The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-08-04
Feeding Wheat to the Cows.

Feeding Wheat to the Cows.
We are told by some of the millers who
grind on the creeks that farmers have COM
menced mixing corn, wheat and oats and
having all ground together for stock feed.
And why not? Wheat is one cent pound.
oats is one cent pound and there is more
nutriment in pound of wheat than
in pound of oats, the oat kernel being
enveloped in thick hull, which contains
little nutriment, while the wheat grain is
solid meat, SO to speak. Corn is so cents a
bushel of Sc pounds, almost a cent pound.
The western millers and warehouse men
have been exploiting the farmers by selling
them wheat bran mixed with The dirt, smut
and other trash blown out of the wheat by
their smut machines, for Is 10 % dollars a
ton. This offal is palmed on the farmers at
a higher price than they pay the farmer for
his pure wheat, and he has eagerly submit
ted to the. imposition till stabbed at last
under the fifth rib with 60 cents bushel for
wheat on the Atlantic coast, he has sud-
denly walked up to the fact that his whole
wheat il very much cheaper feed for his
cows than dirty bran at the same price.
Wheat doesn't pay the cost of raising at
60 cents a bushel. But suppose the price
rnoees up to $l.00 hushel? The crop Of
the United States averages about 400 mil.
lion bushels. If wheat goes to $l.00 the
bonanza farmers of the western plains will
double the number of their steam plows and
working force. In ten years the dry plains
of the Rocky mountain slopes from the
Gela river to the snow line of British
America would be covered with irrigating
bitches and golden wheat fields, while every
farmer in the eastern Atlantic and middle
western States would double his product.
and one thousand million bushels of Amer
Jean wheat would be the soBg of triumph
that would fill the trade journals &C the
world. If wheat can be put TO a dollar q
bushel and kept there for ten years this
thing is as sure as "death and taxes"
The farmer does not want 10 learn how tc
raise more wheat. or even how he may sell
it for dollar bushel, but how to get it Io
the consumers. There are plenty Of human
tnouths to consume all the wheat that car
be raised if the bread could be got TO them
and they are all willing it should get be-
tween their teeth. This would be profit
able question for ali the Oranges anC
all the Alliances in the country 10 discuss
and discuss necessarily. But, alas farmers
don't ''discuss" They acork. When they
feel faint desire TO learn something they
seek lawyer, or the hustling doctor, hal
leech and half politician, or the shystefins
Office hunter. and are encouraged TO work
harder and keep out of politics. So hi
goes back 10 hisIwork determined 10 take
the prescription. But he is rapidly going
back to work for an employer, not for him
self, and ere long the small farmer viii
cease 10 exist. He will be but memory
The syndicate farmer is but a generation
ahead, If conditions are not changed. The
small farmer is dropping rapidly down to ;
place among the proietarat unless he gets
together and stands as one man. There are
mouths hungering for all he can raise il iha
hands accompanying had work to employ
them. And there is work, and profitable
work, enough if present conditions did no
shut them out from it. There arc millions
in this country but scantily fed and hun
dreds of thousands who do not know where
their next meal-and poor one it is sure tC
be-will be found. There is not one in {
hundred who tramp who would not ralhe
earn by honest industry a co nfortable Twins
if they were assured they would be enabled
10 enjoy what their industry creates. Tramp
ing is horrible, hopeless life that no san'
person will voluntarily choose. Not on
burglar and thief in hundred would follow
ssch a criminal business by choice il avenue
of aH honest business we're not cboked ant
gorged. the business Of the thief and burg
lar is hard and dangerous life TO lead
There is none more SO, and the fewest num-
bers will choose such business voluntarily
Hard lines environ them and temptation
lures them TO crime and life of vagrancy
The small farmer, the isolated individua
farmer, is crying out against his hard lot
the tramp and criminal complain tina
society has first forced them outside OF it
pale and then ont.lawed them.
The most important question for tn
small farmers of today is not how he shall
secure dollar bushel for his wheat. q
important as he feels that to be, but how tn
food he makes and the hungry stomach
which crave il may be brought together
That is the paramount question Of tha hopr
Our civilization is right at this mountai
wall. 1t must be surmounted or the natio
with its civilization C1ost perish as forme
ones have done, and whose graves are a
the foe. Of this mountain.
PEOPLES Party Meeting.