92 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



and plantation in increased cost of clothing and implements. This is 

 the tendency when all things are well balanced, when there is no overpro- 

 duction of either kind of agricultural products or skilled labor products. 

 This enables us, now, to approach the question of co-operation: 



Co-operation, buj'ing and selling, combine all of the elements of success 

 that possibly exist in such transactions. Now, the Western farmer, in 

 most cases, hauls his products to the nearest station or market, and sells 

 to the dealer for such prices as the dealer says he can aflford to pay the 

 owjier of the products. This price is always intended to be low enough to 

 permit the dealer to ship it to the market he buys for, and after paying all 

 the costs of handling and commissions (to another dealer in that market), 

 to leave a nice margin of profit to the local buyer; for thai is the way he 

 gets his living. Sometimes, in sudden fluctuations of the market, the 

 local buyer loses money. But it always happens that this class of peo- 

 ple have their living in some manner. And it follows (that as they are 

 non-producers,) this living must come out of those who do produce. It is 

 also true, that in almost every case, the farmer accepts the price named 

 by the local agent. This may be oftentimes from necessity, and frequently 

 from convenience. For example, I have heard of instances where a 

 farmer of Illinois has taken four horses, hitched to a wagon containing 

 fifty bushels of corn in the ear, and driven fifteen miles to the station, 

 over roads so baci that it was near night when he reached there, then he 

 was offered 18 or 20 cents per bushel for his load. This, at the most, 

 would only be ten dollars for the labor of himself and four horses, 

 wear and tear of harness and wagon, and time one day, to say nothing of 

 the work previously done during the season in planting, plowing and 

 caring for the fifty bushels of corn and preparing it for market. Now, 

 what is this farmer to do ? If he refuses to take that price, and waits over 

 until the next day, it will cost him one-quarter of that amount to pay for 

 his hotel keeping and care of horses, with a prospect of getting no more 

 next day. He can haul his load home, but, then, it will have to be returned 

 at some future time ; so, from convenience, he is obliged to accept the 

 price offered. 



I think this case has been fairly stated, at least I have no desire to color 

 it in any but the true light. And there is no class of people who Imow and 

 feel the truth of these statements better than the Patrons of Husbandry, 

 and the farmers of every grain-growing State in the West. The planters 

 of the South also groan under a like class of causes, that grievously affect 

 the amount of their yearly earnings. And yet it is a self-evident truth 

 that the power to correct this pernicious system lies in the hands of The 

 Patrons of Husbandry almost entirely, for the other farmers and planters 

 will join hands with the Patrons of Husbandry as soon as they make the 

 eflbrt. What is wanting is the patriotic co-opertition of the Patrons of 

 Husbandry, which must be seconded by all the other farmers and planters. 

 Every one can do something toward pushing forward this movement of 

 co-operation, shipping and selling. But say you, where is the money to 



