The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-10-24
A VALUABLE LETTER.

A VALUABLE LETTER.
OLE KRON ON AGRICULTURE FROM
1850 TO 1880.
The following letter will give our
readers something to think of:
EVANSVILLE, Mimi, Oct. II. 1890.
DIR. FISH:
Here are few statistics that would
be well for every farmer in the state
of Minnesota to read and consider
well before he casts his ballot this
fall. He will do we'll to remember
that our country has been under re-
publican rule ever since 1860, except
four years.
In 1850 the farmers owned three
fourths of the aggregate wealth of
our country; in 1860 about one. half i;
in 1880 about one third and in 1890
bareley one-fOurth. The decrease of
agricultural wealth is the more
shocking because during this period
the aggregate wealth of our country
has immensely increased. But let us
examine the statistical fact in detail.
and select for comparison the period
from 1850 to 1860, when high tariff
laws did not prevail, and from 1860
to 1870, when such enactments did
exist and the present policy OF feder-
al finance was inaugurated. An ex-
animation discloses the fact that the
value OF farms in 1850 was $3,271,-
SIS, PAL; in 1860, $6,645, O45 900;
in 1880, $1O,117, O96,77 The to-
tai i, crease in value from 1850 to
1860 was SO, 376, 1863, $50 from 1860
to 1880, $685., O51,769. The ten
years increase from 1850 to 1860
was greater than the twenty years
increase from 1860 to 1880 by $780,
817,817. From 1850 to 1860 the
average yearly increase was $377,-
346, 1858; from 1850 to 1880 it was
SILT, 6O2, 58S; although the values
of all other kinds of property in
creased largely during this latter
period and the country was blessed
with general prosperity the average
value OF farms increased yearly 10y
per cent during the decade from 1850
to 1860 and only * per cent per an
mum from 1860 to 1880. It must be
obvious to the candid and unbiased
mind from the above figures, that
agriculture is oppressed by extran-
eous, unnatural, and unjust in
fluences. From 1850 to 1860 the
increase in the acreage of farms was
lib 100000, being an average year
ly increase OF IL 1854, 900 acres, and
from 1860 to 1888, the increase was
only 6,444, 900 acres per annum, and
this during a period when the agri-
cultural population increased 20 per
cent and the aggregate wealth OF the
country increased As per cent. But
this depression OF agricultural prop
critics was not confined to real estate,
for we find that the value of crops in
1860 was $2,9O7 ,462, 232; in 1884
only $2,O43, 3OO,4S1. The average
price of cereal crops in 1867 was
about $1.OO and in 1887, about so
cents a bushel. I believe that the ex-
ception clause in the act of February
1862, (refusing greenbacks as legal
tender for payment of import duty
and interest on United States bonds)
the national banking system, the
credit strengthening act Of 1869,
the demonstration of silver in 1873,
the specie resumption-act of 1873
and the high protection tariff laws
are responsible for these results.
Now then are we going to continue
voting for party that has shown it.
self so partial in the administration
of our national affairs. Is this a
Government for the people? Most
assuredly not. But we can make it
so by using our ballots as we ought
to, as free American citizens and not
as minions of lot of plutocrats.
Yours for reform, OLE KRoN.
FOREST LAKE, Oct. 18th, 1890.
Enron GREAT WEST.