The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-11-29
FARMERS AND OTHERS.
rher worL out Prosperity UnRtdea
~ TaFIH Laws or Com-
biaea,

Mr.. L. G. Porter, the head Of The
statistical branch OF the census hu.
rcau. has announced tho "incontro.
yertible conclusion" that the farmers
Of Minnesota are enjoying prosperity
60 the extent that they are richer
than ever before. He showa that n
they received less for their Agrieul.
turnl products the cause was mol the
reduction in their profits, but the re-
/ duccd cost Of production due TO i'm.
I provcments In machinery.
Everyone must rejoice In this for.
tunato condition OF the Minnesota
farmers. They are 10 be congratu-
lated. From the Scythe and cradle
and the fail to the machine that
marches through the gram field leav-
ing behind /, tied bags Of grain that
a moment before was waving In the
air il great stride. Invention has
done wonderful things IN reducing the
cost Of agricultural products I'm.
proveinen; Ia transportation has given
the consumers the opportunity 10 &c,
these products at very low cost
above production cost. Our farmers
feed the world. Every country In the
world depends on US for some of our
food products. 1, would be the rank
est injustice n those engaged In agri-
cultural pursuits were not enjoying
prosperity, and We are glad that the
Minnesota farmers are prosperous.
But II should not escape attention
that this prosperity has been worked
out by the farmers In free and open
competition with all the world. The
farmers arc the great unprotected
producers. II Is not such n wonderful
thing that n tin plate industry should
he built up In this country, after the
government gave tin plate makers n
protective tariff which guaranteed
that the industry would pay from the
start But the farmer had no such
guarantee. His products had 10 be
sold In the markets % the world be.
yund the reach Of the power Of this
government tn control the price.
There can he no farmers trust. for
The reason that the field Of their buAl.
ness Is world wide aud fhe farmers
too many to organize, They cannot
do 90 the riocl manufacturers did re-.
Gently in New York. 4 dispatch from
Pittsburgh tells what was done:
pittsburgh Pa Nov 1.-THE steel
manufacturers who had been In session
IN New York last week returned home
to-day They succeeded IN establishing
two additional pools
The products protected By the pooling
agreements are rails. structural shapes.
plates and blltA Several weeks ago
plates were protected by an agreement
when the price was advanced 10 50 per
ton. pooling arrangement was COM
plrtee. AZ which every plaismaker in the
country 10 member The orders or
their equivalents Will be divided among
the drma IN the business according 10
their capacity Prices were advanced 10
81 per ton A billet pool was aiAo or
r1niErd, n which every bNlet.makinF
concern In the country r. a member. and
u minimum price ot So per ton was made
The price on billets had been 81 10 and gls
previously This ouly covers domestic sales
ard does not interfsr, with prices for a.
port
The demand stree election aided In the
manufacturer coming together Circulars
Will be prepared tomorrow by the steel
billet manufacturers announcing the new
price
IT f. expected the Iicrssnsr Furnace a..
ISOLATION wiz meet again this seek az |
Cleveland 90 establish HcssemrF pig iron |
OF ~ per ton 40 result Of the advance IN |
billets This viii cause an advance or |
sheet bats aud alt products into which |
hossl mer biliets enter"
ls that fair 20 the farmer? The
steel manufacturer are protected 20
the extent o. seven or eight do, |
lars on ton They can com. |
hine and add that much TO the sell |
ing price which would rule with free
Those who use steel i
would pay trust prices, because even
then 1t is cheaper than to buy abroad
and pay the duty 20 get the product /
into this country. This tariff duty
enables them to charge exorbitaut
prices. thereby making It cost the
farmer more for every implement
used in production; making the rail.
roads pRy more for rails over which
the products are carried. making
everyone using a thing into which
steel enters pay tribute to the gem
tlemen who met In New York. Is II
any wonder they are prosperous7 The
'armSr struggles single handed not
1nly against this handicap at home.
Jut against ell the world. II he Is
we are glad. He has only
himself TO thank for it.--Utica OBJ
.erver.