The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-15
TINE rAKIrr AND THE Farm R.

@ "a
While Gov. MCKINLEY has been glibly
telling tho western farmer that proteo-
ton enables h,m to grow bigger crops,
Chairman Hatch. of the committee on
agriculture OF the house Of Representa-
tives, has been quietly at work in Wash
ington getting at the facts. The cold
figures knock Mr.. Mckinley very fiat.
The duty upon oats was increased from
10 to 10 csnts per bushel BY the act Of
1890. yet there we're imported during
the 10 months ending April 30. 1892,
452,726 bushels, az against 490,999 for a
corresponding period for the term end
ing April /, 1891, and during this time
the price Of oats decline nearly s per
cent.
The duty upon corn was increased
from 10 to 15 cents per bushel under
the act Of 1890, yet a crop Of corn
amounting to but 1,194,9l6,0U bushels
in 1881 brought the PRODUCERS $759,4s2,-
10, while a crop Of a,00o,154,000 bushels
in 1891 was worth to tho producers $780,
439,22S. In other words, an increase Of
500, 5000 bushels in 1891, under the
higher tariff, was worth to the producer
but 3S6,947,058 more, this increased
yield, from increased acreage, under the
new law giving the producer but 10
cents per bushel for the surplus Of the
later date. The total production for
the year 1890 was l,4so,o 70.o 900 bushels,
worth, at home valuation, $~754,433,451,
while the production for the year 1891
was 1000. $4,000 bushels, worth, at home
valuation, $3.50. 8 222, a decline Of s
cents per bushel, or more than 20 per
cent.
The duty upon wheat was increased
from 20 to % cents per bushel by the
law Of 1890, yet the price for wheat for
the year 1891, as compared with that for
the year 1881, had declined 40 cents per
bushel, or about As per cent Of the sell
ing price.
Notwithstanding the increase in tariff
upon rye, 20, 704,9 $50 bushels in 1881
Melted farmers, at home valuation, 3d.
1927 AIS, while in 1901 2S,415,OO0 bushels
gave them but SIG, 721, 1869, an increase of
7,7lO,0W bushels, giving the producers
50, 500, SAG less than the smaller crop
whom rye was on the free list.
The tariff duty upon oats was in
5 cents per bushel by the new
law, yet in 1881 416,4S1,0o0 bushels Of
oats, at home valuation, we're worth to
the producers s193, 8 500, while in 1891
bushels were worth, at home
valuation, s232,312.267; in other words,
the increased crop Of 321, 913, 1000 bushels
worth to the producers but 500, ll3,-
297, or but little more than 8 cents per
With an increase Of 20 cents per
bushel in the tariff upon barley, a crop
Of Al, 161 $3.50 bushels in 1881 was worth
S62,5l3, while q crop of 63,8s4,OOO
bushels in 1891 was worth but $337,672,-
OBJ. Thus an increase in crop Of 22,712,-
670 bushels gave the farmers who pro-
duced the surplus but So ,809,419, or but
little more than 7 cents a bushel for the
increase, s
From an ad valorem duty of 10 per
b%uckwheat was given q "pro-
tective' duty Of Is cents per bushel, yet
in 1881 9,486.20O bushels of buckwheat
We're worth s8,205, 7O5, while in 1891 H.
10000 bushels were worth but 1892, !
CAT; in other words, 3, 800 bushels of
buckwheat, under the new increased
tariff schedule, were worth S578,O58 less
than nothing.
Yet in spite of these indisputable facts
the farmer is told he is protected"
Will he stand this nonsense much
lonper? Wa don't ho1iovo r.