Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-02

ploAo"A .n'efeSt 10 the American farmer.
The trouble begins near home. between
the farm and the nearest railroad station
1t would be difficult to estimate tba
mount OF loss in time and labor. in do.
precia'ion and wear and tear of horses and
conVeyauces entalled upon the farmer by
the "re'cnea condition of country roads
before arriving at the station: he there
meets the vexed question of freight rates.
a ditncuit one to settle satisfactorily to all
parties under any circumstances. but in.
many cases still further complicated bv
the condltlon of our whole railroad system.
Many OF the roads were built at a time and
under conditions that greatly enhanced
their cost. Competing Lines built under
more favorable circumstances, present
comparisons of inequality which often
seem IKE injustice, and on the other hand
it u not be forgotten that MANY
roads are over-taxing their constitu-
ents IN an effort to secure dividends
upon q total of capital and bonded debt, a
portion OF which is purely fictitious. That
many roads fail to pay any dividends at all.
while the total profits of the railroads
throughout the country represent but a
comparatively small dividend upon the
actual cost of construction, plant and
equipment, still in no wise palliates the
grievous wrong Of attempting to secure a
profit upon fictitious values. 1t is still too
early to suggest any important modifca-
tions III the inter state commerce law. A
fuller trial is needed to judge properly of
its effects and to suggest judicious amend
ments. The condition of our agriculture
is such thai a large proportion of our farm
ers must depend Upon facilities for reach
ing distant markets, and the law will
hardly accomplish its purpose of securing
the greatest good for the greatest number
If its ultimate result should be to raise the
cost OF the long haul. Its most valuable
Office will be to prevent injustice by for
bidding the granting by the railroads of
special privileges to certain classes or cor
porations which are denied to the commu-
nifty at large.
The Middle Man.
Another cause operating to depress the
price OF the farmers honest toll, is the
undue increase of the class of middle men
and the dishonesty and greed of many Of
them. Hence the wide gulf between the
high prices charged to the consumer, and
the low prices paid to the producer. The
middle man with certain limits must be re-
garded as a necessity. There are many
things ne can do for the farmers which the
latter cannot do so proftably for them
selves. and under such conditions it is
wise to employ him.. The evil which exists
at the present day in this direction could
undoubtedly be mitigated by, first, q
familiarity on the part of the farmer him
self with the market value of that which
he has to sell, and second, a better system
of cooperation among the farmers both in
the disposal of their crops, and in the pur-
chase of their supplies.
Controlling Combinations.
Much has been said and written alleging
the existence of unlawful combinations for
the express purpose of SO controlling the
markets as to lower the price of the farm
er's products, and of other combinations
whose object is to raise the price of the
articles which the farmer consumes. That
such combinations exist is impossible to
doubt, and the serious results of their greed
and s%elfshness are enhanced by the grave
difficulties attending any effort to limit
their evil effects. Thisi is one of those evils
so closely allied to the matter Of inter-
state commerce, that Its regulation
may possibly fall within the legitimate
province of national legislation. The
great difficulty lies in the close observance
of the line of demarcation which clearly
exists between combinations for mutual
self-help, protection and the advancement
by legitimate means of the interests of q
class, craft or industry. and combinations
or trusts inspired by greed, whose objects
are u%nattainable save as they infringe upon
the legitimate rights Of others. In spite
Of these difficulties, however, there cannot
be any doubt that On earnest demand for
adequate legislation on this subject, sus-
tanned by popular opinion, receiving the
earnest attention of our strongest minds,
will eventually result in some adequate
means of controlling this gigantic evil.
Protection for the Farmer.
lnow come to the consideration of one
of the gravest causes in my opinion of the
present agricultural depressions, but which
I am happy to state can be effectually and
directly dealt with through national legis-
lation. Few people realize that our i'm
ports of agricultural products estimated at
prices paid by the consumers are about
equal to agricultural exports estimated at
prices paid to the farmer, yet such is the
case. Our imports of products sold in
competition with those actually produced
on our own soil, amount to nearly Sl15,-
900 900 and as much more could be pro-
duced in our W soil under favorable
conditions. We must surely conclude that
we have here another cause of depression.
GREEN AND WANAMAkER.
Trouble Between the Western Union and
the Government.
The government is now indebted to the
Western Union Telegraph company for
about ten months service, for a business
amounting to about 5000, 600 annually.
The telegraph company has refused to ac-
cept the rate fxed by Postmaster General
Wanamaker, and the latter has declined to
make any further modification. Mr.. Wan
amaker's rate is 10 cents for ten words for
q distance of 800 miles or less, and a pro-