The Florida agriculturist., 1905-12-06

agricultural colleges and experiment
stations for agricultural fairs, farmers
inStituter. etc. not so much because
farmers desired these appropriations
as because the manufa cturing, trans
pOrtation and commercial interests de-
sired these appropriations. Why have
they been so generous to the farmer in
this regard2
Because the agricultural colleges
and experiment stations, the agricultu-
raj fairs and farmers institutes, ETC.,
have concerned themselves only with
the productive side of farming. The
one-sided development of farming in
this country has been more to the ad-
vantage of the manufacturing, trans
portation and commercial inteqests
than it has been to the agricultural
interests.
Truly wonderful figures are given
by the department of agriculture show
ing the increase i'm the productive ca
pacity of the farmer. He can now
produce a bushel of wheat or ton
of hay or a pound of beef with only
a gractiOn of the labor that was re-
quired fifty or one hundred years ago,
Agricultural production per man has
been greatly multiplied.
Now when this production is not ac-
cOmpanied by corresponding increase
in demand for farm products there
must be an excess of production that
will result in depressed market and
lower prices; and, Notwithstanding the
increased price of land and the higher
wages paid farm labor, farm products
are not selling for as much as they
did fifty or one hundred years ago.
This is to the advantage of the man
ufacturing, transportation and CONNER
cial interests, as they knew it would
be- AS Adam Smith pointed out,
cheap food for his workmen is a great
advantage to the manufacturer. With
cheap food for his wOrkmen he can get
labor at a lower wage and this will
permit him to manufacture at a less
cost and to drive out the market an
other Manufacturer who must pay
higher wages because his workmen
have dearer food. The manufacture
ing interests of the United States have
perceived that it would be much to
their advantage if farmers were led
to increase production without paying
attention to an increase of demand.
The transportation interests have
enjoyed a double advantage. With
cheaper food for their employees they
could get labor at less rate than
otherwise compelled to pay. This is
one advantage. But, as agricultural
production were increased, their chief
class of freight would be increased.
This has been another advantage.
Manifestly the commercial interests
would benefit by the increase i'm COM
naodities handled and the multiplied
ton of exchange.
The farmer may have benefited
somewhat, but he is not benefited as
much as is the manufacturer or rail-
way magnate or banker.
He has been taught to produce more
but he must sell it for less than it
should bring him and less than it
would bring him if agricultural devel
opment had been normal and if study
of markets and distribution had kept
even place with the study of produc-
ton.
Hence the farmer, when he wishes
to dispose of his products, has not
been able to put a price on them as
the manufacturer puts a price on his
products or as the transportatio ton COM
pany puts a price on its services.
When the farmer has gone to buy he
has been cOmDeI1ed tO ask the nrice