THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 363 



magnificent fields of corn ; but if it costs the farmer 

 more to raise it than he can get for it, a good crop is no 

 sign of prosperity.' 



" * Is it true that you have to sell your corn for less 

 than what it costs you to produce it ? ' I asked. . 



" ' Certainly, and I can demonstrate it to you/ was the 

 reply. * I have given the matter very careful study for 

 years, and I think I can tell just about how much it 

 costs me to raise a bushel of corn. You may take first 

 the labor. I think any farmer will tell you that it 

 takes a man and a team at least five days to plow, har- 

 row, mark out, plant, cultivate, harvest, and house an 

 acre of corn. It can't be done in less time. Two dol- 

 lars a day is no more than a fair price for the work of 

 a man and a team. Then the first item of expense is 

 $10. The land in this county is assessed at $33.33i an 

 acre ; it is worth, unless the sale of the whole of it 

 should be forced, $40; I refused $68 an acre for my 

 farm last year. Interest at 10 per cent, on $40 for one 

 year is $4. Fifty bushels of corn to an acre is more 



J */ 



than the average of this c'ounty. To shell a bushel 

 of corn and haul it two miles to Kewanee, with taxes, 

 the wear and tear on farming implements, etc., costs at 

 least five cents a bushel, or $2.50 for the crop on an 

 acre. So you see my acre of corn has cost me $16.50. 

 Corn is now worth in Kewanee twenty cents a bushel. 

 My fifty bushels will, therefore, bring me only $10. 

 That is, I barely get pay for my labor, while I lose the 

 interest on the money invested in my farm, the wear 

 and tear of machinery, and get nothing for shelling and 

 carting, or with which to pay my taxes. Again, the 

 bushel of corn has cost me 33 cents. I suppose we can 

 raise corn at a profit for thirty cents a bushel. Our 



