The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-18

market now, and most generally used,
still contain s per cent. phesphoric acid,
which phosporic acid is used as filler
and in many soils is entirely unneeded.
An intelligent club Of farmers could
use only what their soils demanded and
buy their fertilizer in quantities, which
would be a great saving. AS en- illus
tration of the difference in wholesale ana
retail prices, l will instance one l saw
acid phosphate offered in December.
1899 for $3.50 a ton and sold at retail in
MAY. 1900, at $1,000 a ton. If farmers
associations would buy the raw material
chemicals and mix their own fertilizer,
tbev would save several dollars ton on
each ton used. or more than $1,000,000
wear. This alone is worth organizing for.
T have reason to believe that during the
wear 1908 several farmer fertilizer com
NAMES will be organized in North Caro-
lima (this is probably the most inviting
field for investment in our State today,
and hope that our farmers will soon be
sharing with the fertilizer trust some of
the profits they are making out OF the
fertilizers we are compelled TO use.
For q generation the power and in
fluence of the farmer has been waning.
In North Carolina fourfifths of our peo-
nle live by agriculture, but they are
scattered, unorganized mass and do not
exercise the influence they should. 1t
has been estimated, that of the young
men coming of age in North Carolina
annually, about $4,000 become farmers
about sixty or seventy lawyers and about
the same number become preachers and
doctors. Is there any question as to the
relative influence welded by these boys
individuality Is the farmer welding the
power he should?
In the United States today, more than
half its population live on the farm.
More than one-thrd of the people ell
gagged in "gainful occupations work on
the farms and they have invested in
agriculture twenty billion dollars, or
four times that invested in manulac-
turtles. OF the appropriations of the
last billion dollar Congress, the smallest
of the general appropriations was made
to agriculture-$5,2 EOS, 800 when the pro-
ducts Of agriculture amount to i've
billion dollars annually. The business
interests" Of the country are organized
and ere legislated for and protected-the
laboring man is organized and demands
protection and his voice is heard-the
millions of farmers are forgotten. Why?
Because he will not assert himself-be-
cause they are unorganiZed. Combined
they would be all powerful.
Organization is our hope-it is the key
to the situation, and we should meet
combination with combination.
It's to be hoped that the general gov
eminent will eventually supervise and
control trusts. but our only salvation
now is in ourselves-let us unite for self
protection-in which righteous cause 1t
is only necessary for the farmers to stand
together to ultimately better their con-
dition and succeed.
This meeting at Rocky Mount should
be we'll attended. The interests of indie
pendent buyers, manufacturers, ware
housemen and farmers are interviewer
| and interdependent and they cannot af-
| ford to lose this opportunity to consult
| together concerning those matters which
so vitality concern their welfare.
]. BRYAN GRIMES.
December II. 1902.