Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-01-15
FARMER NOT TO BLAME.
Mayor Pratt of Spokane Takes Excep-
lions to Statements of
j. j. Hill.

Nelson S. Pratt, mayor of Spokane,
a successful farmer and lumberman in
the Mississippi valley and the Pacific
northwest, takes exception to the state
ment by James ]. 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:
~ am more than surprised that a
man with the understanding and OBJ
servation of Mr.. Hill should undertake
to make such sweeping charges, in view
Of the fact that the methods of 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.
a. As the result of a recent visit to
some of the largest districts in the
middle western and Pacific states,
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.
at is not overstating the case when
] say that the present-day farmer con
ducts 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.
, at is idle talk to charge the high
cost of living to the farmer, as il must
be plain TO any one who has studied
; the subject that at least three causes
contribute TO increasing the prices Of
e 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. Cheap
money means high prices.
\" Perhaps the greatest factor for the
present high cost Of living is the tar.
III, which, / believe, enables manufac
turers TO combine and compel the con
;; sumers 10 pay enormous and unreason.
able prices. Such farm products "a;
3 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 and
kindred combinations, and the price.
2 Of cereals are fixed largely by ths
speculative boards Of trade and stoel
p exchanges.
+" Az o matter Of fact, ! found Whil'
p IA the Mississippi valley, D short tim'
ago, that the prices Of butter, eggs
y cheese and poultry are nearly az higl
/, there az they are on the Pacific coast
q where the demand a. present - ga
y greater than The supply. ] also learHe'
from reliable sources that tAes'
n ploduetf aie almost entirely contfolle'
% BY combinations and not by tAe pro
q duceIs.
p ~ hold no brief foF the fagmers d
, tAe county bpi from an etperlepc'
/, NJ almost . lifetime, until about ~
y yeaff EGO. M faImfll born and Faifof
n op p fafmI 4 kpoe mag fAe sJsiem ens
p'oyea during my tins Nas no con-
~ 'sfison ~ flf lfefepf pefAod NJ fam
D lnf lpifnf|lf fafming, ly ~ ~ "
y nafe supplied ID seieniiie pealf. 81.
chan lalEtf AZ ftpnImeui. and AZ
called ~ tanning NJ moif p,op1r',
+ E0N anN NpIHiAlf NpNafl afIGf. naf "
. II. tNII INFANCY IIl.I lUniIuuI 0Il