The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-05-10
THE HOPE.

THE FARMERS HOPE.
The United States senate at its extra
session instructed the committee on az
riculture and forestry to investigate the
condition of the agricultural interests Of
the country, and if found depressed, to
ascertain the cause and inquire as to the
proper remedy. The committee has APP
pointed sub committees to take charge of
branches Of the work, and the investiga-
ton will probably be instituted within a
| short time. The chief incentive to this
inquiry was the fact that for two or three
years there has been more or less depres-
sion in the cotton industry, the principal
reason assigned for which was OverprO-
ductiOn. Two years e the cotton crop
of the South was very heavy and prices
fell to improbable figures, causing de-
preston that was felt by evey interest
in that section. Last year the crop was
not so large and there was a slight i'm
provement in prices, but not sufficient to
fully relieve the effects of the Overpro-
duction. The obvious remedy in this
case is to reduce the cotton area but al
though this has been strongly urged upon
the planters, they have not generally
adopted it. 1t seems almost impossible
for the agricultural interests of the South
to get out of the ruts in which they have
travelled SO long. They are for the most
part needless of the advice to grow more
corn and less cotton.
AS to other agricultural interests the
senate committee will undoubtedly find
that there is some depression and it may
not experience much difficulty in ascer-
tanning the causes. The splendid crops
Of last year in this country afforded a
surplus which was in excess of the
worlds demand, Notwithstanding the
general crop failures in Europe. For a
time high prices prevailed and the out
look for a rich reward for the industry
of the American farmer appeared most
flattering, but it did not take long to
demonstrate that the worlds supply had
been underestimated, and prices receded
accordingly. At this time the surplus
on hand is large, and the best judgment
is that it is not likely to increase in value.
This situation naturally produced some
depression in the agricultural interest,
relieved to a moderate extent by the
higher prices which have prevailed dur.
ing the past year for live stock. Refer
ring to this condition, Secretary Rusk in
his last report said: The time has ar
rived when the American farmer must
cease his efforts to neutralize the low
price of his wheat by producing a larger
quantity. The American farmers hope
Of remunerative prices depends upon his
guaging his areas in cultivation more
closely to the normal demand, and
not Vieing in competition with the
peasant and serf labor of the entire
world. Something else is wanted be-
sides wheat and corn, or cotton and to-
baccC. The farmer must find other out
lets for his labor or stop his plow and
rest his hoe upon the border line of pro
duction, which limits living prices" Pos
slbiy the senate committee may, as the
result of its investigation, be able tO sug-
gest some more judicious remedy than
this, or n which the farmers generally
will be more likely to adopt. There is
no valid objection to the proposed in.
vestigatiOn, though it is difficult to feel
much confidence that the results will be
productive of any very material benefits
TO the agricultural interests The prob
lem is exceedingly complex. 1t has been
suggested that there is one very practical
matter to which the committee should
give attention, and that is the subject of
roads in relation to the agricultural in-
terests of tie country. There can be no
question as 10 the importance Of this sub
jrct. 1t Is not surrounded by any very
troublesome difficulties, and it is wei
worthy of the consideration Of the COM
mittee a. relevant to the general subject
OF its inquiry. The ADVANTAGE Of good
roads to the agricultural interests of a
country Is universally recognized and the
movement for improved highways in this
country has attained vigorous develop
ment within the past year, giving promise
of most valuable results in the near fu-
ture.
The WEEKLY GLOBES circulation is
steadily increasing. Merchants who want
to get before the people will do well to
remember that The WEEKLY GLOBE is a
large eight-page paper, and that il has q