The sun., 1893-09-10

20 75 so S5 90
sfss :'is = II sS iisss 'iS FL 'ssS
| i Il j. i il il IS IS / IS ISs
To..l. sis 81 SIS % $50 a. $50 40 s4s a. $40 rs
acre s'...si5 q SIS 10 sI1 as s1I 20 50 50 50 IS
II. as is altogether probable. the revenue
derived from the cultivation OF each acre Of
the staples named has not since 1885 been
In excess OF the cost OF production. then 1t
| Is readily seen that the workers among the
| 100000 who inhabit the farms OF the
United States have for eight years received
no more than laborers' wages. and could
purchase but the barest necessarles. AS
prices now current are 81 per cent. below
the average OF 1886 to 1890. it follows that
the products OF the farm are now sold below
the cost OF production. and that the farmer
is wholly without purchasing power other
than such as results from his wages as
common laborer.
Granting that present prices even cover
the cost Of production. or say SS15 an acre. 1t
is evident that every cent that can be added
thereto will be in the nature Of profits or
rent. and will add that much to the pur-
| chasing or debt-paying power OF the culti-
vator: but there Is abundant evidence that
Ss.15 does not represent the actual average
cost OF producing the staple products.
and that the farmers debt-paying and
purchasing power has been reduced
to that OF the lower class Of labor.
and will afford him. while present
prices obtain. but the means of the most
meagre subsistence. That present prices
are below the cost OF production appears
probable from the fact that. outside few
favorably situated communities. there has
been no reduction Of farm indictment in
recent years. while the farmer has, over
wide areas. from year to year been reduc-
ing his purchases OF the products OF manu-
facture. although his revenues have been
81 per cent. above the present level.
The extent Of the reductions made In rev.
enue from each acre under staple crops. is
best shown by saying that the acre revenue
from 1866 to 1870 was $3.50, or 93 per cent.
greater than in 1898: from 1871 to 1875 it
was S7.04. or SO per cent. greater than in
1898: from 1876 to 1880 1t was $3.73 or &c per
cent. greater than In 1898: from 1881 to 1885
it was $313. or 3s per cent. greater than in
1898; from 1886 to 1890 1t was Sl.74. or 81 per
cent. greater than in 1893. The great dimi-
mutton in the purchasing power Of the
farmer, implied by these progressive reduc-
tions in acreage revenue, without compen-
sating reductions in the cost OF cultivation.
Is thus clearly shown: but the enormous
yearly aggregate OF lost purchasing power
is comprehensive only when we multiply
the acres now employed in growing staples
by the declines shown in the acreage value Of
products since 1870. While very accurately
measuring the farmers loss OF revenue by
nf tho HaaliDDC va1ua ~ ha
product. even multiplying the acres under
staple crops fails to show the whole loss,
as no account is thereby taken of the reduc-
tion in the value Of animals and the thou
sand and one things produced on the farms
OF the United States. which have suffered. in
many cases. quite az great declinein value
as have the great staples to which this
showing is confined.
AS 206.000.0oO acres are now employed in
growing staple crops. 1t follows that the
power OF the farmer to purchase Is this year
81. .563 900 900 less than it would be IL he was
receiving the prices Of lS66-70 for his great
staples. II the prices now realized in the
farm markets equalled those received from
1871 to 1875. the farmer would this year be
able to spend 81. .45O OOO. 900 more for manu-
features and other commodities than he
will be able to spend with prices at tho
present level. We're prices now equal to
the average Of those obtained from 1876 to
$780, the purchasing power Of the farmers
would this year be augmented by $768. .OOO.-
900. Should the crops OF 1893 give average
yields and the prices equal those current
from 1881 to 1885. the farmers spending
power would be S645OOO 900 greater than
with present prices. Even with prices as
low as those prevailing from 1886 to 1890. the
farmers OF the United States would have
S35S. 900. 900 added to their debt-paying and
purchasing power In 1893: and like ad-
vances on the other products OF the farm
would create an ample fund for buildi ng
and general Improvement. thus employing
more labor.
The least OF these sums. added to the
sums yearly distributed among the pro-.
ducers OF metals and textiles, would afford
employment for great numbers. keep the
mills in motion, make money abundant,
and bring good times
Much stress is laid upon the necessity Of
cheap food for the wage worker: but what
possible benefit can be derived from n
cheapness that deprives the 10000. 900 who
produce food and fibre. OF the ability to
keep the wage worker employed by buying
the products of artisan and operative?
Doubling the present price of wheat would
probably add the price OF six or eight days
labor to the cost OF the years supply OF
bread for the average family: but with
wheat ut an average OF 81 bushel at the
farm markets. aud other farm products at
proportionate prices. there would be no
idle mills. and the Garner OF wages would
have that easily procured and constant
work which would assure him the continu-
GUS ability TO buy bread. Would not that
be far better than existing conditions and
bread unattainable though low In price,
We recently published statement to the
effect that the 1000 young women employed
In the WARNER oorse factory at Bridgeport.
Conn. had been reduced to half time; that