The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-01-15
HE GETS THE NUBBIN.
AS FOR OUR GREAT PROSPERITY THE
FARMER IS NOT IN 1T.


per Has Fallen Behind in the Race.
At the beginning of this century 80
per cent of the population of the United
States lived on farms, and owing to the
high rates for transportation surplus
products had no market value more than
fifty miles from a market town. Now
we have about 100000 farms, though
less than half of our people live on them,
and the value of the property is esti-
mated at 81 900, 900, 900.
Education, thrift and invention have
have added IS per cent to the produc-
tive power of the people during the last
fifty years, and on the whole one man
does as much work as two men formerly
did on farm. But has the wealth of
the farmer increased proportionately?
His crops have not fallen off, though
their market value is less by 80 to so per
cent. than it was dozen years ago, and
he is paying from to 40 per cent. inter-
est for the use of money, which increases
in value while the products of his farm
decrease. His taxes have not been less
Of their former paying power.
INCREASE IN LIVING EXPENSES.
Because man can now produce more
in given time than formerly, when all
work was. done by hand, his wages are
higher, but other things over which he
has no control are more expensive, so
the cost of living is much greater than
within comparatively recent years.
1t would be we'll to compare the condi-
ton of American farmers with that of
other men conducting great industries in
the country before determining whether
any efforts should be made toward aid
ing them.
In 1850 the total estimated wealth of
the population of the United States was
$7,135, 780, 22S; in 1880 it was said to be
&66, 100000, 600 The aggregate develop
ment of railroading during the same Pc
Rod is stated by Mr.. Mulhall, to have
been 1850 per cent; banking developed
300 per cent; the number of manufac-
turing establishments throughout the
country increased 100 per cent, and the
value of the material used 500 per cent.
In 1850 our farmers owned over 70 per
cent. of the wealth of the country, and
today they own less than 90 per cent, yet
they pay over eighty cents in every dol
lar that is collected in taxes From 1850
to 1860 farm values increased 1O1 per
cent. and from 1870 to 1880 but per
cent. From 1850 to 1860 agriculture led
manufacturing by 10 per cent. in in
creased value of products, and from 1870
to 1880 manufactures exceeded agricul-
ture by 81 per cent. showing difference
in favor of manufacturing of 81 per cent
The crops of the farmer cost him as
much labor now as in 1870, but he re-
ceives only from one-fourth to one-half
as much for them. Farmers now require
ten dollars to purchase what forty years
ago could have been bought with one dol
lar They are poor, while manufacture
e1s and bankers and railroad managers
are rich. The wealth of the country is
fast passing into the hands of few per-
sons, and the poor increase alarmingly in
numbers annually.
THE NEVER TIRING MORTGAGE.
But the most deplorable features of
the farmers condition are the mortgages
on their homes and the depreciation of
farm values; and as many tillers of the
soil are overwhelmed with mortgages on
their property and are unable to renew
loans because securities are weakening
under the general depression, they are
annually becoming deprived of their
homes.
Theposition of the farmer of the present
day. which is undoubtedly less advan-
tageous than that of his predecessor, can
be ascribed to number of causes. Not
alone has he been obliged to contend with
the manufacturer, the money changer,
the railroad builder and the banker, but,
among his own kind, a system of ''bo-
nanza farming" has arisen. Railroad
companies gave special rates to the Boz
nanza men. and this disastrous compe-
titiOn grew still further as ranchmen
took possession of the vast areas of the
west. SO that the chances for success for
the farmer on small farm have lessened
yearly. Another reason the farmer has
fallen behind in the race is because his
forces are scattered, while those of others
are concentrated. Even large proper
ton of the public lands, which could
be used by the homestead settler. was
granted to large corporations.
Statistics prove that agriculture earns
not more than per cent net profit, while
the rate of interest on money is from
three to thirty times as much. The
nearer the interest rate is to the average
gain of the workers the slower will be
the process of absorption. and the higher
the rate above that average the faster
will some men become richer and the
masses poorer. The increase on profits
of labor should be the basis upon which
to estimate the rate of interest to be al
lowed ON loans of money.
The experience in all countries and all
ages have been the same regarding high
rates of interest-the absorption of prop
erty by the rich and the impoverishment
of the masses Usury enslaved Greece
and Rome, and England found herself
in its chains in 1867. Money dictates
our financial policy; money controls the
business of the country: money is de-