The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-09-20
WEALTH r Q THE FARM.

What the farmers get out Of protec.
ton has been made plain in many
ways during almost q decade and q
half of uninterrupted protection OF
American industry by a protective
tariff. The Diugley tariff law, which
repealed and displaced the democratic
tariff law of the middle COS, became
operative in 1897. Under the demo-
CT ratio tariff law, the American farmer,
although favored by rain and sum-,
and growing bounteous crops, was in
the slough of despond. Demand had
fallen away, owing to non-employment
of labor. and prices had followed. A
change for the better was noted soon
after the Dingley law became effective.
The improvement increased during the
years Of its operation. The increase
in the farmers prosperity was felt in
every line of business, but then, as in
previous years, and under earlier
tariffs, there was a constant cry that
the farmer was the victim and not the
beneficiary of tariff slevied and main.
tanned for the promotion of manufac.
turing.
1t is, of course, impossible for any.
body to explain how farming lands
can increase greatly in value without
a steady and remunerative demand
for their products, growing out of a
home market in which labor is steadily
employed at fair wages. That is one
of the things mo fellow can find out"
The demand for the lands which in.
creases their value is a result Of
economic conditions making their
products salable at all times and at
good figures. To gauge the farmers
prosperity under protection, we have
now the official figures of the census
bureau, showing the increases during
the census period between 1900 and
1910. They ought to be an unanswer.
able argument to such as have been
contending that the farmer has no leg.
itimate interest 10 maintaining condi-
tions as they are, and in standing pat
for letting we'll enough alone. For
they show that farm lands more than
doubled in value during the decade
covered by the census. In 1900 such
lands were valued at $l3, 051 ,023 900.
In 1910 they were valued at S28, 1884,
62l, 900. The increase in values was
l1S per cent.
That this great increase in farm
values was not q result of the opening
of new lands is shown in the 6gure'
setting out the comparative number o
farms in the country last year and ter
years earlier. In 1900 the number o
farms was 5, 737,572. In 1910 the mum
Der had increased to 6,340, 120, an in
crease of but little more than 10 pei
cent. The highest and surest test il
found in the acreage values of farm
lands. In 1900 the average value o
an acre of farm land in this cOuntr.
was $15. go. In 1910 this had increased
ia 1872. so, and increase of lO8 per cent
Last year the men in enjoyment o
this remarkable prosperity seemed t.
be impressed with an idea that it wa
In no way due to the economic legisla
ton the continuance of which was the
Threatened. They showed a surprisini
Indifference to the assaults made upo'
the tariff, and thousands of them vot
! ed to replace its revision again in th
; hands Of the party which made th
tariff law Of the early COS. They ha
forgotten how we'll off they had grow
without downward revision. Perhap
: these census statistics will refres
their memories Glob Democrat.