80 THE FARMERS IN COUNCIL. 



with many of the fees of middle-men a great saving to farmers. In 

 regard to the securing of tonnage, he did not know that it would 

 prove a disadvantage to us; it might be an advantage. If the 

 buyers engage the tonnage to ship their own purchases of wheat, 

 we will be benefitted; if they charter ships to sub-charter, then we 

 are not benefitted. 



Mr. Fish thought the system of farming, as now practiced, was 

 ruinous to the owners of the land. We have to pay so many com 

 missions that it leaves nothing to the small farmer; he thought the 

 system of freights was in the hands of a monopoly; thought we 

 ought to have a system of co-operation in regard to disposing of our 

 crops. Those whose experience gave them the right to speak with 

 authority, declared concerning the wheat market, that in no other 

 State in the Union are the great body of wheat growers so com 

 pletely under the thumb of one man as in California; no other 

 State in which there is not something like competition in the market, 

 and generally more than one outlet for the disposal of the surplus 

 product. It is simply strange that one man only in California of 

 those possessing ample means, should have been found with brains 

 enough to have made some provision for the purchase and shipment 

 of our wheat crop. 



A summary of the farmers complaints and their causes ap 

 peared in the Kural Press of September 7th. &quot;In addition to 

 the impositions practiced upon the farmers by middle-men, who 

 crowd themselves in between the producer arni consumer, and 

 unnecessarily, and by every art in their power, increase the cost 

 of all agricultural products as much as possible, while passing 

 through their hands, we may mention another great wrong, the 

 effect of which, particularly in this State, falls heavily upon the 

 agriculturists. We refer to the additional rate ofjnterest which 

 is charged upon all moneys loaned in the country, over and 

 above the rate charged for money loaned in the large towns and 

 cities. For many years the savings and other banks of the 

 cities refused to loan money even upon real estate which was 

 not located within the city; thus, with wonderful stupidity, re 

 fusing to assist in the development of the agricultural resources 

 of the State, upon which all other industries, and even the 

 banking or money-loaning business itself, depends for its con 

 tinued and permanent prosperity. Time has shown them their 

 mistake by cities being forced into unnatural growth and be 

 yond the necessities of the country, and consequent depreciation 

 of city property and want of city demand for money. 



&quot;Being forced to keep their money laying in their vaults idle 

 or seek loans in the country, they adopt the latter; but make it 

 a rule to require country borrowers to pay from an eighth to a 



