The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-02-23
OVRRPRODUC TON OR UNDER
CONSUMPTION.

The question OF overproduction as q
cause for the general depression in the
price of agricultural products, has
been 30 thoroughly discussed that il
seems that anything further said on
the subject would be superfuous. But
to attribute the present hard timee, the
scarcity of money among farmers,
their inability TO meet iheir liabilities,
or pay their current expenses, to over
production, would appear to be loading
that particular horn OF the dilemma
with more than it will carry. In q
discussion of the subject ''Some ReR-
sons for the Present Depression" by
A. R Eastman, Of Waterville, n. Y,
at the meeting of the Pennsylvania
State Dairymen's Association, 1t was
shown that the number of farms, &C
cording to the census of 1890, in the
United States wes 4. 664 GAL. Showing
an increase Of farms of proportion with
the increase in population, indicating
that larger percentage Of our populA-
tion has turned their attention to agrl
cultural pursuits, says the Penpsyl
vania Farmer.
This Is not altogether correct as to
the population. In 1850 over so per
cent. of orr population were engaged
IN agriculture, while IN 1890 about a
per cent. were farmers. But that the
introduction of labor saving machinery
has increased the product per capita
Of the number engaged in agriculture,
every one will admit. Yet it is diff
cult for the most credulous to believe
that there is an overproc uction in this
country, if the consuming millions
we're not impoverished by other con-
ditions and IL huences to such a degree
that they are unable to buy a full ration
of the necessaries of life, and hundreds
of thousands are bordering on sterva-
tion, or at the present time depending
on public and private charity. We
seriously doubt that there is even an
overproduction Of apples or potatoes
or those perishabie articles that are of
short duration, il they they were prop
erIy distributed. But the great obstacle
in the way ia the lack Of money with
which TO purchase agricultural prod
ucts, even at the low and unremunera-
tive prices for which they are offered.
Mr. Eastman attributed some of the
causes of the present depression to the
farmers lack Of thought. Who can
say of the farmers of this country that
they have not done their full duty in
their effort to feed and clothe man
kind. They have produced from their
fields and focks not only the Rber and
the food to supply the wants of the 70,
0OC 900 of our own people, but have
furnished 73 per cent. of all the exports
to the foreign markets Of the world,
What more could have been done by
the farmers in the way Of agriculture,
by thought9
It is true not enough attention was
given by the farmer to what was going
on outside of agriculture. While he
was struggling to increase the quantity
of his product to keep up his income,
in spite Of the falling prices of tis
products, the money shark was Whis
pering in the ear OF Congress to de
monetize silver and increase the pur-
chasing power of gold, to make every
dollar Of the capitalist and the loaner
of money cover two dollars worth of
the products of the farmers toll While
the farmer was cultivating the surface
of his farm, the money schemer was
securing legislation by which to take
not only one half the products, but to
take from the land also one-half Of the
value, that had been the slow but
steady accumulation Of the years and
generations Of the past. Thus, vicious
aud unjust legislation began the i'm
poverishment of the farmer, for the
benefit of the money changer, which
has been going on ever since; the
farmer becoming no longer able to
purchase the products of manufactures
and other industries that furnished
employment to vast consuming p Pc