Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-11

nois, and proximity to market Is
most important element In the value
of farm land. Then the natural change
in farming in this country Is from the
raising OF grain for export to the rails
ing of grain for farming consumption
and development OF the secondary pro-
ducts in the form of cattle and hogs.
The live cattle are bought and rat
tened The hogs are raised and fed.
1t is farming Of this kind that explains
the high values of farm lands In Ill
nois and Iowa.
| IF the arguments as to the disas-
trous effect of admitting the crops OF
the Canadian northwest to our market
upon the values of our farm land are
correct, then the opening OF lands IN
Kansas, Nebraska and the two Da-
kotas in the decades Of 1890 to 1900
should have had similar effect upon
the lands of the old states. Now, what
was the fact? What was the effect upon
the farm lands of the older states, OF
the competition of these newer states?
/! The land in the older states became
more devoted to corn, cattle and hogs,
while the wheat and other cereals were
left to the new lands The effect was
that the values Of the land of the older
F! farming states were In most cases
more than doubled.
! "The difference in the value OF an
acre between Manitoba and Minnesota
is but little more than eight dollars,
while the difference between Mime
sofa and Wisconsin Is six dollars, be-
tween Wisconsin and Illinois Is $52,
between Wisconsin and Iowa Is $40,
between Michigan and Indiana is $3l.
These figures show 1ncontestibly that
the fear of reduction in farm land
values Of this country by letting in
Canada's products is wholly unfounded.
No Change in Wheat Prices.
"The price Of wheat, less transporta-
ton and other charges for warehouse
and delivery, is fixed by what all the
wheat exporting country, say the
United States and Canada, can get for
their surplus in Liverpool. Hence the
sending of any part of Canada's sur.
plus through our country instead OF
through Canada, to be milled or to be
exported without milling, will not per.
ceptibly or materially affect the price
Of wheat for our farmers.
Gives Wheat Market to Canada.
Open up the market of Minneapolis
and Chicago, give them the transporta-
ton and warehouse facilities of our
northwest and the Canadian farmer
will get for his wheat practically what
the American farmer gets, less the
higher freight charges due to the
greater distance from market. In other
wards, the advantage we give the Can
adam farmer will not hurt our farm
er, for the price will remain the same;
but by patronizing our elevators, our
flour mills, our railroads, he will secure
admission to the worlds market.
Shows What America Gained.
"The United States secured for the
farmers the free listing Of such i'm
portant agricultural products as cot
ton seed oil, all kinds Of fruits and
vegetables, timothy and clover seeds,
eggs and numerous other products in
which the movement to Canada from
the United States is much greater than
from Canada to the United States. The
remission of $1,300,000 in duties on
trough lumber imported into the United
States by fire listing it. along with the
pickets and paling and the heavy re-
auctions on dressed lumber, laths and
shingles are all in the interests of the
farmer
Let the agreement be adopted and
go into operation and In six months
the farmers Of the border who now
have fears will rejoice in this great
step toward closer business and oscial
relations with our neighbor. The whole
country: farmer, manufacturer, rail-
road company middleman, warehouse
man-all will be the gamer"