Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-01-01
FARMER NOT TO BLAME.
Mayor Pratt of Spokane Takes Excep-
tions to Statements of
j. J. Hill.

Nelson s. Pratt, mayor of Spokane,
successful farmer and lumberman in
the Mississippi valley and the Pacific
northwest, takes exception to the state
ment by James J. Hill, who says the
present high cost of living is charge
able to the extravaganza, carelessness
and lack of thrift of the agricultural
classes of the country. Mayor Pratt
said:
81 am more than surprised that
man with the understanding and OBJ
servaton of Mr.. Hill should undertake
to make such sweeping charges, in view
OF the fact that the methods of a quar-
ter of a century ago are not to be com
pared to the present systematic mode of
farming. There is nothing to bear out
Mr. Hill IS contentious.
GAS the result of recent visit to
some of the largest districts in the
middle western and Pacific states, l
am prepared to say there has never
been a time when general farming was
conducted along such economical lines
as at present. In fact, the methods
of today are marvels to those who
farmed land in the sos. Had we been
as thorough then as are the farmers Of
today, we certainly would have been
equally successful. Agricultural col
leges and experiment stations have
been and are important factors.
"It is not overstating the case when
say that the present-day farmer con-
duets his operations along the same
lines that prevail in a well-organized
business establishment, and as a re-
suit he is making a good living, edu-
eating his children and putting money
into substantial improvements, as well
as into the bank.
cit is idle talk to charge the high
cost of living to the farmer, as it must
be plain to any one who has studied
the subject that at least three causes
contribute to increasing the prices of
the necessities of life. The large pro
duction Of gold during the last few
years is an important factor, in that
it has resulted in making money cheap
and, to a great extent, no doubt is re
sponsible for increases in prices. CheaI
money means high prices.
"Perhaps the greatest factor for the
present high cost of living is the tar
iff, which, 1 believe, enables manufac
turers to combine and compel the con
sumers to pay enormous and unreason
able prices. Such farm products al
beef and pork are controlled entirely
by the so-called beef trust, while but
ter, eggs, cheese and poultry are
handled by cold storage companies anC
kindred combinations, and the prices
of cereals are fixed largely by thu
speculative boards of trade and stocl
exchanges.
"As matter of fact, found Will,
in the Mississippi valley, a short tim'
ago, that the prices of butter, eggs
cheese and poultry are nearly as higl
there as they are on the Pacific coast
where the demand at present is ia
greater than the supply. I also Learned
from reliable sources that thes
, products are almost entirely controlle
by combinations and not by the pro
ducers.
81 hold no brief for the farmers 0
, the country, but from an experienc
of almost lifetime, until about l
years ago. as a farmer, born and raise
on a farm, know that the system en-
ployed during my time was no CON
parson to the present method of farm
ing. Intensive farming, by the use o
water supplied by scientific means, wa
I. then largely an experiment, and Sc
called dry farming, or more properl
soil and moisture conservation, was i
. its very infancy. These methods al
successes today, as is evidenced by GRO
gains, taking acre for acre.
"I challenge Mr.. Hill or any one els
! to show any period prior to 1894, whe
;. they were larger acre yields of graf
and fruits, grasses and roots than {
the present time, and with this
would also ask him to point to an
year when the farmers were more pro
porous than they are today. Extrav
n gance, carelessness and lack of thri
and progress and prosperity do not s
hand in hand, aud that fact aloI
answers Mr.. Hills broad statemen
which l am charitable enough to sa
# probably was made by him for Il
y want of something to say in ixir
y the causes leading to the present his
d cost of living"