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ramifications of trade and commerce, we believe an organized scheme exists to force 
upon the farmer (in common with others) the highest possible prices, while at the 
same time, by the force of this organized scheme, to compel him to take the lowest 
figure possible to extort from him for what he has to sell. After this manner does this 
ruinous railroad combination swindle us allin common. All we ask is a fair field and 
nofavor. Letus have healthful competition, and then give the law of supply and de- 
mand full swing, and we are satisfied to take our chances in the great battle of life. 
But, in the name of our common humanity, we do protest against organized robbery. 
At our county-town, which is our main market for farm products, we have two firms 
who are produce dealers, that is, grain-buyers. But there is no competition between 
them. Itis a combination, and it matters not which party makes the first bid ; the other 
never overbids, but they divide the spoils of each day between themamicably. Hence 
you see, by thus combining, they compel the farmer to take whatever price they may 
choose to offer, or haul his grain home again, to be treated in the same style at any 
future time he may appear in the market. Thus is the farmer taken by the throat and 
ordered to “‘ stand and deliver,” after the manner of highwaymen, with this difference, 
that in the latter case you have a chance for your life, but in the former none. The 
thirty or forty groceries in the town have adopted the same system of tactics, but 
their blade cuts both ways. They are combined to fix the price of butter, eggs, garden 
products, and the small fruits, and no one is allowed to pay more than this caucus price, 
but as much less as he can. So if you go the round of the groceries after the first offer 
you cannot get a higher bid. But while you are compelled to take what they choose 
to offer, you are also forced to pay the established combination price for what you pur- 
chase. Thus the grocery-ring doubly robs the farmer. I care not where you go, 
whether to the cobbler or the locomotive-builder, and to every trade and mechanie art 
between, whether to the pop-corn boy or to the wholesale merchant, or to any branch 
of trade between the two, and you will find that they all know to a penny just what 
their wares are worth, and are allowed to fix this price, and if any body objects they 
combine to compel it. But how is it with the farmer—without organization, without 
cembination-—single-handed and alone, a static anomaly—a target for any or all of the 
legion of harpooners! t 
Franklin, Ind.—We are not paid for our labor. Our products are mostly below cost. 
We are the victims of powerful combinations; railroads eat us up with freights both 
ways. Pork-rings dictate the price of our pork with an absolutism against which we 
haye, as yet, found nothing to oppose. They bought our hogs this year for just what 
they chose to give, from 34 to 34} cents per pound, and when the market was over 
they run it to 5 and 54 cents; and boasted to our faces of their power to do this. 
De Kalb, I1l.—Aside from dairying and wool-growing there is scarcely a farm under 
the best of management paying more than to cover the expenses of production and 
working, saying nothing of the interest on the money invested in land, fixtures, im- 
plements,and taxes. The sharp practices of those who handle, as middle-men, the pro- 
ducts of the farm, operate continually against the interests of agriculture. 
Will, 11.—Another great cause of dissatisfaction among farmers is the gambling on 
the price of grain by the boards of trade in large cities, which has the etfect to take 
too much of the produce to pay for the handling between producer and consumer. 
Butte, Cal.—The causes of discouragement existing among farmers are monopolies 
which completely block every avenue between them and their market. During the past 
year grain-sacks, ocean tonnage, and inland transportation fell into the hands of com- 
binations and rings. There is another cause which may discourage some, the glar- 
ingly apparent decrease of production by continual cropping; intelligent farmers must 
see it, but as yet no one stays his hand. Asa remedy against monopoly farmers are 
beginning to organize into farmers’ clubs, and to talk earnestly, and, in some instances, 
to subscribe to encourage the building of narrow-gauge railroads. But there is a 
deep and wide-spread feeling that the present powerful monopoly will crush or pur- 
chase everything in the form of opposition until the Government assumes and ¢con- 
trols the railroads, at least the trunk-lines, in the interest of the people. The State 
government may possibly do something to regulate the rate of freight, but it is by no 
means certain, for the contest will be with a corporate power whose revenues surpass 
those of the State itself, and able, if so disposed, to make everything bend to its pur- 
OSES. 
; Conejos, Colo—An old Mexican land-grant has been sprung upon us, and, if ap- 
proved by Congress, all the inhabitants of this, and about one-third of those in Sagu- 
ache County, will be compelled to leave their homes and improvements, as the grant- 
holders propose selling to some of the railroad companies. The tract is about eighty 
by one hundred miles in extent. This uncertain tenure prevents permanent improve- 
ments, and induces the raising of so much stock, as it can be driven off if the claim 
uA the grantees should be approved. Most of the inhabitants have lived here since 
854. 
