Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1894-03-02
Farm Industries.

ket valus af Wbeat II gaine "a
last. There are two theories On
the subject Ons is that the
low price is accustomed hy over
production, resulting from the
rapid pspphng Of our Northwest
ern plains and Of tile plains #
the Argentine Repuhlic, and also
Of the opening of 'Europe9n niars
kets to Indian wheat, following
the building frailway through
out Hindqstan, ard that theYe
will be a recovery u ola tes ID
soon az time enough has elapRed
for the aonr-e eating population II
the world to increase 50 as tp
catch up with the wheat sup,lyt
The other theury is that the low
figures ruling for wheat for seg-
j ! = &
eral years past result from the
operations Of an economic iaW
which keeps prices Of all pro-
ducts down to the vicinity Of the
average cost Of production. It
is argued that agricultural ma
cainery has greatly cheal ened
the cost OF raising it, including
interest on the land, and of get
ting it to market.
We do not wish to discuss
here these two rival theories.
No matter which may be the
correct explanation Of the dis
couragingly low price Of wheat,
there is little reason to hope for
an early change for the better.
Our Northwestern farmers haye
made up their minds that at the
best it will be 3 long time before
they can hope to sell wheat
again for dollar bnshel, and
the most intelligent and enter,
prisipg among them are deyising
plans to get income from other
sources than their wheat fields.
They do not intend to 60 out Of
the business Of wheat-growing,
for they know that their coun-
try produces the best wheat in
the world and that they can
raise it as cheapl, as anybody,
all things considered. They can
put their good wheat in the
markets Of Europe in competi-
ton with the poor wheat Of In
dia, although the latter is raised
oy men who live on ten cents a
day, They believe that the
Northwest will always be one Of
the chief sranaries Of the civil
lied world They now realize,
iiowever. that to prosper they
must raise something to sell be-
sides low priced wheat. Some
are going into pork, and find
that they can ret more money
out Of q bpshel II wheat by feed
ing it to a rig than by hauling
it to an eleyator. Coed butter
always brings fair price, and
the dairy industry is increasing
in magnitude and spreading to
regions which formerly bought
butter for home consumption,
bringing it in by the car load
from Iowa, Fruit culture il the
mild climate Of Washington,
Idaho and Oregon is already as
suming large proportions and
promises TO speedily become an
industry Of very great nagrir
tude, finding markets for its
fresh, canned and dried products
as far east as ST. Paul and Chiea
go. Some farmers make prohta
he speeialties 81 onions others
Of celery, others Of potatees and
al ers q erries. Poultry serves
many q help cut their incomes.
Tbs tendency is everywhere to
diversity products so as to have
something to do the year round
on the farm and not to depend
on the results Of three months
work in the wheat fields for the
entire money revenue OF the
family. The outcome Of this
change will in time be a denser
population, better social advan-
teges and a higher general aver
age of intelligence and comfort;