The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-08-11

The Hay Tariff.

Inc Times reports farmer as saying
''he thinks that IL the tariff on hay Is re.
tanned that the farmers will realize hand
somely from this crop next winter" AS q
matter of fact the tariff will have just as
much land no more) to do with the price OF
hay as II has had with the growth Of the
crop this season.
The hay crop In this country Is good. In
England aud France, the hay crop has been
poor for two years, consequently these
countries will consume large quantities of
hay from this country. In both England
and France the price of hay has been as
high as $50 ton. Thousands of tons have
already been shipped to these countries,
and the indications are they will take
all we can spare of this years crop. This
is indeed encouraging for the farmers, for
this great foreign demand and not the Nc
Kinley tariff, will enhance the price Of hay.
-OwOsso Press. July ~.
That the readers of THE TINES may see
the article in the Press to which replied in
your issue of July 2sth. quote it in full
above. will leave it to THE TINES readers
to Judge with what fairness the editor of
the Press answers me. He begins his
answer by saying:
s.If the statements in the article are no
nearer the truth or no more candid than Is
the first sentence, the article Is entirely I'M
worthy writer who lays any claim to being
able to intelligently discuss an economic
question Of public importance from any
standpoint other than that of a partisan
demagogue."
Vow, Mr.. Press, while did not quote
your exact language, did give its meaning
and just what think any intelligent reader
(demagogues excepted) will imply.
Again you say: 1.-THE editor of the Press
says in hisalast issue that the tariff has no
more to do with the price of hay than with
its growth. To this statement take radical
exception If Mr.. Dewey desires to take
radical exception to sentence or statement
of his own making no one else ought to OBJ
ject.
The Press made no such general state
ment and 1t Is part of the demagOgue to
garble statement as has been done with
the statement made by the Press. The
Press made no allusiOn whatever to the
effect of the tariff upon the past or present
price of hay, but stated, and we re-affirm
the statement, quoting the exact words: AS
matter of fact the tariff will have just as
much land no mOre) to do with the price of
hay as it has had with the growth of the
crop this season. After making the state
ment the Press explained why the tariff will
not effect the price,"
What else can your language mean If 1t
does not say to the farmer that the tariff has
nothing to do with the price of hay? You
have not nor can you deny but that it keeps
Canada's large surplus out of our markets,
thereby maintaining our prices.
admit there is large shortage in the
forage crop of England and France. Their
wants must of necessity be large and hope
will help values here at home, but which it
has not yet done. l am aware that exports
are liberal yet prices in our own markets
decline. The reports being sent broadcast
through the press Of hay being worth $40 or
$50 a ton are simply the worst kind of false
hood. No such prices have been paid as
yet for cargo lots. The most reliable infor-
nation yet at hand says the extreme price
paid is $50 to $50. Out of this sum must
come the ocean freight, S14 ton, and our
freight to Boston, $40, besides the terminal
charges, cost Of baling and purchase price
of hay. At this date i have quotations
direct which say the price is $24.50 to $685.
so per ton, and mind you it takes 2,24O
pounds over there to make ton. l venture
the assertion that no one here can export
hay today and get back net 5000 per ton.
Already estimates put our hay crop at
100000 tons over last year. The Cana
dian commissioner of agriculture writes me
that their crop is much larger than last year,
of very fine quality and well secured. He
also says that on July 81, old hay, baled
and delivered on board the cars in Toron-
to is selling at $40 ton-another proof
of the falsity of newspaper quotations. The
indications today are that unless we are
benefited by export trade this years crop
will sell for less money than the last one.
l have advices just at hand that large |
and France from Australia, South Ameri
ca, Canada and the United States. Re-
member, Mr.. Press, that they have the
world to draw from and that ours is not the
only country to supply them. If you will
read up and give your readers facts and not
falsehoods you will be doing them good SER |
vice.
The Press further says:
''ln the preceding paragraph Mr.. Dewey |
says friend was buying it (hay) near Lon |
don, Canada, at$7 to So per ton on board |
cars. Assuming that Mr.. Dewey's figures |
are correct, is it reasonable to suppose that |
the Canadian farmer who has the option of |
selling hay In his home market for 81 to So |
per ton or shipping here and selling at |
about IS per ton, will choose the latter?
Mr.. Dewey warns his readers not to |
bank too heavily on the foreign market, re-
ferring to those who banked on Russian |
starvation for high priced wheat and got |
badly left. Ii Mr. Dewey's opinion on the |
hay market is no better than he has demon |
strated his opinion to have been touching |
wheat, we would not advise those who have |
hay to sell to bank too heavily on his |
opinion.
When my friend was paying 81 to So per |
ton, my hay was costing me 81 to S11.5O |
on board the cars, and my freight was 20 |
cts. per ton higher than his. Did the Cana |