The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-12-01
But one Way to Make Farming Pay


But One Way to Make Farming Pay.
The universal cry in the older
sad more thickly settled states is.
alarming doesn't pay" The com
plant is so general that we are com
PEELED to believe that it is true Ag-
riculture being the Oldest and most
important Of all occupations it
should generously reward those who
engage in it, The tiller Of the soil
is above all others worker with
the Giver Of all Good in making the
the earth bring forth a5undantly for
the support of man and beast.
There must be some good reasons
for the unsatisfactory returns for the
farmers toll, and, if possible, rem
edy should be found and applied.
1t is easier to find the causes than
prescribe a remedy. The Enquirer
mentions, as among the causes, the
following;
l. Vast territories have been
thrown open foragricultural products
and the facilities for transportation
by rail and by water give an advan-
tage to those who occupy the cheap
er lands and till the virgin soil over
those who live on the more expensive
lands nearer the markets. Proxim-
ity to market is no advantage except
for sale OF perishable articles.
2. The numerous and wonderful
inventions of agricultural imple-
ments have enabled farmers to in
crease products largely in excess of
the demand for consumption. The
population has not increased as fast
es the means of living, rapidly as
our population has multiplied by
birth and immigration. OF course,
as facilities for production are en-
larged, prices must decline. Farm
ers occupying lands worth $50, $50
or 800 an acre cannot successfully
compete with those whose lands are
acquired for $125 per acre. The eff
feet Of cheap lands and machinery
upon the prosperity of the farmers
in the older sections of the country
will in time be different. Cheap
lands arc getting scarce, and benefits
arising from improved farm imple-
ments cannot be monopolized. 1t
will be well for those engaged in ag
riculture, in more densely populated
localities and on expensive lands, to
change their production. They
should not attempt to compete in
raising wheat and corn, but give their
attention TO the growth of fruits and
vegetables. They cannot be trans
ported with safety and without de-
terioration to any great distance.
Small tracts of land are required in
maturing equally profitable crops.
There is not likely to be an over
production Of fruits and vegetables,
and if there is a large yield and the
crop is cheapened in consequence
there will be larger consumption.
What the American farmer needs
above all other things is free access
to the worlds markets and the right
to exchange his products or pur-
chase what he needs without hind
rance or obstruction Farmers pro-
duce very little of whit at their neces-
stiles require. They must purchase
the largest portion of what they con
sumo. They must purchase their
farm implements, their household
and kitchen furniture, table ware,
UuCii OlOOuluS, tuCli uuOOS anu SuOeS
and almost everything they need
1t is one of the cruelties of the tar
if which the farmers realize more
keenly than any other class that
they must sell in the cheapest mar
ket and buy in the dearest. Strange
as it may appear, farmers as rule
are the strongest advocates Of the
tariff, while they are the greatest
sufferers from what is falsely called
protection. We can account for it
in part to the fact that agricultural
papers, magazines and periodicals
which they patronize are subsidized
by manufacturers who sustain these
journals by liberal advertising. We
are pleased to know that American
farmers are beginning to realize how
they are bunkoed.
i