The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-08-02

ed by the legislature OF 1859, In draining
for the benefit of the farmers of the Red
river valley some Of the wet and over
flowed lands Of that section, by opening
and restoring several of the clogged or
closed water courses existing in the valley,
and when the system of drainage so ia-
augurated has been completed, it will
render the northwestern part of our state
land Of fertile farms second to no other
portion.
From this brief glance over the field OF
federal and state legislation it is apparent
that since 1860 there ha. been no incon-
siderable amount of special legislative re-
lief and assistance given to the farmers
and the agricultural interests of the coun-
try. No other class or interest can point
to any more or rs much friendly special
legislation, and il has all been inspired
under the auspices and direction of the
Republican party. In the light of these
facts how can honest men claim that the
farmer has been oppressed or neglected
through want of friendly legislatioa?
Benefits of Protection.
Our protective tariff legislation, while
greatly extending and enlarging the field
of our manufacturing operations, and
ssosstIy increasing the demand Cor labor
and palpably maintaining good wages for
the same, has also been of great adyan-
tage to our farmers. The large industrial
army fostered and maintained under our
tariff laws, has been the great consumer
of our farm products and has furnished us
our great home market, which has alb
sorbed more than 50 per cent of all Our
farm products. This home market has
not only been by far our greatest mar
ket, but it has also been our steadiest,
most remuneraLive market. The farmer
has always Jared much better in the home
market than in the foreign market Most
of our agricultural products are sold and
consumed at home, and is to those, a
fairly good price is generally maintained.
We have q considerable surplus of
wheat, cotton aud corn to export. AS to
corn, owing to our peculiar soil and
climate, we have, to limited extent, a
sort of natural monopoly, and therefore
are not wholly at the mercy of the foreign
market as to price; but in respect to
wheat and cotton the export price of our
surplus fixes and controls in the main the
price of the home market. AS to products
consumed entirely in our home market
We have 10 competition OF any cOnSe-
quonce, except with ourselves, but as to
wheat we are in compel ition with Russia,
Austro-Hungary, India and the Argentine
Republic. The latter is especially fast
becoming our most formidable comperi-
tor While we export a large surplus of
wheat and flour, our products Of oats,
barley, flax, hay, potatoes, cattle, hogs,
sheep, cheese, butter and eggs is mainly
consumed at home and the price is fixed
by the home market. This price is much
better and more favorable to the farmer
than the price of wheat, which is fixed by
the export price OF our surplus.
The total value of our wheat and -four
export in 1883 was $l69, 0a9 ,317, while the
value Of all other cereals ard breadstuffs;
of all beef, pork. mutton and dairy prod
ucts and of all eggs and hay exported, was
in the aggregate oaly Si39,G00,0 900, leaving
an excess of $40, 500 900 in favor OF flour
and wheat over all of these other products
combined.
I have taken the pains to ascertain and
compile in tabulated form the price at ST.
Paul and Minneapolis of some of the lead
ing products of our farms for the II
months of the year 1898, with the average
price for the entire year, and for the first
seven months of 1884, with the average
price for these months. And; this is the
result.