Tor an early and satisfactory solution of
this vexed problem.
Transportation.
The question Of transportation 70 one Of
profound interest to the American farmer.
The trouble begins nea home, between
the farm and the nearest railroad station.
II would bs difficult to estimate TIA
amount OF loss In time and labor, in d.
probation and wear and tear OF horses md
conveyances, entailed upon the farmer by
the wretchsd condition Of country roads
before arriving at the station; be thsre,
meets the vexed question OF freight rates.
Q dimcult one to settle satisfactorily 20 ali
parties under any circumstances. but IA
many cases still further complicated 81,
The condition Of our whole railroad W.T..
:Aany OF the roads vsrs bDilt q . tine asds