The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-12-29
WASHINGTON LETTER
BETTER FINES FOR THE
FARMERS.

The farmers OF the United States ought
to find their holiday season a very sat
isfactory one. The contrast in their
condition at the present time with that
which existed under the free trade
which the republican party has just
eliminated from the statue books is
very great, and every farmer will
doubtless appreciate it. They have
contributed very largely to the expor-
tations of the present year, which are
shown by recent figures of the treas
ury department as greater than in any
proceeding year in the history OF the
country. OF course, the products OF
agriculture form very large percent
age of our exports. Up to this time
products of agriculture form over %
per cent. of the expectations OF the
year 1897, as they did in 1895. In the
month of October they formed 10 per
cent of the total expectations. When
we take this into consideration and
then learn that the exports OF the
United States for the year just ending
will be more than billion dollars, it
will be seen that large amount of
money has flowed into the pockets OF
the farmers,
A study of the details of the prices
received by farmers for the articles
which they are now selling, as COM
pared with recent conditions, will be
interesting at this close of the year.
Since August, prices Of wheat in New
York have lowered along the dollar
line, sometimes a little below, fire.
quently a little above, and the climax
was reached other day in Chicago.
when the price of winter wheat
touched one dollar and nine cents.
Contrast this condition with that OF a
short time ago. On January 2, 1895,
the price of red winter wheat No. 2, in
the New York market was sixty-nine
cents son February Z, 1895, it was Tiff
ty-four cents and fraction.
Ohio medium class wool, which in
November sold in the New York
and Boston markets at thirty cents,
brought only twenty cents in January
OF the the present year. Montana fine
medium wool (scoured basis }, which in
November brought fifty three cents per
pound, was worth thirty three cents at
the beginning of the year, Kentucky
and Indiana unwashed, which in Oc-
tober and November brought twenty
three-cents pound in the markets
was worth but seventeen cents at the
beginning of the year. Lard, which in
September ranged as high as
1927, is quoted upon February IL
1897, at 1896. Mess pork, which il
quoted as selling in the New Yorh
market at ti075 in September, begar
the year at 1925 per barrel. Bee
which sold in the New York markets a
$1050 per barrel in November of the
present year, is quoted at $3.50 in the
same markets in July last.
In many other things farm prices
steadily advanced, and farmers have
reason to congratulate themselves up
on their improved conditions. A re-
cent statement by Bradstreet's il
which it compares prices OF nearly
one hundred different articles with
former rates shows an advance in No
vember in corn. oats, potatoes, milk
beans, peas, hemp, barreled beef. NUT
ton, sheep, hops, eggs and wool, while
other articles of farm produce re
tanned thes advanced position which
they had gained earlier infthe year.
That all theselthings have had theil
effect upon the farmer and made hii
year prosperous one is evidenced by
reports coming from every part Of the
country showing enormous reduction
in mortgage Indebtedness. Thousands
supon thousands, hundreds of thous
ands in fact are being paid of witt
the result of IA years prosperity under
protection and sound money, and hun
,dreds of thousands of homes will thi,
year have, for this reason as we'll u,
for many others, merrier Christmas
and happier New Year than they
had known during the period of fret
trade and its accompanying troubles.
Not only in the matter of increas
ing earnings do the farmers find thei
condition improved, but coupled will
this has come reduction in prices o
many articles which they must buy
Bradstreet's statement referred t,
above shows reduction in Novembe
in the prices Of cotton sheetings, tin
print cloths, iron and STEEL coal ant
coke, and many other articles 70
which the farmers money must go.
The farmers nave reason to congrat
uIate themselves also upon the chang
which has taken place in the manage
ment Of their own department Of agri
culture within the year. Uncle Jerr
Rusk, President Harrison's secretar
OF agriculture, was real friend Of tn
farmer, and instituted number {
schemes which have worked out I
their advantage and which are no
recognized as permanentinstitution