202 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



as knowledge begets a thirst for more, the number of these 

 would increase ; and so, in the course of a few years, not 

 only a more intelligent system of agriculture, but also a 

 more correct idea of doing business would be introduced. 



In the development of all new countries, the first settlers 

 act in the capacity of merchants in selling their crops to 

 those who come later. These, again, join them in selling to 

 others, until, at last, the country becoming overstocked with 

 the raw material, a village springs up, and the farmers sell 

 to the merchants, who make an exclusive business of buying 

 produce, or bartering needed wares therefor. Up to this 

 point, there has been no trouble. The new comers needed 

 all that was produced for purposes of sale. The population 

 was a community to themselves; their tastes and lives were 

 simple, and they cared but little how the great outside world 

 was going on. It is only with the advent of high civiliza 

 tion that oppressive monopolies can exist. 



The exact time when transportation charges begin to pinch 

 the farmer, it is evident, is when a country begins to produce 

 more than it can consume. When all that he can raise, or 

 even more, is wanted, the farmer fixes his price; when a 

 surplus is produced, it must be exported to be turned into 

 cash. The merchant, or middle man, steps in and buys in 

 hopes of reaping a profit. Another merchant comes in, and 

 a healthy competition is created; they combine together 

 and form a monopoly. To counteract this evil, the farmers, 

 too, must combine, and face it boldly. 



THE BUILDING OF RAILROADS AND ITS EFFECTS. 



( Dating from about the year 1848, there was a general 

 feeling among the farmers throughout tHinois, that they 

 were not receiving the just reward of their labor. The 



