1863. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



44 



We are assured by one who has given these 

 patent milkers a pretty thorough trial, that the 

 difficulty lies in the destroying the muscles of 

 the udder, or so weakens them that the cow can 

 not hold her milk, but wiJl leak so badly that 

 she is practically ruined. Whether that defect 

 can be remedied or not, we are not prepared to 

 say. Don't all rush at once for the patent mil- 

 ker. — Ed. 



The Illinois Central and the Farmers. 



During the past two years the Illinois CJ^ntral 

 Railroad Company has been in the practice of 

 recieving of the purchasers of its lands, corn and 

 wheat, more particularly the former, which was 

 received in the car and stored in cribs at Burn- 

 side Station, a few miles south of the city. 



The experiment of playing the grain dealer, 

 though beneficial to the farmer, did not result so 

 favorably to the company as anticipated, and it 

 has been abandoned, or at least modified to ac- 

 cord with the more regular laws of trade. When 

 the Company first undertook the purchase and 

 storing of corn, this staple ruled far below the 

 cost of its production, and consequently the far- 

 mer was unable to meet his payments, and, even 

 at the increased price paid by the Company, but 

 a small amount could be spared to apply on the 

 payment of their lands. The whole amount re- 

 ceived for the year ending the first of August, 

 was less than a million of bushels, a small per 

 centage of the whole crop. The reason of this 

 low price was the result of two or three causes. 

 First, the immense crops of 1860-'61. Second, 

 the discovery of the oil wells which supplied a 

 cheaper, or at least a more popular burning fluid 

 than that made from the distilled products of 

 corn. Third, the closing of the Mississippi 

 River and the consequent rise in freights Jo the 

 seaboard. These combined lessoned the price of 

 corn at the place of growth. If the Company 

 had put up cribs in which they could have held 

 the corn for a better price it is possible that a 

 saving might have been eflfected, But it is 

 neither desirable or politic to Iiold large crops of 

 grain at the west, for in that case it might ag- 

 gravate the evil that it was intended to cure. 



The company have now adopted a new system, 

 and one that promises the best results to both 

 interests, at the same time one that will not in- 

 terfere with the laws of trade or accumulate 

 large stocks as might have been done under the 

 old system. They now propose to receive of the 

 purchasers of their lands every species of mark- 

 etable farm products, whether of grain, hay in 

 bales, or live stock. This will be sent to th- 

 proper market, and placed in the hands of relia- 

 ble commission houses who do an exclusive com- 

 mission business, and sold at once. A draw- 

 back of thirty per csnt on the amount of frei^rht 

 will be allowed. ° 



After the produce or stock is shipped at the 

 station, the Company assumes all responsibility 

 in regard to it, and guarrantee the highest mar- 

 ket price and prompt return. In most ca^fs 



these will be of more real value to the farmer 

 than the drawback on freights. It will at all 

 times insure the highest price at the least possi- 

 ble cost. 



In some cases shipping agents might be em- 

 ployed at the station. But this will seldom be 

 found to pay. The stock grower usually sends 

 his stock forward, often attending it himself ; 

 but it is seldom that he makes a sale — employ- 

 ing a broker for that purpose — his personal at- 

 tention being more essential to the care than 

 the sale of stock. But in the case of grain, no 

 attendance is required, and it can be forwarded 

 without him ; and when the Company assume the 

 responsibility of transit and of sales, he will be 

 relieved of all anxiety in regard to the matter. 

 The reduction on freight is an important item in 

 the payment of lands, amounting to from ten to 

 twenty per cent, on most products. The Com- 

 pany do not preclude the shipper from selecting 

 his own commission merchant but in that case 

 they assume no responsibility and only give the 

 drawback on the freights when the shipments are 

 paid over to them. 



This plan must tend to the relief of the old 

 contracts for land, and will facilitate payments 

 on the new purchases. The price of lands is 

 not to be enhanced in consequence, nor the time of 

 payment shortened, but will facilitate the pay- 

 ments by enabling the farmer at any time, and 

 in such quantities as may suit; to turn over his 

 surplus to the Company without the risk of loss 

 by incompetent or untrustworthy agents. 



The reduction of freight on corn will be an 

 average of at least three cents per bushel ; add 

 to this three to four cents on the enhanced price, 

 and the percentage is a large one, at present 

 fully equal to twenty-five per cent on its value 

 at the point of shipment. 



On the opening of the Mississippi River, an 

 immense amount of hay and potatoes must for- 

 ward to supply the demand The freight on the 

 last named from the place of growth to Cairo, 

 is about twenty cents a bushel, the drawback of 

 which would be some seven and a half cents a 

 bushel. This, to the purchasers of railroad 

 lands, is an important item and will give them 

 largely the advantage, not only at the south but 

 in this market, so of hay and all othei heavy 

 farm products. 



The result of this arrangement must tend, not 

 only to a prompt payment of the old contracts, 

 but must result in a new demand for the lands 

 now unsold. 



# To the fruit grower this arrangement will be 

 highly acceptable, and tend to cheapen his pro- 

 duct in market, and thus create a more steady 

 demand at fixed rates, that shall leave him a rea- 

 sonable profit. 



The freight on a bushel of apples from the 

 south part of the State is about thirty cents by 

 the car load, the drawback on which would be 

 about ten cents. This of itself would soon pay 

 for the largest orchard in Egypt, and at all times 

 bring the southern orchardist in direct competi- 

 tion with more favored localities, even for the 

 cheap autumn apples. If this reduction should 

 be made to all growers, it would result in a gen- 



