The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1893-09-29
under each such staple in 1898 at present
VALUE OF AN ACRES PRODUCT.
Totals. -. ..s7s.al 1894 5a.4s 500 1914 4o.75

Iotals. .''..Sioa~l ao.s4 osi@ o'fo fs.44 fuio'
Average an
acre. -. ,sl5.6I 1919 llss llss $50 Sis
If, as is altogether probable, the rev.
enue derived from the cultivation of,
each acre of the staples named has not
stree 1885 been in excess of the cost OF
production, then it is readily seen that
The workers among the 100000 who
tnhabit the farms of the United States
have for eight years received no more
than laborors' wages and could pur~
chase but the barest necessaries AS
prices now current are q per cent below
the average of 1886 to 1862 it follows
that the products of the farm are now
sold below the cost of production, and
that the farmer is wholly without pur-
chasing power other than such as results
from his wages as common laborer.
Granting that present prices even
cover the cost of production, or say $e.15
an acre, it is evident that every cent that
can be added thereto will be in the ma
ture of profits or rent and will add that
much to the purchasing or debt paying
power of the cultivator, but there is
abundant evidence that $S.l5 does not
represent the actual average cost OF pro-
ducing 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 meager subsistence.
That present prices are below the cost Of
production appears probable from the
fact that outside few favorably stu
ated communities there has been no re-
duction of farm Indebtedness in recent
years, while the farmer has over wide
areas from year to year been reducing
his purchases Of the products of manu-
| facturc, although his revenues have been
81 per cent above the present level.
AS 206, 900, 900 acres are now employed
in growing staple crops, it follows that
the power Of the farmer to purchase
is this year 81 1868, 900, 900 less than it
would be if he was receiving the price
of 1S66-70 for his great staples. II the
prices now realized in the farm markets
equaled those received from 1871 to 1875,
the farmer would this year be able to
spend 81 100000 900 more for manufac-
lures and other commodities than he will
be able to spend with prices at the pres
emit level. Were prices now equal to
the average of those obtained from 1915
to 1880, the purchasing power OF the
farmers would this year be augmented
by S76S, 100000.
Should the crops of 1898 give average
yields and the prices equal those current
from 1881 to 1885, the farmers spending
power would be 1915, 900, 900 greater than
with present prices. Even with prices
as low as those prevailing from 1885 to
1890, the farmers of the United States
would have $3.50, 100000 added to their
debt paying and purchasing power in
1893, and like advances on the other
products of the farm would create an
ample fund for building and general i'm
provement, thus employing more labor
| Much stress is laid upon the necessity
of cheap food for the wageworker, but
what possible benefit can be derived
from cheapness that deprives the co.
600, 900 who produce food and fiber Of
the ability to keep the wageworker en-
ployed 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 at an average Of 81 Per
bushel at the farm markets and 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 continuous ability
to buy bread. Would not that be far
better than existing conditions and
bread unattainable, though low in pricei
We recently published a statement to
the effect that the 1 900 young women
employed in the Warner corset factory
at Bridgeport, Conn, had been reduced
to half time; that Coo of them were I'M
able to buy food and were fed by the
charity of their employer. Sue, condi-
tons exist because the women upon the
farms are unable to renew their corsets
with wheat selling west of the Missis-
sippi at from 80 to 40 cents bushel.
The relation between the price Of
Livery stable keepers should always