202 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOBD. 



settling up of the new lands and the passing of the oi^en range have 

 brought ai)Out new econoniic conditions of production, which have 

 been far-reaching in their influence. 



Suddeidy. almost, llic people are made to feel the result of such 

 changes in an increased price of staple products, and interest in the 

 subject becomes widespread and intense. The attempts of the public, 

 to account for (his advance are only partially effective. They are 

 often one-sided, and lay undue em])hasis on certain factors which are 

 singled out. A true sense of 2)roporti(m and a careful weighing of all 

 the contributory influences are lacking, and this makes the generaliza- 

 tions subject to attack. While nnich light may be thrown on the 

 subject by various forms of inquiries, such inquiries must inevitably 

 lack in scientific qualiticvS, because the data are not at hand for a 

 thorough scientific study nor the means for acquiring that data. 



Even among economists there is divergence of opinion as to the 

 cause and the legitimacy of the recent advance in prices, and also as to 

 what stage from the farmer to the consumer is chiefly responsible for 

 the change, or profits unduly by it. In the absence of definite eco- 

 nomic studies in this field, the discussion of the subject becomes to 

 considerable extent a matter of speculation, and the public is without 

 guidance. It sees the result and arrives at conclusions hastily. Broad 

 deductions are made which are very largely based on general opinion, 

 oft/cn colored by the personal point of view. Without the facts, re- 

 sponsibility for the cause can be shifted from one stage to another, 

 to the added confusion of the consumer. He is misled b}^ his own de- 

 ductions and by misrepresentations, and is incited to unjust and inef- 

 fective action. 



In the meantime the farmer, who must look ahead in his business 

 and must always bear an undue share of the risk of production and 

 distribution, stands in great danger of suffering most from such an 

 agitation. "V\Tiatever agency the popular mind fixes the responsi- 

 bility for high prices upon, there is danger that the burden will be 

 shifted to his shoulders, because he is unorganized and less able to 

 defend himself; and a disturbance of economic conditions at once 

 affects his business and adds to its uncertainties. It becomes difficult 

 for him to plan ahead, and he is without means to protect himself 

 from the results of agitation or the wdiims of the market. 



Herein lies an argument for thoroughgoing economic studies, made 

 in a scientific manner, which shall marshal and weigh all the facts 

 and put a scientific interpretation upon them. The farmer is only 

 one factor, but his interest is very large and important. The fact 

 is that the whole industrial system of production and distribution of 

 food supplies is involved. The subject is a comj^lex and compli- 

 cated one. and is a work for experts. 



