ures and mining are not less than $1,000,000,000 in the primitive valuta 

 of the farm, which ari materially increased by the profits of the mer- 

 chants and compensation of the carriers before reaching the consumers. 

 This is a sum equivalent to more than half the agricultural production 

 of the country in 1860. 



A transfer of a small proportion of the labor which this industrial 

 population represents a population now of not less than 17,000,000 

 to the cultivation of the soil would cause a disastrous glut in the agri- 

 cultural supply, a ruinous fall in prices, and a commercial revulsion 

 and general depression of values frightful to contemplate. 



Already have we reached a point where greater diversity in agricult- 

 ural production is a vital necessity of American agriculture. Already 

 are we verging constantly on an unprofitable degree of overproduction. 



Need I say more to demonstrate the dependence of the farmer upon 

 the other great industry fostered by our laws ? It gives them a mar- 

 ket practically at their farms, certainly greatly lessens the cost of trans- 

 portation, for that is shortened to the near village or not far distant 

 city where manufacture thrives; and that near market enables them to 

 diversify agriculture, produce its more varied and valuable fruits. 

 Lands nearest those markets are the more valuable because products of 

 greater value can be sold, and which the cost of a long transportation 

 with its delays and the cost and delays in sale at a distant market ren- 

 der unremunerative. "Without it where are they to market the fruits 

 of their labor and capital ? An overproduction, every one knows, lowers 

 the prices, and now they produce 11 per cent, more than the country can 

 consume. In Europe; abroad is that the answer? "Well, I will come 

 to that by and by; but first let me a little further illustrate by compar- 

 ison the effect of our tariff upon the farmers. And I say, sir, with great 

 pleasure, I belong to them by ancestry, by birth, and breeding, and my 

 sympathy, yes, my prejudices, would not allow of a word or a vote on 

 my part against their interests. 



VALUE PEE FARMER. 



The average value of production of each farmer was much greater 

 in 1880 than in 1860, notwithstanding the fact that the average size of 

 farms had decreased from 199 acres to 134, and the number of farmers 

 had increased from 2,509,456 to 4,225,945. Including values of farm 

 products which are not duplicated in meat production, the proportion 

 of each farmer was $638 in 1860 and $852 in 1880. 



The value of farms, live-stock, and implements representing the per- 

 manent investment in agriculture made an aggregate of $7,980,493,063 

 in 1860, and in 1880 a total of $12,104,001,538. 



So far, what I have said has been more directly addressed to the in- 

 terest of the farmer, and I do not wish to lose sight of the tact that 

 while the farmer, the proprietor, has had these benefits from our pres- 

 ent system, is so dependent upon it, his laborers have shared propor- 

 tionately with him. There are 3,323,876 of them. And now a word 

 -as to the 



WAGES OP FARM LABOR. 



The wages of farm labor fifty years ago were estimated by experts to 

 average $9 per month with board. The rise was slow until 1860. With 

 the development of other industries competition for labor increased the 

 rate of wages. The rate of wages paid wholly in cash twenty-five years 

 ago averaged about $14 per month. The rise was rapid during the war, 

 and \n 1867 reached an average of $26, but declined with the apprecia- 



