The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-20

TIL
last three or four years already
There was time when we got Is,
for wheat, $500 for flax, 25c for oats
and &c for hogs and cattle and 30
for cream. This was before the war
Then we bought manufactured ar
ticles cheaper than now. We got 10(
lbs. Of flour for three bushels D
wheat. Now they want trade, bu
take over six bushels OF wheat fol
100 lbs. Of flour. Why? Can any tel
me? We bought linseed oil for Coz
per gallon. Now flax Is 30 to 30,
and linseed oil Is $1.00. Why? Nov
hides (cow) are to 1hc per pound
yet leather is 40 and SOC. In those
,days COW hides brought 5 and &c ant
leather was not as high. Why? Car
anyone tell me?
Blacksmiths used to charge 40 to 50t
each for new shoes on horses and re.
setting was 20 to Csc. Now they charge
just about double. Wagon tire setting
used to be so to 75c each, now it,
$1.O0 to SIPS. Plow lay sharpening
used to cost 75c for points and Csc
for sharpening, now it's $l.25 and coo
respectively. Why these prices? Can
any one tell me? Doctors, for the
work they used to do for $4,000 now
charge s35 to $40. Why? Can any
one tell me? These people don't
seem to care rap for hard times.
They ask their price. If they don't
get the jobs they'd rather lay around
and do nothing.
I know blacksmiths, carpenters, ma
sons, doctors, painters and lawyers
that are idle most of the time just
because they demand their big price
and people cannot hire them. I am
sure one Of the first ones that would
like to see them get fair and good
wages, but how under the sun can
we pay those big prices when we get
little or nothing for our produce?
Why can't they have little mercy
and come down?
have work for carpenters and ma
sons, but must let 1t go. Wages are
too high. I avoid going to the doctor
except in extreme cases, afraid of
those big prices. We have to do many
things as we used to, for instance,
set our own wagon tires with old
canvas cloth put between tire and
rim: learn to shoe our own horses;
do our own doctoring; do our own
carpentry and masonry and painting;
make our own I've and soap; smoke
our meat instead Of buying liquid
smoke; make our own brooms and
horse brushes; single trees, eveners,
wagon tongues, clevices. shovels and
other tools. We raise hops for yeast
and use sugar cane and honey that
is on the farm for sweets. We spin
and knit mittS Of the wool Of our
sheep. We use hog lard and tallow
for oil and light. AS to coffee we
roast barley and make barley coffee.
We can mostly all our own meats,
fruits, vegetables, corn. fish, etc. In
stead of buying tea we can use home
grown tea or hot water. We just had
to quit buying many things thus with
machinery, wagons, autos, etc., since
they are entirely too high priced. We
use our old machinery; and as repairs
are entirely too high we buy old ma
chimes from junk heaps and use them
for repairs. For leather we use old
harnesses or tan our own leather or
get it tanned, not by tanneries, but
by farmers. I got one tanned and
used every stitch of 1t for repairs.
Tanning cost me only little as q drill
was needed. Price of new one was
$2250O, so got an old one for $4,000
less and another old one for SOC for re-
pairs. It did fine work and lasted
years and years. We know this Is
hurting industry, but can we help it?
Please tell me Mr. High Price Keeper?
Now if the farmers do succeed In
getting the price raised on their pro-
duce as is now hoped it will, I ask
this question:: Are those that sell
things to the farmer going to raise
their prices also? # so what will
the better price benefit us. Haven't
most farmers got plenty of use for
the extra money to pay up their back
debts, interest. taxes and store bills?
So Mr.. Manufacturer and Mr..
Dealer, you need not expect us to buy
if you raise your prices. Well not
stand for it, to have this extra and
then have you take it away from us
again through higher prices and high
taxes put on our property and farms.
In closing I will mention that taxes
should be more on income. For ex-
ample, here is Mr.. Farmer. He has
an income from his 160 acre farm
of say $4,000. His taxes are $4,000.
Here is another man whose salary or
professional income Is $4,000. Now
according to what the farmer pays he
should pay $1,000 in income tax,
shouldn't he? In fact he could stand
it better to pay $4,000 than the farmer
500, as he would have $4,000 left, and
the farmer has only $500 left. Now
isn't it only fair that large change
should be made in taxeS-and I will
say taxes should be greatly reduced
in state, county. town and school dis
tricts. Cut out the big appropria-
tons for many Of the departments.
Some could be closed down altogether
as we wouldn't miss them. I hope
the legislature follows Governor Lang
er'S advice.
Farmer Reader.
A TEACHER SPEAKS
Buffalo Springs, North Dakota
Feb. 20, 1888.
Editor, Tribune:
In the paper of February Is, 1888
Is a lengthy epistle written by Mrs
A. A. Peck of Underwood, In which
she tries to expose the inspectors and
near educators Of this state.
I wish to state that the rural school
inspectors of this state have done q
great deal for the schools. It has
been through them that the schools
have been kept up to standard. II II
had not been for these requirements
and If the inspectors had not demand
ed them, in Just what condition would
a great many of our schools be to.