New-York tribune., 1890-08-31
MR.. MILLER TO THE FARMERS
DISCUSSING CAUSES OF AGRICULTURAL
DEPRESSION.
THE VAST RAILROAD EXTENSION AN IMPORTANT
FACroR-BETTER OUTLOOK FOR THE
FUTURE-THE DANGER OF CLASS
LEGISLATION.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE. J


Miller was the orator to-day at the Three River
Point Fair This is a fair held at the junction
of the Oneida Seneca and OswegQ Rivers, and IL
Is annually attended by the farmers of Oswego
and Onondaga counties. To-day there were about
5000 persons present at the fair. Mr.. Miuers
subject was The Present Agricultural Depres-
sion" He said:
] have not come here to instruct you IN .,r2 agrI
never t,arned the business; | nave farm, but i !
doubt ii has paid in the last two or three years OF
depression in agriculture. | have not balanced my
books, not wishing to see a loss. But nave h'd
great pleasure in farming, nevertheless, and take
it has occurred TO me that this afternoon would
give YOU my opinion of the present agricultural dc-
preston If that depression is 10 continue the future
OF country is very dark NO great ihuuotIH Stt,
also II is said agriculture is depressed will not
dispute that assertion: and yet ] could Draw Your
ago The farmers we're not well-iodo as tno,e OF
today The style of living to-day Is far in aGvance tN as
sertion that agriculture IS depressed III f fbi
with other professions While tst nd n ufe GtScr ot coan
tries still Is that agriculture Is not RECEIVING
its fair share of the present profits OF TSere Is no
trer axiom than that which says supply anu o. a.
mand control prices We have in inns orrcnral
SSSSS1 SoGSefs lSeeat RsSes for people Other
ySres TGre rs Ts oT ae pfGS%'ds SW does appen
surplus is because of the vl.t hcieano s o 1he
Rocky Mountains TO England than yoN c2ud ior'MTaH n
from this place 10 Albany. one man IN the WcDt
can do with readiness the work formerly done by Ne
men in the Fast The development of the West
opened the farmer lands worth only ~ - an atre &
gTanaries OF the world TO repleton The result Is tat
wheat and corn are low IN price me opening up up
Of Dakota alone has guted the wheat narkets OF the
world Tie two Dakotas send G0,oO0,0OO bushels
u Undoubtedly the cause of the present depression
is that many of us have gone 70 farming ana hvs
trade win cure this that protection will cure this,
that Government control OF the railroads VIII cure ~
Not one nor all Of these influences MIL, w cnre IT, oo
for farm products will The present depression c, ceSe cr
IT, My friends, that is delusion 1t has been t1ed
again aud again, and failed =. ,...,..,
by legislation. For years have not had sufficient
circulation of money. Tie recent silver legislation @
year II has had the result Of raising the price OF
wheat in this country and in India 8ut we cannot
Increase wisely currency beyond certain amount
A prodgious imitation would only lead 10 wildcat
Our rsilroad system will not furher extended. There
no more Dakotas 20 open There are no countries
We are OF producing more wheat and corn than
we consume The average of our wheat production
however. is leSSenng. The population OF our country
is increasing faster than agricultural products II
the present Of increase of population continues and
raise only enough wheat for the needs of our own
people. An increase Of the price Of wheat 70 81 -
reached the minimum price Of whest Indouetedly
the The poeT Of T the ws tbev TO @ Ec ea is
iowa competes with New-York now in dairying; sho
has largely gone out OF wheat raising Corn raising
il is true has increased in amount but it is equally
true that people have already seized upon all the
profitable corn producing land Of the country In the
last three years the Increase Of corn production has
been only one per cent Our population has increased
wE ee enG e sF rrs Of PS5 6aoadaa 1s county w
The raising Of cattle in the West also has reached its
population and compare with onr production of farm
products you will ind that viii soon have home
market for all farm products The railroads
have undoubtedly caused large depreciation in the
reached the minimum point in the depreciation in the
value of your lands. and tlat your lands going 70
crease in value believe. will come TO you
few years ago advised my farmer friends TO be
e and my
S and not ien ans ANY an ,a oE at hf9d Seev
There i, a GOOD deal said about the farmer in politics
harm in these oranges farmers leagues and alliances
There is this 10 be remembered, however, that
foreathers opposed to class legislation. There
no for railroad party, for labor party, or
1GI omy eond exit year in this COUNTRY Our people
opposed TO class paFtles Ny advice to yon IS 70
no one class Of the population should seek TO bend all
legislation and government to is own benefit. IN. m
doubtedly the farmer has right to work to have ms
class represented TO larger extent in the LEGISLATURE
%ono or IN rsppssent az casS II We ever have any
trouble In this country IN my OPINION, IL VIII De
because OF class legislation II Is perfectly leetate III
Won 10 paw attention to taxation. would suggest that
YOU pay particular attention 10 your local taxes The
state small compared with your local taxes
which entirely within your own control. Il yon
suffer from great taxaten look 10 your own rcsponS
bilty You have il in your power 10 reduce expenses
have doubt saving of % per cent could be mage
in county and town expenses II von would pay the
same attention 10 them that you do TO your farm ex
penses.
Finally let me say that believe you have reason
for hope for the future. II Is undoubtedly trc that
the State of New York has sufficient arabic land 20 sup
port 100000 people. Win noaern n1acniicaS yI &
make money at farming. and in the future can
make large amounts Of money. The present agrl-
cultural depression Will not continue.
A letter was received and read from Congress
man Roswell 7. Flower. who supported ex-senator
Miller in what he had said about the cause OF
agricultural depression. Mr. Flower in his let
ter. said
The stimulation Of railroad building in the West mas
decreased value of farm property 2lGOOOOOO be
tween 1870 and 1850 in the state Of New-York
PLATFORM OF WASHINGTON DEMOCRATS.