The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-08-13

hd1 no interest, except Such IS come from &C
increased cost Of many OF the neoessaries they
are compelled to purchase.
said In that address that statistics show
that the average price OF corn soon after har-
vest during these fve years was 20 cents per
Dushel. and the average crop throughout the
state 49, bushels per acre, AMI the average
cost OF producing and marketl6g m aero OF
this crop, reckoning the farmers labor At
wages paid forlike work in other lines OF busl-
ness, was s..
DO you dispute any one Of these PROPOSE
tions! II yes. tell US which, AMI on what
authority you base your statement OF fact:
g.yo US your estimate OF the cost OF producing
ana marketing an acrs OF corn and show US II
you can that prices In the years referred to
were not only fairly remunerative, but suf-
ficsensly 50. 70 justify system OF legislation
lhat levied . heavy tax upon this industry 70
build up others.
Since making that address have tried to
ascertain whether there was any mistake In
the r5ures | gave. and the same effort mas
Deen made BY our commissioner OF labor stat
istics. In reply TO HI inquiry I'D dressed TO
Nr. T. B. Ellis. . member OF our last legsla-
ture and grain dealer Of many years at
Grundy Center, Ia Grundy county, Iowa, ne
sent me sworn statement OF prices paid by
him for corn and oats on the first days OF the
four months following the hxrvests from 1855
TO 1889 inclusive, from which it appears that
the average price he paid for corn GA these
days was = fraction over 2. cents psr bushel,
and the average price paid for oats on the
same days fraction over ~ ceats.
From Messrs. Carroll 4 Farlow, Abel.
Dallas county, Iowa, grain dealers 1T
that place, | learn that the average
price paid By them for corn on the
same days OF these years was a fraction over
81 cents. aud the average paid for oats .
fraction over IL.
II We exclude the year OF 1883, when By
reason of short crop In some OF the corn
growing districts the price Of that cereal was
enhanced, find from the same statements tn ~
during the other four years these parties paid
on the days mentioned an average Of less
than 20 cents for corn.
These. in my estimation, are fair average
counties from which to calculate the average
prices paid by buyers in our local markets
for these cereals during the years referred to-
center OF the state. the other west; SO that
freights from the two would represent fair
average for the state.
For the same purpose our com missioner OF
labor statistics after the criticisms Of which
have spoken. returned the answers he had
received 10 the writer's with instructions TO
REVISE aud correct them il In their judgment
they we're in any particular wrong, and IN
average OF these corrected answers with =
large number OF like answers to inquiries OF
the same character addressed to other parties
places the cost Of producing an acre OF corn
In Iowa, Including per cent interest on the
value OF the land on which 1t 10 raised, ut
sl0.S3 per acre and nxes the price ut which
the farmer must sell 1t to cover the cost OF
production at 30 cents pcr bushei.
Like inquiries conducted under the aus
pieces OF q similar bureau In the adjoining
state Of Illinois, state more nearly
like our own in Its natural ad-
vantages for the production of this
crop than any other, demonstrates that the
cost OF producing corn In that state including
the value OF the use OF the land on which IL
will be founi In the report of the secretary OF
agriculture Of Illinois. in volu ne q, page 30.
where the loss to the producers OF this cereal
In Illinois between 1872 and 1883 ID placed at
more than Ss9.00D,OOO.
From tho Album OF Agricultural .Graphics,
just Issued under the authority OF tho secre.
tary OF agriculture for the United States, an
estimate based upon the most reliable Stats
ties obtninabe, places the average value OF
this crop IN Iowa fer ton years prior to 1890
at $3.50 per Acre. or In round numbers 1t
ST. 70 per acre below the cost OF production in
lows aud 81. 50 less than cost in Illinois, IL
the farmer Is to receive interest on the in
vestment he must make to produce 10, and
wages of like laborers In other lines OF bust
that the average yield In Iowa WAS thirty and
nine-tenths bushels.
Tncsc facts l bring TO the attention OF the
gentlemen who SO bitterly AssRil me. and in
vite them 70 correct any one OF the st Atements
made IL they are In any respect incorrectly
recited.
do not want them to stop here. II by re-
spectacle statistics from any source 1t can be
hown that the estimates of cost of produc-
ton. or prices AS given aoove, are incorrect
want these gentlemen 10 make that fact
known.
wish to have IL understood that 50 far rs
am concerned We are now engaged In IN
effort to reach the truth on q subject In which
Iowa rs q state has an intense interest, for il
concerns her greatest industry.
TIE question is whether or not the average
prices OF farm products during = long term
OF years have been sufficiently high 10 fairly
compensate the producer for his labor and
return aim ar.asoaa0le interest on his in
yestment.
II they have been, one OF the objections to
an exhoroitan protective tariff Is removed,
for the farmers who comprise the bulk OF the
nations laboring class being engaged In q
lucrative business are At least abe to support
IL without embarrassment to themselves.
Bat ii II IL true that not for Ave years only,
as said In New York. but for double that
time prior to the present year. which Is ex-
ceptionai because Of failure OF last years
crops la neigh boring states, prices have been
90 low that farmers have prosecuted their
business ut = loss, reckoning their wages at
prices paid like laoorers In other lines OF
bus ness, then say . system OF legislati IN
that is formed and kept In operation to in
crease the profits OF other kinds OF business
at their expense IL an outrage that deserves
the censurc of honest men everywhere, and
you, gentlemen. with al the aid you can de-
th.a1 ~ Shn~
states. will not be able to hide this fact bs-
bird abusive epithets applied to those who
bring II to light.
If it WAS Islander of Iowa to present the
ia cts bearing upon the condition OF her great.
est Industry, in a meeting Of private citizens
let me ask who will dare open his lips on the
same subjec. in the halls of our national leg
stature.
Is 1t the opinion Of the gentlemen who
framed the rrpu olicAn platform that discus.
sion Of this subject. vital to the welfare Of
their state, should be suppressed?
Is it not true that every time the subject
OF tariff legislation Is being discussed in con.
gress, representatives of our manufacturing
industries are on hand TO demonstrate by sta
tis.ics that the business they represents In q
depressed condition, IL such Is the fact, and
because Of this Is 1t not als0 true that lcKls-
lation favorable to these interests Is sought
for and obtained!
Did any one ever hear It claimed that
these gentlemen by making known the con-
dition of the industries they represent, we're
sanderipg the states In which they are To-.
Gated!
No, gentlemen, you have undertaken .
task greater than you can perform. You
cannot by tho Use Of harsh words alone, shut
the mouths OF those who believe the best In
terests OF their state demand tn 1t the truth
shall Go known, nor the eyes of those whose
material welfare these truths mort vitality
concern.
You have made the issue. the farmers OF
lows mus. settle IL.
III they arc hurt by honest efforts to
bring 70 the attention OF the nation the true
condition of the industry In which they arc
engaged SO that it can be iutelligently con.
sidared and fairly traRtad by our lazy MA kara