The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-04-13
J.F. Bowman Advances Some excelI-
ent ideas That May Cause Some
Serious 1houoht-eeIieves Pact
viii Help Farmers Intimately.
Npvorth. N. D., Apri! 6. 1911.

VIII nSpD
Npworth, N. D., Apri! 6. lSll.
Dear Independent: I was both
interested and instructed by reading
the discussion in last issues |
of the Independent, and heartily
commend the 1ndepenent for its liber-
atty in allowing the discussion OF all
important questions through the col
umns of this great local paper. Most
Of the papers pander only to those en-
xaged in the game of politics. we
learn from the U. S. government &C.
port that the products OF the rarm
have increased in price 80 per cent IN
tho past 10 years. while tho wages OF
labor have only increased about hal1
that amount, hence there 10 . reason
fer kick about the high cost OF living
on their part. Reciprocity with tho
nation Of the western continent ad-
jocent to the United States has bsen
advocated by great minds in the past.
The greatest of whom was perhaps
James G. Blaine Of Maine.
Commerce Is the great factor IN
the wealth and development OF
country. why is It that all the great
commercial highways &cross this
county, extend from east to west. We
can think Of only one great road that
extends across the country from
north to south. the Illinois Central,
and that is owned by Great Britain.
why, because We have practically
no commercial relations with Canada.
This to our great injury too.
Reciprocity does not mean Ire.
trade, ~ many suppose. If we had
wheat to sell now, and Canada want
ed to buy, we must pay II cents pe1
bushsl tariff. believe and on the
other hand If we have not enough
wheat to go around We must add Is
cents per bushel t. the market price
in Canada. In case both nations
have wheat to oell, then what? Why
we must look to Euproean countries
tor the same market. No doubt Can
ada will Be raising surplus Of wheat
whsa We shall havs to buy.
With all other articles put upon
tho free list the conditions are shout
the same, except in domestic animals
and fruits, in these we would have
the advantage.
We believe that the adoption Of this
reciprocity treaty with Canada BY con
xress will result in good to the farm
ers OF the northwest, II not immedi-
ately, it will ultimately
The only effect it would b likely
to have either at present or In the
future would be the raising the price
of wheat in Canada, not by giving up
/. our markets, but by creating large
and better system of transportation,
by better warehouse and terminal
system whereby wheat could be mar
keted so much cheaper. II this treaty
srould be the means of reducing the
acreage sown to wheat by one-half In
North Dakota, 1t shall have accomp-
lished great good for the farmers
/, Farmers themselves have been ou-
ing lots of kicking on account Of tho
increased cost Of living, (You smile
and / don't wonder)
Many farmers buy their living and
sell all they produce, mostly wheat.
from their farms. Farmers cannot
compete here in western North Da-
kota with the farmers in the Red
River valley in raising wheat b.
cause it costs more out here to clear
the ground OF stones and put It in a
state of cultivation, besides they
have the advantage Of being nearer to
the market.
Now a radical change In our way
Of farming, IL we would lower the cost
Of living seems necessary. Let one
suggest that wo cut the acreage Of
wheat in half for starter. then on
the other half let Us raise cultivated
crops. have some pasture and mea-
dow land, raise some poultry, pigs,
calves, and 1 few colts. and raise
hah Of our living at least, instead OF
buying It al.
]. F. BOWMAN.