St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-10-07

KEEP A LEVEL HEAD.

KEEP a LEVEL HEAD.
The Farmer sAeslA Aivayu nave n
wins Aoeat Hin.
T'.e farmer at al times should keey
level head on his shoulders, and nm
der no circumstances be stampeded q
panic-stricken in carrying ON the oper'
ations ON his farm. He needs psrticu.
larly level head at this season of the
wear when, we regret to say. the con.
munity in general arc losing their
heads on the question of Anancea We
mention several ways in which farmers
may do an unwise thing. and we fear
many of them are doing it.
l. Many farmers are doing them.
selves very great injury by losing con-
ndence in the financial system Of the
country. and especially in the sound
ness Of the banks in their ncighbor-
hood, and therefore, withdrawing their
deposits, and thus taking them
out 1T the general circulation.
It Is within the power Of the farmers
OF the United States at any time to
bring on panic which will affect the
entire country, and other countries as
well. by simply taking their deposits
ont OF the banks and keeping them at
home. This involves such . violent
contraction of currency that il is felt
in every avenue Of business. Farm
ers generally believe that in so doing
they are making sure Of what they
have. acting with supreme conserve
tism, and as they term IL. making
themselves safe" There is nothing
they could do that would make them
more unsafe. for the reason that any
thing disturbing public confidence ncc-
essarily stops business, throws labor
ont Of employment, increases crime.
stops production in other lines and
robs him of his own market II the
laboring men can not get employment
they can not buy farm products, and
as matter Of course prices of farm
products must fall and the reaction
comes upon the farmer in full force.
The result Of it is a stoppage of fac.
tories and throwing labor ont of EN-.
ployment necessarily means exceeding
ly low prices for farm products. Fac
tories must stop when there is q vio-
lent contraction of the currency. and
the farming operations being the great
interest OF the west. any sudden with
drawal of money from banks destroys
II takes years to build up
q confidence that can be destroyed in
=. We think that farmers are max.
ing a mistake in holding their farm
products in hope Of higher prices. We
believe that on their merits every
thing produced ON the farm this year
should bring . good price. provided
of farm products go on.
II this stops from any reason prices
must necessarily fall TO the limit of |
their consumption. and no power can
them except for brief period. |
Speculation may dcpress them for .
brief period below il. but after all the
permanent range % prices is deter
mined by the consumption Of products
Anything. therefore, that stops con-
depresscs prices and inflicts
10 end Of suffering. We think il spe-
tally unwise to hold crops for specula-
ion at the close of the season when a
harvest of almost everything,
With the exception of wheat, is in pros
'ect OF course accident may happen
my crop as yet The exact measure of
he crops of the season has not been de-
rs vet, and some of them will
lot be for sixty days. but the present
ondition indicates that there will be
10 scarcity of anything grown ON the
arm. We should therefore expect.
nder ordinary circumstances. good
rices. but not excessive. for the reason
hat there is NO very great surplus of
ny one crop. II, however, from any
eason consumption decreases. the price
decreases. and we there
ore think il good time to be closed
Mt of last years crops and send them
q the market Of the world. Ii
II is especially hazardous. TO hold
rops when the farmer is in debt
liquidation is now the order Of the
ay. and the more complete Il Is the
uiclser will he the recovery.
Therefore. il we have any advice to I
i've our readers it is that whcn they /,
ave anything that is ready for the Z
larket, sell it Prices may go higher
fter awhile, but unless there Be a
oeedy restoration of confidence, they
ill undoubtedly go lower.
It is q good rule to sell any crop on
,e farm when Il is ready. The man {
no adopts the habit of selling hogs. s
title or whatever else he may have q
hen they are At to 60, no matter
hat the market may be. will usually | 1
'me out the best in the long run. :
Many men have made money by BE- :
e indebted to banks which required | 4
,mediate payment, and, in = word,
reed them to sell their stock. Some :,
mes they have lost, and Is rule will 4.
Sc when the stuff is not At to go.
hen il is At TO 90. the man who is =
mpeled to sell il sometimes quite
rtunate.
The man who imagines that every =
ing is going to be bow-wows because ;
r q time there is . stringency in the : !,
oney market Is making . great mis-
Ike. Consumption to some extent
nst 60 on. People must eat and must
clothed. These things can not stop = !
together. Production also must 20 J,
!. The sun does not cease to shine
cause some men are psnic-strickeu.
,e pigs, lambs, calves and colts keep y
yht on growing, corn stores up its fat
IS just rs rapidly when bankers are o
ling in loans Is when they are out u
the streets on . hunt for good Dor u
werx Prices in the west are mot a
high. There has been NO
sh speculation among farmers to
sak Of. Neither has there been over "
Iding among the merchants. There q
plenty of money in the country to do c.