The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-01-23
CORRESPONDENCE
rne Editors are not responsible for the views
Correspondents.
MICRO COLONIAL ION NRCRs-
SARY TO AGRICULTURAL
PROGRESS,

. ~ A4S SAO4A&&GAO1 90VCC8CGU
OorresUOnuence OF the Progressive Farmer.
The SEASON of the year Is as hand
when the farmer must get right down
20 york. Some years ago. when we
tai were discussing and bemoan-
ing the une quail advantages under
which we were lsborIng, it was as
serted by some that the farmer did not
labor more than six months of the
year.
And while this was the topic on n
street corner, a group of Ioafers on the
opposite corner, per hRps, were declar-
ing that overproduction was the cause
OF low prices, and all the other mig
fortunes of which we were complain
ing. How contradictory and COL hict-
ing, the two statementsI
This latter assertion, namely, over
production, has never been proven to
be true.
And as to the former al sertion, that
the farmer does not labor more than
half his time, il this we're ever true, it
can now no longer be said in truth.
For not only the truck farmer, but the
general crop farmer, is engaged year
in and year out" or from January to
January.
As we begin to lock ov-r the field to
plan and purpose for the ensuing year,
it, perhaps, occurs to US hat there is q
balance of debt" which could not be
met, brought over from last year. Or,
perhaps, we reed a wagOn, or cart, or
buggy. Or it may be that cur houses
need repair. Or that disease has de-
stroyed our pork crop, despite our
efforts to the contrary. Well, how IL
the farmer to acquire money to buy,
or suoply these additional require
mentsI
One would naturally say. Plant large
crops; make more products; make more
cotton; make more tobacco, &C.
But, my farmer friends, does not the
ez perience of The past prove to us that
this reasoning ia faIlaciousI Are we
not convinced that this plan will not
work3 Let the farmers make a large
crop of wheat, corn and peas; OF let Is
be known that the cotton crop, OF the
tobacco crop,is a heavy n ;or suppose
there is a heavy crop of str8WberrieR
Irish potatoes or melons, and the prices
at once drop down, below cost of pro-
auction. and sometimes even below
cost Of transportation.
Well. then, if large acreage, if more
abunoant crops-in short,if more prod
ucts, will not bring the additional re
Enumeration, which the farmer needs,
how is he to obtain iC9 Abl This to
the one great question with him. And
ne who could give us a prac'ical and
applicable solution to this question
would be the greatest earthly b nefao.
tor Of the age. Again the question:
How shall We get the additional re
muneration9
Well, the merchant, the jobbeF,
mar u~facturer, corporation and trust,
in such a dilemma would say, Put
more profit on our goods, wares, prod
ucts, &o.-jlst as they have done and
are dong. All manufactured products,
merchandise, etc., have been advanced;
all iron PRODUCES, all cotton goods,
(though the raw mate rial of which
they are made cost the manufacturer
less than eve before), guanos, and
even matches have advanced. We
cannot kindle our fires without paying
an extra tribute to these classes
There has been no short crop" OF
these products to increase prices, for
many of these factories have been run
ming double time. Do you say, there
is an increased demana for these things,
and this is reason for the increase in
prices7 / answer, II there is an in
creased demand, it is not among those
who 'eat their bread by the sweat Of
their brow" It ia rather because the
wage Garner has been forced TO seek
employment at any price for his labor
and these incorporated Industries are
in a position to take advantage Of this
low priced labor.
Now if the above named classtg do
not diminish the output nor does the
increased demand justify the advance
in prices, how Ia it that these persons,
corporations or classes, accomplish
their purpose in the advance OF priest
The answer ia short and simple. By
CO operation: by NUT al co operation.
This is the key that unIocks b situa
tion. This ia the string that lifts the
latch to the door of advance. pr
/ admit that there are several reasons
why it is more difficult for farmers to
1-n-nkn tAr- e. nIwn0nA