THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
7oS 
1893 
THE PROSPECT. 
COGITATIONS AND CITATIONS. 
In “ The Prospect,” page 657, The Rural gives, 
in almost a nutshell, some very plain facts—bitter 
truths we may term them. Farmers were the first to 
feel the present financial stringency, and it was only 
a question of time when it would involve other classes. 
Merchants, manufacturers, traders, speculators and 
bankers heard the complaint of the farmers, but paid 
little or no heed to it until they, too, were caught in 
the vortex. They are now learning the fact that 
owing to the low prices of the leading farm products 
the purchasing power of the vast multitude engaged 
in agricultural pursuits has diminished until it is 
almost nil. Farmers bought for cash as long as they 
were able, and business boomed and collections were 
“ easy.” Then they bought on credit, and when pay¬ 
day came they were unable to meet their obligations 
and asked for “ time.” The retailer was compelled to 
make the same request of the wholesale merchant, 
and he of the manufacturer, who called on the banks 
for assistance, and the banks carried him as long as 
they could, and then chaos reigned. The farmers are 
“ good ” for their debts, but they must have time to 
grow the produce to buy the money to pay them with. 
Hence collections are “ extremely slow.” Until they 
are able to pay up, the retailer must be “ accommo¬ 
dated” by the jobber, and he by the manufacturer, 
who is now without funds to buy raw materials, and 
hence business is stagnated and money “tied up.” 
The other day I overheard a rural philosopher re¬ 
mark : “ The trouble with the times just now is that 
everybody is owin’ everybody, an’ nobody is able to 
pay anybody.” $ t t 
Last year a good farmer, whose expenses are quite 
large, said: “ I’ve had no difficulty in meeting my 
obligations until this year. Prices of farm products 
have been going down and down until, with even the 
best management, they cost quite as much as they 
bring. I am making no profit whatever. I can’t pay 
the wages I am paying and keep even. Either prices 
must go up, or wages must come down 30 to 50 per 
cent, and that very soon.” Another year will see two- 
thirds of his farm in grass. He has reduced his 
expenses to the lowest point possible, and instead of 
trying to make money, he is merely living. Said 
another thorough farmer : *‘ Three years ago I ex¬ 
pended in wages, machinery, etc., nearly $3,000. Two 
years ago I cut it down to $1,300. Last year it 
amounted to $575, and this year I have one hand at $17 
per month, and have bought nothing but a few repairs. 
I am determined to keep within my income.” These 
are the straws that show which way the wind is blow¬ 
ing. And it has been blowing in this same direction 
for some time, though unheeded by merchants and 
manufacturers until the storm was upon them. 
X t X 
A farmer who uses his brains as much as his hands 
said: “ I have dropped wheat from my rotation. It 
doesn’t pay the cost of raising. I have all the machin¬ 
ery necessary for growing it on a large scale, but it is 
carefully housed where it will keep. I shall grow 
only about 10 acres—just enough for my own use— 
until there is a change in prospect. People are eating 
so many other things that wheat doesn’t cut the 
important figure it formerly did. Just see how the 
use of the various preparations of oats, corn and bar¬ 
ley have increased in the last few years. And canned 
goods, corn, vegetables and fruits—millions of cans 
put up and sold every year. Of course they are con¬ 
sumed, and that means less bread. To be sure there 
are vast quantities of Hour consumed, but let the price 
go up 25 or 50 per cent and you will see how the other 
cereals and vegetables will supply its place. 
“ Only specialists are making money now. The man 
whose specialty is corn and hogs is in the swim, to a 
certain extent. The dairyman who has a good private 
butter trade is in it, too. So is the man who is situ¬ 
ated in a locality especially adapted to the production 
of any kind of fruit, while the person who thoroughly 
understands the management of poultry is not far 
behind. The poor mixed, farmer is left, especially if 
his animals are scrubby and his tools and implements 
antiquated. 
“Yet, bad as times are, a young man can start in 
on a farm with good animals, and the best labor- 
saving tools, and make some money if he understands 
his business, is industrious, carjful and economical. 
Lots of them are doing it. The main thing for him to 
be careful of is not to bite off more than he can chew.” 
X X t 
Of course it has been to the interest of every person 
engaged in trade to hoot at and make light of the 
complaint of the farmer, but the distress has proved 
to be so real and widespread this time that the hoot 
is silenced. I rather think that people are inclined to 
rely upon legislation as a cure for financial distress 
more than they are warranted in doing. Congress 
is doing nothing to relieve the situation, yet it is 
plain that the worst is over, and that matters are 
rapidly adjusting themselves. The American people 
are energetic and enterprising, and have great faith 
in their boundless resources, and all they ask for is a 
fair chance and they will make things go Their only 
fault is, perhaps, that they are not sufficiently econom¬ 
ical to provide against a time of scarcity. To sum up 
the whole matter, I think we can rest assured that 
we have reached the bottom, and from this on the 
tendency of everything except wages will be upward. 
The farmer who raises the best, either of grain or 
stock, will find a ready market for it at prices that 
will be fairly remunerative, and with careful manage¬ 
ment he may prosper. fred. grundy. 
Christian County, Ill. 
X t x 
The United States Commissioner of Labor has issued 
a special report by Dr. E. R. L. Gould on the Gothen¬ 
burg System of L ! quor Traffic. This system forms 
the basis for the plan now being tried in South Caro¬ 
lina, the great difference being that in South Caro¬ 
lina the State does the business directly, while in Nor¬ 
way the privilege of selling liquor is given to com¬ 
panies or corporations that are not permitted to make 
over five per cent profit. Both systems are based on 
the principle that the evils of the rum shop are mag¬ 
nified because of the great private profit made out of 
liquor selling. Take this profit away, it is said, and 
the liquor business will decline because there is not 
so much “ in it ” for the dealers. In South Carolina 
this very fact is urged against the system because the 
State is anxious to sell all the liquor possible and thus 
effect a saving in taxes, because the profits go into the 
public treasury. ^ ^ j 
Years ago Norway was noted as a nation of heavy 
drinkers. Strong liquors from grain and potatoes 
were made everywhere and consumed in vast quanti¬ 
ties. The present system seems to be the result of a 
strong temperance sentiment that was forced upon 
thoughtful men by the immense increase of drunken¬ 
ness and pauperism. In the city of Gothenburg, in 
1865, a committee was appointed to investigate the 
causes of pauperism. They reported that the greatest 
cause of poverty among working people was that they 
drank to excess. They recommended that the sole 
right to sell liquor in that city should be turned over 
to a company that would spend all surp^s profits for 
the benefit of the poor. The committee stated that 
the habit of drinking was bad enough, but that drink¬ 
ing at public saloons was worse yet. The first step 
towards temperance, they said, was to wipe out the 
saloon—not to try to stop liquor drinking all at once. 
They started with 20 of the leading citizens to manage 
the new liquor company. Very strict provisions were 
made concerning the sales of liquor, both as to its 
quality and the persons to whom it is sold. The chief 
objects sought were to drive the private saloon keeper 
out of business, to sell good liquor as openly as possi¬ 
ble, and to return the profits of the business to char¬ 
itable purposes where it would do most good in reliev¬ 
ing those who suffered from intemperance. 
t X X 
This system, with some modifications, has spread 
all over Norway and Sweden. It has not become a 
national measure, but thus far has been left to local 
option. Results have shown that there are both ad¬ 
vantages and disadvantages to it. It does not pretend 
to establish prohibition, but seeks rather to combat 
drunkenness and lessen some of the evils of heavy 
drinking. Stat'stics show that drunkenness, pauper¬ 
ism and crime have been somewhat reduced under 
this system. Among the advantages are that the sa¬ 
loon is taken out of politics. The drink shops are 
usually managed by temperance men who take charge 
of them simply to see that they are lawfully conducted. 
There is no money to be made in the business. These 
saloons can be closed on Sundays and holidays without 
the aid of the law. The profits of the business go 
directly to the aid of the poor, instead of into the 
saloon keeper’s pocket. The chief disadvantage lies 
in the fact that, while this system regulates the sales 
of brandy and other distilled liquors, it does not inter¬ 
fere with sales of beer and wine. The result is that 
sales of these lighter drinks are increasing, and, in 
order to thoroughly handle the question, the system 
must be made to cover all intoxicating drinks. Con¬ 
siderable space is given here to this matter because it 
is evident that in a more or less modified form, the 
system is to be tried quite extensively in this country. 
X X t 
On October 10 the International Irrigation Congress 
opened at Los Angeles, Cal. In some respects this is 
one of the most remarkable and prophetic gatherings 
ever held in this country. It has to do with the re¬ 
claiming of vast deserts and the creation of a new em¬ 
pire capable of feeding the entire population of 
America. From a line drawn through about the center 
of South Dakota and Nebraska to the Pacific Ocean is 
a vast tract of land that may be termed Arid America. 
It contains nearly two fifths of the entire national d o- 
main, and yet, except in northern California and por¬ 
tions of Oregon and Washington, and here and there 
small locations where some grain is grown, the rain¬ 
fall is not sufficient to support agriculture or horti¬ 
culture. With a magnificent climate, and soil of great 
natural fertility, this region is an unproductive desert 
because water alone is lacking. And yet, down through 
these vast plains flow great rivers fed by the never- 
melting snow-drifts of the towering mountains. 
Water enough is stored on these mountain sides to 
irrigate an area of farming land four times as large as 
the entire State of New York, and this Irrigation Con¬ 
gress has for its work the making of plans for utilizing 
this water and distributing it over the desert. 
X X X 
Tms will mean new laws and new methods. At 
present a large part of this worthless land is held by 
the United States Government. In its present state it 
is valueless except for a short term of grazing. One 
problem that comes before this convention is that of 
suggesting a new ownership for this land. Under whose 
authority sha',1 the vast work of carrying out these 
irrigation schemes be conducted ? Shall the National 
Government incur the expense and, if so, who is to 
have the lands after they are increased in value 100- 
fold by a supply of water ? Shall the lands be given 
or leased to great corporations, to be improved or 
managed as some of our great railroad systems have 
been conducted ? These are questions that concern 
the entire people—not only those who are to live in the 
present Arid America, but those of us on Eastern farms 
who are to face the increased competition which the 
reclaiming of these lands will surely force upon our 
markets. The Homestead law, with the great influx 
of foreign farmers that it brought, and the great 
bonanza farms of the West, have already crippled 
Eastern farming. If this irrigation problem be made 
a national question, we will think many times before 
we give aid to a policy that will help cut our own 
throats. The plan that seems to find most favor before 
the Convention is for the general Government to cede 
this present worthle.-s land to the several States to 
be disposed of as they see fit. 
* X X 
It is not necessary here to refer to the vast possi¬ 
bilities of Arid America in .case a sure water supply 
can be furnished. The history of the irrigated districts 
in California and Colorado show that, with water, this 
arid desert would become the garden spot of the 
world, making possible the highest ideals of farm 
life. It would change the ent : re political and financial 
aspects of the country and move our center of popula¬ 
tion to the Rocky Mountains. In fact it is hardly 
possible to dream of the changes that would result to 
American farm life by this reclaiming of Arid America. 
We should have a region of ideal farm homes, the 
great cattle barons would be driven out of business, 
the bonanza farms and lordly estates would be broken 
up and food will be produced cheaper than ever before. 
This may all be granted to those who advocate these 
schemes, but there are practical questions on the other 
Is this land needed by actual home-seekers ? We are 
already farming too much land. The story of “ free 
land” at the West has already caused many an Eastern 
“ abandoned farm” that with careful culture would 
to-day far outbid its Western rival in profit. Our out¬ 
put of food products is already so great that the 
wastes of our markets are the wonder of all foreigners. 
Arid America is not needed to-day, either for homes or. 
for food—nor will it be needed for another half a 
century. We recognize fully the right of private 
individuals or corporations to improve this land and 
make it valuable as an investment. That is just as 
legitimate as it is to cut off the trees or pull out the 
rocks on a Vermont farm. The case of National aid 
in this enterprise is another thing. The Eastern 
farmer cannot be expected to quietly pay taxes to help 
another section destroy his business. Irrigation is a 
necessary thing on 99 out of every 100 Eastern farms. 
When we do it here we buy our own steam or wind 
pump. Let the West do the same thing and we can 
stand the competition ; but competition helped by the 
Government is more than we want. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
A number of readers are asking for the address of the man who 
drives oxen with the new yoke. It was given In the artlc'.e. Here it 
is again: R. G. Gottwald, Sayvllle, L. I., N. Y. 
“Clear GRIT” has moved the world before now. Lots of hens 
refuse to move the egg machine because this “clear grit” supply is 
lacking. W. A. Kennen, Franklin, Fa , Bells grit of the clearest de¬ 
scription. Enough said. Now act I 
Every" boy and girl should know how to keep a set of books Book¬ 
keeping, though usually neglected on the farm, Is quite as necessary 
to successful farming as It is to the merchant or manufacturer. The 
principles of book-keeping are very easily understood, and the practice 
of keeping farm accounts will be found both Interesting and fascinat¬ 
ing. Instruction In book keeping Is given by mill by Bryant & Strat¬ 
ton, 416 Main Street, Buffalo, N. Y., and any farmer's boy or girl can 
take up the study at home. 
People like to deal with honest people who do not try to deceive In 
order to make a sale. We asked the Shipman Engine Company, of 
Bos.on, If their engine would suit a man who wants a machine that 
uses an explosion of petroleum to run It Here Is their answer: 
“ While we li ope to be able to make a sale to him, we know that our 
engine Is not the one that he has In min 1. There have been oil ex¬ 
plosive engines made with more or less success, and rather less than 
more. Ours Is an ordinary steam engine, burning kerose e oil for 
fuel 4n place of coal or wood, and w.th a boiler peculiarly adapted for 
the proper consumption of the same. Tnis is really the only practi¬ 
cal, successful way up to date, In which petroleum has been trans¬ 
formed Into mechanical energy.” 
