The Washington times., 1901-11-13
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE,
Report of the Investigations of the
Industrial Commission.

The Industrial Commission has lust
made public report concerning agricul-
ture and agricultural labor in this coun-
try showing a decided increase in the
average productivity of farms during the
past century. Regarding the subject of
agriculture the report says:
The Importance of agriculture among
the industries of the country is attribut-
ed in part TO its fundamental character.
but is due also to the large number
of persons engaged in agricultural en-
ployments. The agricultural population
of the country doubled during the forty
years between 1856 and 1890 and at the
latter date constituted more than one
third Of the entire population, about s.
100000 persons being engaged in gainful
agricultural occupations and representing
a total agricultural population of about
2iWO.OO. 4 little more than 50 per cent
/ of those engaged in agriculture owned
/ their farms. the remainder being either
/ tenants or hired laborers
The wealth Of the farmers, which Is
/ estimated to have been nearly one-half OF
/ the entire wealth of the country In 1860
/ has Increased less rapidly than other
/ forms OF wealth, and in 1899 amounted to
! about one-fourth of the wealth of the
country. In some Of the Eastern States
there has been an actual diminution in
3
was given by the Eleventh Census as a
/ little more than 3,O09. 90 0}0 or. includ-
/ ing live stock and farming implements,
about $4,000. 600 900 "
! one of the most important subjects dis
+ cussed is organization and cooperation
among the farmers of this country. on
this subject the report says.
The organization Of farmers is said to
/ have been brought about as a result of
! the combinations in other lines of indus
/ Try, which have forced farmers to COM
I Line for protection. OF late. however, the
{ emphasis has been put less upon prOtec-
/ tion to the financial interests of the farm
/ ers and more upon education and i'm
! provement OF social conditions in a-ri-
/ cultural communities The organizations
I have become somewhat more conservative
! than formerly as regards political action
and discuss measure thoroughly before
! attempting to secure legislation.
While there IS a general agreement
/ that organizations Of farmers are bene-
4 ficiai in various ways, one witness main
tains that they tend to eliminate individ-
uality and Independence, and that they
! are apt to have too many rules and regu-
! latons. Farmers organizations have
sometimes succeeded I'm preventing at
tempted reductions in the prices OF agri-
! cultural products and increases in the
! prices Of goods bought by farmers. Some
/ Of them have succeeded in securing legis-
| latiCn in the interest of agriculture Some
! have gone To pieces on the rock Of politics
/ but the Grange has for many years avoid.
the most influential OF the farmers or
ganizatiOns,
There are in the United States in tn,
neighDOrhood Of 500 cooperative Organi
( z2tions n aintained entirely or mainly boy
farmers. exclusive OF irrigation compan
les. They are organized for variety OF
purposes. such as cooperative buying ant
( selling Of goods, cooperative Insurance
maintenance Of small factories and shops
I especially butter and cheese factories
mills. and cotton gins. elevators. tele
phone lines. etc. These associations hav,
often suffered from incompetent or ever
dishonest management and from lack o.
capital The best instance of co-orsratics
/ in the working up Of agricultural product:
Is perhaps afforded Dy the cooperative
creameries. The Grange. and. at least il
/ North Carolina. the Farmers Alliance
have bought supplies comparatively but
II is laid dOwn AS a general rule that this
form of cooperation has been less sue
/ cessful than cooperative marketing o
farm products; IL has. in many cases a
least. resulted in failure. 1t is suggested
that farmers who attempt cooperation
are not always tn TO their interests. arC
apparently do not trust each othel
enough TO cooperate successfully