Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-01-10
oAlRYMsN's CONDITION.
PRESIDENT CONNER AT NEW HAMPSHIRE
DAIRY MEETING.

Prices of butter and milk have no,
varied materially the past season from
few preceding IL. IL has been one oi
sb1ndsnt forsge and the feeds he I.
compelled to purchase are at reasonable
rates. Prices for dairy products hsv.
settled To low basis, so that with the
masses OF farmers, dsirying has been 4
hsnd-to-mouth process.
Nine-tenths Of the farmers iu our COM
muni,y are struggling against odds,
which are dragging them down 10 a
lower inznciSl level Few OF them are
here, rarely are they able TO spend time
aud money 20 90 TO such gatherings.
These conditions are not brought about
because this large class do not keep up
with modern ideas. There are condi-
tions now, which did not prevail years
ago,
Transportation has brought the farmer
! fsce 10 face with the great west and
tropical regions. Owing 10 extrsvsgsnt
expenditures and high salaries taxes
have doubled. The lsborer charges as
much as when products sold for double
present prices
In years past the large deposits In our
savings banks were chiefly farmers
savings. Farmers OF to-day Who are
adding 10 their bank sccount,-if indeed
they have one,-sre about as numerous
a. the good men ths; were required 10
save SOdom from the vengeance Of the
Almighty.
We have made great progress In the
art of dairy work our dairy goods are
not only palatSble, but up 10 date In at
tractiyeness As the years 20 by We
see less and less OF private dsirying, and
soon the churn and other dairy imple-
ments will take their places 10 the attic
beside the cheese utensils and spinning
wheel. We may hall this transform
ton from individual thought and sctiv-
ity, a. a relief from labor. But IL our
lsbors are diminished our Income will
Be correspondingly diminished
The farmer i about ~ dependent for
,vervthing ne eats and wears a. the in-
habitant Of the city. His dairy would
xindle 10 small proportions were it not
that feeds are brought thousands OF
miles 20 help him out. But unless pur-
chasing power keeps psce with incress-
ing wants, we shall be finally driven TO
the wall. We should aim To avoid ex-
trsmes.
The farmer should not attempt 10 en-
close himself with & Chinese wall. and
be TOO independent Of other c,llings ;
neither should he f'itter himself that he
can fold his hands aud disdAip labor
without counting the cost.
Ought not dairy associations, boards
OF agriculture and the Agricultural press
for while give attention TO the fiusncisl
hindrsuces 10 successful farming: Times
aud conditions have so changed that we
are brought face 10 face with new
problems.
From 1850 TO 1850 the farmer sold his
products from - 10 100 percent more
than he does to-day. But every sslsried
officer has been doubled within this
period. Every days work upon the
farm, every mechanical or professional
person employed costs ss high and In
some instances higher than during the
thirty years alluded TO. New Hsmp-
shire guards her finances, and IL less
proae TO extravagance than manv OF
her sister states. Yet while in lS6o the
cost OF her govrrnment was less than -
cents per capita, to-day t Is i've times
that amount.
10 proportion to his ability the farmer
psys an undue share. His possessions
stand out in full light before the assess
or. 80 too his national contributi n,
b,sed largely upon consumption regard
l,ss OF finsDei,l ability, weighs hesvily
upon him. Trusts and combinations
encompass him, While he stands alone,
po~ erless 10 enhance one farthins the
price OF his manufactures. IL the gos-
pei Of industry, economy and strict at
ieution 10 business. Is good for him, IL
Is equally good for that vast array OF
persons 10 whom he contributes 10 sup
port.
Fellow dSirymen, on the 18th day OF
March, lS>t. this association WAS or
ganized From that date To the present
time. have held this position. | AN
proud of it, work. When We were or
gsnized our goodly state had no rank
among the dairy states. Since then she
has taken the first rank. desire nov
TO retire from the position and Ia 80 do
ing, I shall ever cherish deep interest
10 the welfare OF this Organization and
in the prosperity Of New Hampshire
husbandmen.