Middletown transcript., 1896-01-04
OF Interest
ITO Farmers
CECIL CoUNRY FATMERs.

CECIL COUNRY FATHERS.
The farmers of Cecil county, or GER
tain of them, have a Farmers Club
which meets monthly from farm to
farm, talk business and dine together.
The Cecil Whig gives very interest
ing account of the meetn. December
18th ,Iheld at Mr.. Alfred Kinks. 1t is
In part:
There being no reports of expert
ments, Mr.. Kirk presented the follow
ing short paper:
"Since have been a member of the
Farmers Club have heard many sub
jects discussed as to planting and culti-
vation of the different crops grown on
our farms. Also the kind of seed and
fertilizer to be used to produce thes
crops have come in f,ra good share of
argument at our meetings, and at the
closing of the year | think We can say
to each other that our meetings have
been profitable as far as the farm is
concerned.
Sat the same time We have had as
sessment, good roads and other subjects
discussed and resolutions passed set
ting forth our views on them and then
the matter dropped. / am Of the opin-
ion if we ever make any progress in the
way of getting legislation passed on
questions that interest US as farmers
we must stand to together, work and
act together for our rights as farmers.
If we do not tho same complaints will
be made in the coming years as in the
ones gone by. Men who stand with
folded arms and sealed lips expecting
the mantle of justice to fall on their
shoulders in the way of legislation will
be sadly disappointed. The sooner we
fact the better. There is one other mat
ter to which would like to call the at
tention of the Climb. That is the mar.
keting Of our produce while all farm
roducts are lower than the oldest of us
can recollect. The consumer pays as
much as he did when prices were fifty
per cent. higher. In noticing the retail
markets potatoes (white) 25 cents per
peck, while farmers sell them at the
same price par bushel and many other
products in about the same proportion"
Comment on the essay being in order
Mr.. Duyckinck said that the question
Of marketing farm products had often
occurred to him, and the excessive
retail prices charged for farm products
seemed to be an evil that middlemen
any commission men had absolutely
established, and were maintaining
against any protest or action of the far
mer.
Mr.. Gillespie said that he apprecia.
ted the conditions referred to by Mr..
but could suggest no rem
edy that seems available.
Mr.. Michener said the essay was
short but it suggested a great deal. AS
to marketing farm produce, he said in
earlier days the farmer could use the
market in any city without
cost or charge, except the tolls he paid
on the turnpike. There was no COM
mission man, no middlemen to stand
between the producer and the consumer.
Now the railroad company exacts high
rates of freight, the city stall to sell
in must be paid for at high rental,
and the producer is SO absolutely at
the mercy of the commission whole
sale men, the farmer could no longer
market his own farm pro-
duets. Ee thought that farmers did
not show sufficient interest in organiz-
ed effort.
Mr.. Henry 8. Coudon did not see
how the farmers could get the advan-
tage of retail prices unless they them-
selves became retailers, which under |
existing trade conditions be would be |
to do.
Mr.. Wilson thought as the essayist |
said that the meetings Of this club had |
in the past proved advantageous to its
members by comparisons of experience |
and resules.f He thought cooperation
necessary by farmers in all lines Of
needed reforms. He thought the in
auence of farmers could be directed to
good results in legislation if intelli-
gently directed as body. He thought
,xis' ing trade conditions were against
,ee farmers becoming retailers. since
ID middlemen stood between the far
ner and the consumer.
Mr.. Bond agreed With Mr.. Wilson
lat the difficulty In farmers becom-
ng retailers lay in the fact that trad
10 svaa matter of money, and the /,