The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-13
ARE NOT Up.TO.DATE.
Industrial Commission Reports on the
Troubles Of Farmers.
INCREASED PRODUCTION
In the West Has Troubled the Arri.
culturists in the East.
THE SOUTH is NOW A FACTOR.
But Il Is Suggested II Has TOO Much
Cheap Labor.
The SOUTH IS NOW A FACTOR.
CONDITIONS NOT PROPERLY STUDIED.
Farmers Rance Crops Without Investi-
cation in Some Instances and Do
Not Change in Others, II Is Said.

Washington, November 1.-The lnaw@
trial commission today made public its
review OF evidence taken before the com
mission on the subjects OF agriculture and
agricultural labor
Among other subjects discussed is that
of agricultural depression of which the
commission speaks as follows:
"The cause most often assigned for the
depression OF agriculture in the Eastern
states Is the increased production due to
the opening Of Western lands In advance
Of the natural demand and particularly
the agency of liberal land laws and grants
Of land in aid OF railroad construction.
The competition OF the West has been
rendered especially severe by the policy OF
railroads in making freight rates relatively
low for leng distances The old staple
products having thus become Improbable
in the East it has been necessary for
farmers 10 change their methods and vary
the character Of their crops, taking up
especially the culture OF products which
are not easily transported long distances.
Thus truck farmers have largely SUPER
seeded cereal growing along the Atlantic
coast, but farmers In the North Atlantic
States now complain OF the severe COM
petition Of States further South in this
industry, and much the same may be said
OF fruit growing. Even SO perishable Il
commodity as milk is transported much
longer distances than formerly since the
Introduction of refrigerator cars
Another cause which several witnesses
assigned for the unsatisfactory condition
of agriculture in some parts OF the country
Is the conservatism of the farmers, their
lack OF quick adjustment to changed con-
ditlons and the lack Of effective business
planning and management The farmers
as class have not kept up with the
times, but have raised the same crops
year after year without regard to changes
la supply and demand
'rhls undue conservatism and lack OF
managing ability among farmers Is especial
~ emphasized with reference TO the South.
ern States and Is given In explanation OF
the too exclusive attention TO cotton pro-
ductlOn prevailing there.
Another cause assigned for agricultural
depression In the South Is the scarcity
OF money, the difficulty of borrowing on
real estate security and the consequent
high rates Of interest.
I'll seems 20 be possible, however, TO
borrow money IN the South at somewhat
lover rates OF Interest than formerly. the
decline In the prlcr OF cotton y, OF course
an Important element in the depression OF
agriculture In the Smth. The lneftciency
of negro labor Is assigned MS another cause.
On the other hand Il Is affirmed that there
is too much good and cheap labor In the
South. An abundance OF cheap labor Is
said 10 be unfavorabe to the success OF
agriculture because 1t results in planting
personal attention by the planter.
Against the charge that farmers are IN
duly conservative Is put the counter charge
that they turn from one crop to another
Of the climate and soil or to the conditions
Of the market"