The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-04-22
DEPRESSION ON TIE FARM.

The greatest and most largely cir
culated newspapers are published in
the largest cities. The proprietors.
editors and managers of such papers
are usually men who have little knowl-
edge of the conditions of country gen
orally, and less the of the conditions
necessities and vrcissitudes of the agrl-
cultural class which is perforce thu
rural or country c|ass of the people.
These papers are more exte, siv- ],
read than other papers, and AS thei'
opinions and views are e> pr.sst d from
cord tions of city environment, tn.
readers Of these papers are never &C.
curate)y informed.
One large and infiu-htial ur al
however, the Pbiladelphia Item, a pa
per with daily circulation of quar-
ter of a million. has b. gun to investi-
gate, and for the first time seems t..
ot gin to grasp come of the facts con
nected with the struggles of the agri
cult ural people. In recent issue it
ays: ;
There are quite number of people
who, having pass d all th+ir lives il
\ city. are disguised to regard the farm
- as the lucki-st Of all individuals. and
he one who is always assured IF y
comic rtable living.
The usual idea Of the farmer, by
hose who have had no, experience il
farming is that he is sure of his susie
nance from what the ground yield
MIN, and that tie surplus product
m-an SO much clear cash in his picket
But the Working Of the farm necessi,
ates h- lp which, while The pay is no.
large. eats considerably into the re-
&c pts. Then to keep up the prOduc
ton If the Ia nd, fertilizers have to b.
utilized. and lHtKe sums are expended
yearly for agricultural machinery.
After the ground is planted, ard
even up to the time the crop is pluck. d
he farmtr is constantly facing the
possibility Of having the entire sea
sons labur- swept away. TOO muci
vet weather means the ruin Of crops
drought means that they will b.
burned up by q blisterirg sun, Will.
sudden storm may sweep away in Al
| inst ant properly, which he has beer
ears in acquiring. or the prJduc.
which is ready for the market.
| tn past few years have been d p
eide y unfortunate for the farmer
in ev,ry section. and those ia tn
nj xhbcrhOnd of Philadelphia hay
felt the d-pr-s sion most keeniy. Th
rice Of produce has been small, ant
| he demand light, because the masse
have ha' $40 money. In many in>tan
crs the CT ops did not pay for heir cul
tivatiOn, and within a few miles O
Phi adrIphia pc atoes and msny The
lines Of Produce have been allowed {,
rot in the ground, because the KILN,
figures would not repay for the Iabo
Of remark-,ing.
The effect " the past few years
upon the farmer in this vicinity. j
made painfully apparent by the fac
that thu Stsfiff Of Chest efs, county s
about 10 sell twenty hire e properiip,
mostly valuable farms, to satisfy tn
demands Of creditors. or the bills f0
taxes. No matter how disastrous tn
seasons, taxes pile up upon tn. farm~1
and rs a climax TO the perit d Of de
ressiOn the law steps in aud dispOs
,esses him.
| For the relief of the depression j
the big manufactu ring cities, hiRh-
tariff .ff-rs some prospect of brtte
lines. But the tar If is. not materia !
apOn the farm. Not until the vulum
II money is largely increased. an
.Omrs in a medium Vhich will b
ulacrd in circulation. instead Of b-in
hoard away, will there be any res
and practical relief for the farmer.