Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-06-28
ALUMNI DAY


occasion like this. to inquire what the oc-
lcupntion of farming has to offer an Intel
Hgent educated man about to make this
lchocc.
In the first place we must admit, and
we admit IT without reluctance, that to
the man who regards the mere accum,ila.
| ton of great wealth as the sole or even
the chief criterion of success the occupa-
ton of farming will present few attrac-
tons. There are certain limitations, i'm
posed either by natural or economic laws
that seem to prevent, at least under our
normal eastern conditions, such accunu-
lations of wealth by the farmer. This
general condition is commonly recognized
but some of the reasons may bo worth
specifying. In the first place. and proba-
Ibly most important, the eastern farmer
lis by natural conditions prccluded from
| doing an extensive business as W. reckon
extensive in tho modern business world
As compared with the aggregate business
Idonc by men engaged in mercantile. manu-
9 featuring and cxtractve enterprises tho
business of the farmer is and will nden-
nltcly remain small. As a rule barring
some lucky discovery, invention or specu-
lation. the great fortunes of our time
which have been legitimatoly acquired.
!
percentage of profit but by a compare
Itivoly small percentage of profit on a large
business. Many farmers make percent
agc Of profit which to a merchant or man
ufacturcr would seem enormous but for
reasons we can not take time to specify
the farmer is unable to extend his opera
tons beyond certain moderate limits. In
| fact, the best opinion seems 10 be that
our progress is to be in the direction Of
Intensive rather than extensive improve
ment. The young farmer can hardly hope
| to improve on the conditions of his father
by extending his operation over an entire
town or county, but rather by rendering
more productive the ancestral acres. In
directly this Limitation operates very ssri-
lously against the farmer IN another way.
Every good business man knows best his
Town business. The man who can invest
his savings in extending the business of
which he is already the master has the
best chance Of further success. The
farmer who already owns a large, well
improved and we'll stocked farm has no
such opportunity. As a result his savings
are invested in unknown fields; and oxpe-
rience has shown that results are often
unfortunate
| The farmer can establish no monopoly
1.-THE production of agricultural staples is
too widespread. the amount produced by
each individual bears too small a propor-
ltion to the entire output, to render any
Iattempt to increase prices through n COM
Ibination TO reduce production, possible.
Nor can he enjoy that monopoly in the
possession of brains, experience or repu-
ltation which enables one doctor or lawyer
To charge thousand dollars for service
L..
perhaps equally well, for twonty-nve One
Ihushel of wheat or pound OF pork is very
much like another, and while pounds of
lbutter do differ very materially amongst
themselves. yet in our day the enormous
IQuantity of practically perfect butter rem
dsrs any such difference of price impossi.
BILE
The prices of farm products are ma
tcrially reduced. and of course profits
as VOL. by the persistency Of competi-
tion on the part Of those producing
goods at n loss When parcel of
goods appears i'm the market It thereby
increases the visible supply and tends
to reduce the price. The question of
profit to the producer cuts no figure at
this stage. While no statistics are
available it admits Of no doubt that a
large proportion of the demand for
agricultural products is supplied 10y
,. ,,,,,o, ,o,.o ,o,,,, ,,,.,,.7,,oa1 -, - ;,
~, ~ ~ :,
49,,
' '
o."
i''' ~ NV '"'''' ma. ~
of production varies 30 per cent. ant
more. In manufacturing and CONNER
cial pursuits nlH'r"hce OF one or t"o
per cent Is "rdlilhil'N u'''S'N'' II
merchant or manufactures iaiiS Tor any
length of time to realize pr"ht NJ
goes out of business, either Noluntar-
lily or with the help of his creditors
lie ceases to be a competitor as soor
as il is settled that he is a failure
His goods soon cease to help to glu'
the market Not so with the farmer
Year after year he clings to the old
farm Year by year the interest is
added ia the mortgage Year by veal
tho coil crows noorcr. the stock scrub
Ih,ar enc farmers living harder. AND
.u, ,ho outr,t of that farm
~ r,a. 70 bo,n fore,
, 90 ouric,,,tur,
az t,,1. ., 49,, 90, ca,
,..'5,, 80 it, 1oo,
s'''' 80 ,,, :, t., ~, ,ho, CON,
, '''7 - T., ,,,,,,,, h,,
',,o ,l., ,,aoi.i.o i, II,
- " '..,.'.,,,,.',, ,l,,,,,,.,,i,ors ,b,,,