The herald., 1897-06-24
edited by Prof. A. ]. Cook.)
Hard Times for the Farmer

One of the most frequent subjects for
comment at the present time is the de-
pression in farming and kindred INDUS
tries. The old saying, what every
body says must be true" would seem to
give validity to such statements. The
sentiment is in the atmosphere; in the
current political press, and almost as
frequently in magazine articles. The
fact of this common expression of opin-
ion by so many of the writer's would lead
one to believe that there Is more or less
foundation for this prevalent opinion.
TITS TRUE
To anyone who has been conversant
with farming and farmers for the past
score of years, not TO say since the late
panic commenced, there is certainly rea-
son for this opinion. The writer knows
a good many farmers with thousands of
dollars invested in farm property who
have had long training ,and are very
proficient in matters pertaining to
farming, and who practice the closest
economy; and yet they have barely
made their ledger balance without even
counting interest on the capital invested.
There are a good many men' in the
country engaged in farming who, in the
early, UtLttI tlllOs, tspGNldlly
ing and just after the late war, contract
ed debts, either in buying a farm or else
in enlarging the one already possessed,
who have found it impossible to remove
the mortgage which they had placed on
their property. That times are eX-
ceedingly trying with the farming class,
exceptionally hard, we may say, there
can be no question. Our legislatures,
L., ,s,,s,,
to railroads or great corporations, always
allow for a reasonable interest on cap
ital. 1t would seem, then, a rational
view that any business ought to pay a
reasonable per cent upon the capital in
vested in the property. TO judge from
this standpoint, we may say, without
question, that very few farms in the
country, during the last few years, have
paid. OF course many farmers have
not run behind. and even may have in
creased their capital somewhat, but this
has allowed nothing in the way of in
terest on their investment.
CAUSE OF THIS DEPRESSION.
One reason given for this state of
things is that the large introduction of
machinery has so increased production
that the farmer produces more than the
needs of the people demand. This over
production necessarily brings depreciat-
ed prices, and thus the farmer finds his
profits very light, or nothing. 1t is
true, that with machinery the farmer
produces vastly more, and at less ex-
pense of production; yet the increase in
production and the difference in cost IS
not at all proportional to the dinIin ished
price which the products bring in the
market.
Another reason for hard times in our
farming communities is that the farmer,
unlike those of almost all other kinds of
business, has nothing to say as to what
he shall receive for his products. The
lawyers meet and determine their fees,
and thus control the price of their labor.
The same is true of the doctors About
a year ago we had occasion to inquire
into the fees of doctors in various places.
We wrote to practitioner in Los An
geles, to one of the leading physicians
OF Pomona, to a country practitioner in
Chino, and consulted our local physician
here at Claremont. The result was that
we found that nearly all had snlbstan-
TALLY the same fees. This rather sur
prised u.s. as the Los Angeles physician
was one of the most distinguished prac-
titioners of that city. 1t simply shows
that doctors confer together and decide
what their services are worth. Web
occasion some time since to engage a
livery to drive few miles out from San
Diego. We wished to make a rapid trim
and the liveryman would not consent to
our taking single horse but we must
take team. His charge seemed to us
exorbltant. We demurred from the price
asked and inquired for other liveries
He courteously replied that all Mverymen n
/ in san Diego We're unit-that their
prices We're one and the same, which we
found out was exactly the truth. Is it
not true, then, that the farmer, unlike
those OF all other kinds of business, has
nothing whatever to sayregardine what
his wares shall receive in the market?
Again, the farmer is very much iso-
lated and knows less, perhaps, than
those Of any other kind of business as
to what his neighbor farmer is, doing.
therefore without the desirable know
edge too many farmers raise the same
crop and there is not that diversity OF
production which the best profits de
mand. Thus it is that the markets are
often flooded, unnecessarily SO, with prod
ucts which make the price exceedingly
low-often far below the cost of produc-
ton.
THE CURE
II seems that perhaps the most import
ant thing for the farmer to do is to enter
heartily into every scheme of co-opera-
tion which has good sense and wisdom
to support it. There is no more reason
why the farmer should have no word as
10 what his products should bring in the
market than there is that the LAWYER.
doctor, or those of any other kind Of
business should be like situated. This
, very fact Of isolation and lack of CO.
operation has been the serious han6fcan
which has crippled the farmers efforts
all these years. The price is surely
coming, and it is not very distant. when
the farmers VIII be as soidly united as
are those Of other kinds of business to.
day. 1t depends upon the farmer more
than any other how speedily this Shall
be achieved. In our Southern California
fruit exchange we have a splendid op-
portunity to help on this good consum-
nation. 1t may be true that in some
cases slight losses may come from unit
= ing and working together, but that in the
end great good viii come is certainly
true. When the farmers Go thus act
together they can, like those in othe,
kinds Of business, have word as to
what their labors are worth and can in