Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-02-13
COME LET Us REASON TOGETHER

plnCuSu SOOu uIdAs pCOplCs -CopOS-di-
" those living upon fixed salary
or daily wage. This long, hard winter
has especially diverted attention to
the price of fuel and foodstuffs, and
as the farmer is the producer of these
things, many people have concluded
that he is responsible for their dis
tress, and hence sympathize in de-
nouncing him and in any proposed
scheme to fix the price of his prod
ucts upon lower scale. But the or
binary man is generally fair when he
is in possession of all the facts. In
the case of wood there has been no
combination between farmers and
dealers in Wausau, to put up the price
of fuel No agreement has been en-
tered into between them to fix prices
or withhold from the market fuel in
order to force rise in prices. In
the second place, if wood, at current
prices, were to be used as currency
in the purchase of supplies, it would
not purchase, from Wausau dealers,
as much as in former years. Fence
wire and all hardware, including
nails and tools, in many cases, have
doubled in price in two years. Build
ing material, such as Portland ce-
ment, lime, etc., are from so to so
per cent higher than Is months ago.
Shoes, clothing and home supplies
cost the farmer an advance of from
s25 to 100 per cent above the price
of two years ago.
The labor cost of cutting and de-
liVering wood in Wausau leaves little
if anything, for the fuel itself, and
mers are anxious to clear the land
they would not bother to bring it to
market at ALL
In the case of, butter and eggs, it is
doubtful if dozen of eggs, or pound
! of butter has been produced and sold
| in WauSau for three months which
has not cost the farmer as much or
| more to produce it than he has re-
| ceived for it. His only hope of prof
it is in the fact that the summer
pastures and lower cost of feed will
enable him to arrange the cost later
in the season.
In looking for reasons for the high
cost to the consumer, many have over
looked some very evident facts; the
| government reports state that the la
Dor income of the Wisconsin farmer
is less than 100000 per year. While
he receives for his product but As per
cent of its ultimate cost to the con-
sumner, the other 81 per cent being
absorbed by the railroads and middle
men. Here, then, is the place to look
for the niger in the wood pile"
Take the cost of meat In Wausau
there are twice as many meat mar
kets as are necessary to supply all
local demand. The result is that an
excessive profit must be exacted from
the consumer of meat in order tc
support these unnecessary workers
Were the business to be combined in
a few shops the price of retail meat
could be cut 20 per cent. The same
is true of grocery stores, drug stores
clothing stores, saloons and other bus
mess places. The reason that a prof
it of from % to so per cent is charged
on the ordinary run of dry goods
shoes, clothing, etc, in Wausau is this
unnecessary multiplicity of business
houses with the large expense OF
rent, fuel, clerk hire, etc.
In conclusion l would like to make
a suggestion or stwo to the honorable
mayor and city council of Wausau
If the same amount of brain force
were expended in an effort to regulate
the business of Wausau upon an eco
nomical and efficient basis, and also
to furnish facilities for the direct
business interests of the farmers and
| consumers of Wausau, as is now being
expended in planning to regulate the
farmer alone, more good would be ac-
complished
Why should not public market be
established with conveniences for dis
play of products and also for the shell
ter of man and beast?
Why should not the farmers wife
find in Wausau a restroom where she
could go with her children and be
comfortable?
Why should the farmer be depend
ent upon saloons for a shelter for his
team when he comes to town?
Any municipal ordinance attempting
to regulate the farmers business
which is not sympathetic and friend
ly, will but disturb the cordial rela-
tons so much desired between us and
provoke the farmer in self defense to
transfer his trade to- other towns and
the great markets of the city.
Let us understand each other and
reason together for better and big
ger Wausau and Marathon county.
HIRAM ]. WHEELER.
The city of Wausau has established
a municipal wood yard to put a boy
colt on the high prices of wood in that
| vi DanNrI