338 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
PROCRESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
FALLACIES OF LIFE INSURANCE.-VIII 
MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
A NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED 
D. D. T. MCOORE, 
Kounder utad Ooiuluclinif FOclitor. 
CHAS. D. BRAGDON, ANDREW S. FULLER, 
AHHOciuti) KiIHoi'h. 
HENRY S. RANDALL LL, D., Cortland Village, N. Y., 
Eoitub OF TIIH D*IAIITMIIWT OF SimKK UD»ll*Nim». 
X. A. WILLARD, A. M., Little Falls, N. Y„ 
Editob of *m* Dkfaktmkn'i of Dmuy Hcfbakdbv. 
G. A. V. BAItNRTT. Publisher. 
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SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1874. 
ARE WE TO HAVE A FAMINE 1 
It maybe! It has been predicted; but pre¬ 
dictions are not always fulfilled. Nevertheless 
it Is wise to look at chances. From all quarters 
comes the Information that this country has 
not been, in tunny years, ho shorn of farm pro¬ 
duce—of wheat, corn, rye, oats, barley and veg¬ 
etables. Talk of more currency V Of what use 
would it be to the farmer who bus nothing to 
exchange for it ? The South hns to purchase 
food, and thousands along the Mississippi Val¬ 
ley have got to bo fed by charitable hands and 
furnished with the means wherewith to muke 
a crop. Iowa and Mississippi have bad to feed 
farmers, occupying large areas on their West¬ 
ern borders, else they would have starved the 
past winter. Seed must be furnished them for 
the spring planting. Michigan farmers have 
nothing to sell, and are buying hay for their 
stock. Central Illinois is cleaned out of wheat, 
corn, SiO., and n failure of a crop there would 
compel Importations, according to reliable 
testimony. The reserves of grain are not large. 
In Europe they are smaller proportionally than 
with us. A bad harvest in Europe and a short 
one here will cause suffering. In view of t he 
vast number of non-producers, of the diversion 
of farm labor to stock and dairy husbandry in¬ 
stead of the production of food crops, the 
growing inclination of farmers to “sell out" 
and “ live on the interest of their money," 
there is some reason of apprehension as regards 
future supplies, and much reason why those 
who cultivate the soil should do so hopefully, 
so far us prices for products are concerned. 
It was not with the purpose of alarming any 
one that wc wrote the heading to this arti¬ 
cle. It is rather that wc may insure at¬ 
tention to the possibilities- Famine is not 
so uncommon an occurrence that even food- 
producing America may not suffer from It. 
Already hunger has gnawed at the vitals of 
some of her grain - producing population. 
Hungary, Poland, and some portions of 
grain - producing Russia, have suffered from 
want of food, or the ability to purchase it. tho I 
past year. India isnow losing population from 
hunger. England's farm labor troubles are 
going to affect, so as to diminish, her produc¬ 
tion the present year. This striking population, 
and that portion thereof which emigrate from 
their homos, spend money, lose time, but must 
consume food all the while. The average power 
of production Is thus greatly diminished. 
We cannot help thinking that the wisest 
farmor for 1874 will be he who devotes t he least 
t ime to Farmers’ Conventions, spends the least 
breath in class denunciation, and who devotes 
himself most earnestly and Intelligently to the 
producing of food (and a variety of it) with 
which to supply the demaud (hat the year Is 
sure to give him, and reap therefor the remu¬ 
neration to which Ills labor will be entitled 
and which he will surely realize. For, with the 
present low stock of ail food material In all 
quarters of the globe, we cannot imagine a 
change that shall be unfavorable to tin? farmer 
who baa food to sell gt the cl^se yf 1874 
The purpose of the laws regulating Insurance 
Is to compel, as far as possible, the continued 
solvency of the companies, by requiring a high 
reserve and Incidentally a high premium or its 
equivalent. The history of American compa¬ 
nies that alone have enjoyed the supposed ben¬ 
efits of methodical supervision, does not say 
much in favor of the possible good to be de¬ 
rived from It. Like the companies II proposes 
to benefit, and the Institution itself, it Is on 
probation. The general idea Is not, per sc, a 
bad one. The purpose is doubtless Intended to 
be salutary; but. tike all human and therefor® 
imperfect laws, the chartered privilege to Inter¬ 
fere with private contracts, and prescribe the 
terras of agreements bet ween individuals, may 
be abused. On the one hand, the laws forestall 
dangerous competition that might reduce the 
premium too low for safety; but, on the con¬ 
trary, they may, indeed do, foster and legalize 
expensive insurance, lock up Immense sums 
not indispensably necessary to the purpose in 
view, and so limit the area of a beneficence 
which, for the good of mankind, cannot bo too 
widely disseminated. 
It Is a peculiarity of the equal premium to 
create the reserve and the necessity for it. The 
equal premium provides for present losses and 
expenses, and also, to a certain extent, for those 
yet. to be incurred. The excess of the premium 
beyond present, requirements I* held in reserve 
against, the time when, with its accumulated 
interest. It must, at least In theory, be paid to 
living claimants. In the absence of restrictive 
laws the sums so reserved, nr technically "the 
reserve” might be so reduced—either by taking 
too little premium to begin with or by wasting 
the company’s resources aft erward that no at¬ 
tainable rate of accumulated compound inter¬ 
est would make the fund Adequate for the pur¬ 
poses of Insurance. There are always men so 
Intent upon present gain ast.o forget the future, 
to say nothing of the present welfare of others, 
and such men would not hesitate to offer, for 
the sake of Inviting business, a rate of premium 
so low as to insure tho failure of the company 
Just when its services were most needed. The 
laws fixing a high reserve and a high premium 
to provide it, presupposes the repayment of re¬ 
dundant. premium. The better companies re¬ 
turn from one-fourth to one-third by economic 
management. This excess the worse compa¬ 
nies waste or misapply. 
When the reduction by dividends equalizes 
the expense of Insuring In either stock or mu¬ 
tual companies, the difference In the attitude 
of tho policy bolder consists In furnishing to 
the company a certain amount of capital each 
year to be repaid the next, or, as In the stock 
company, paying interest upon the capital fur¬ 
nished by the atockholdcrs. When the com¬ 
parative expense is not so equalized by divi¬ 
dends, the policy holder of the high-rate com¬ 
pany Is almost without remedy. He Is obligated 
under penalty to pay the high premium. Pater¬ 
nal legislation, though specific and mandatory 
In regard to n reserve, says nothing about divi¬ 
dends. He may avoid future expense by re¬ 
scinding hi* bargain and making another selec¬ 
tion, but in ouch case he assured I v lose.'- both 
his reserves and dividends, which become for¬ 
feit to the company as the stakes of a one-sided 
wager (In which the company hazards nothing) 
of persistent payment. The loss to each non- 
persistent may not bn great; Indeed, few are 
aware that they have lost anything by refusing 
to continue an unaat tsfactory arrangement, but 
the aggregate gain from this source is very 
large, averaging, during several years past, 
about t wenty-five millions annually—enough to 
pay all losses of claims and a large share of the 
legitimate profits of stockholders. 
A great, deal of faith in the wisdom of life In¬ 
surance management, and the perfection of Its 
appliances and devices, is needed to reconcile 
t he broad differences between this and other 
kinds of Insurance. Four-fifths, sometimes six- 
fifths, of the premiums of fire companies arc 
literally consumed in paying losses, while In 
life Insurance only a Irifle more than ono-flfth 
of the year's premium Is applied to tho pay¬ 
ment of losse nr needed for this purpose—and, 
stranger si ill, this fifth Is not paid by those who 
are enjoying present Insnrnnce, but by those 
who are getting no benefits whatever. Those 
who cannot, perhaps will not, pay for insurance 
in the year 1874. are pretty certain to furnish the 
money to pay twenty-five or thirty millions of 
losses. 
There Is little room to doubt that the con¬ 
dition of life insurance which legalizes the for¬ 
feiture of the entire reserve and share of sur¬ 
plus is a great hardship and an indefensible 
exaction, but there are also reasons for the Im¬ 
posing of some system of rewards and penalties 
to encourage persistent payment. Arbitrary 
rules have been enforced without satisfying 
cither tho loser or the gainer, and this question 
of u Howmuch shall the defecting policy holdor 
pay for the privilege of withdrawal ?” is des¬ 
tined to be pretty thoroughly canvassed before 
reaching a satisfactory solution. Unjust as 
total forfeiture always is, where the policy 
holder is not. promised a compensative gain in 
the case he persists in paying, and is advised of 
the penalty before taking the policy, it Is a 
practice tint very far removed from larceny, 
wheye the insurance has been obtained by di¬ 
rect or oven implied promises, in regard to the 
amount pf future returns, known to be fal¬ 
lacious, and intended to deceive. It is in this 
direction that tho caution of the prospective 
asyprant will best reward him. 
NO PREMIUMS TO AGRICULTURAL 
IMMIGRANTS. 
Of course we need skilled agricultural labor. 
Of course we need and can give employment 
to skilled labor of any sort provided the finan¬ 
cial and tariff policy of I he Government, is made 
stable and abiding. (Jut It will not pay us to 
offer premiums to Immigrants to Induce them 
to come to our shores; we moan money induce¬ 
ments, beyond those which the Government 
grants to all men—to become citizens, with 
right of suffrage, a chance to acquire home¬ 
steads and become land owners, office holders 
and sovereigns. If these are not sufficient In¬ 
ducements, we say let those who will not come 
otherwise stay at home. True, It Is better for 
ii* to feed workingmen who earn their own liv¬ 
ing lu re than In England, Germany, or else¬ 
where On the other side of the Atlantic. It 
saves so much transportation and keeps the 
money expended for food at, home. Hut we 
have no sympathy with the class of people who 
would have us bid against Canada In the effort 
to secure English farm laborers. If Canada 
needs them more than we do and can retain 
them after Bhc has paid a portion of their pas¬ 
sage money In order to get them, let her have 
them. The United Slates has no need to In¬ 
dulge In such nonsense to get all the foreign 
population she can take care of and that will 
be profitable to her. 
-- 
RURAL NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Oleomargarine.- The Rutter Exchange of 
this city appointed a committee not long since 
to investigate this product, otherwise known 
as “suet butter.” They find the character of 
the product, as to quality, varied. There Is not 
uniformity of production. There seems to 
have been evidence found, too. that It has been 
put on the market as genuine butter, which 
tho Exchange properly condemns. It Is also 
asserted that It lias been used to adulterate 
genuine butter. This la also condemned, ond 
it. is outrageous. Again we have seen it assert¬ 
ed that It is made frequently from soap fat and 
butchers’ waste. Instead of from the pure caul 
fat of animals. If this is true, and It Is put on 
the market as butter. It Ih Infamous, and it Is 
high time legitimate butter dealers should call 
the attention of the butter consuming classes 
to the fact. Hill ter producers hnvo an interest 
in the matter as well; for It cannot be doubted 
that this product will, if It has not already, 
affect the market, value of butter. 
Our “Mural Purchasing Agency.”—Though 
its programme was announced only three 
weeks ago this branch of the Rural’s business 
Is already progressing finely. The Manager of 
the Agency Is dally receiving orders for arti¬ 
cles, arid also consignments of provisions, etc., 
all which receive prompt, intelligent and 
faithful attention. Many of our renders will 
find (ns not a few already have) this Agency 
a great convenience, and being conducted on 
strictly honorable principles it must soon win 
the confidence of nil with whom business Is 
transacted. Such an agency has long been a 
desideratum, arid we are not surprised at the 
rapid appreciation it Is receiving. Those of 
our readers having occasion to purchase arti¬ 
cles of any kind, or who wish to consign pro¬ 
ducts or wares to a reliable party, should either 
scud direct to the RnnAL Purchasing Agency, 
or address the same for circulars containing 
defluito information, 
- M l 
Remuneration Tor Inventors.—We confess to 
a very favorable impression of the proposition 
Of Mr. Sayi.f.r of Indiana to revolutionize the 
present patent system by abolishing (he mo¬ 
nopoly feature and allowing any person to 
manufacture a patented article on condition 
of paying a royalty of ton per cent, to the in¬ 
ventor. It seems to be meeting with popular 
favor, Judging by the number of petitions being 
received, asking for the passage of such an act. 
Such a bill will not retard invention, but rather 
stimulate it. It will increase competition in 
the manufacture of patented articles. It will 
result In the introduction into use of muny 
patented articles now buried in the bands of 
impecunious Inventors, both too poor to man¬ 
ufacture themselves and too distrustful of 
their fellows to allow its use. It will insure 
certain reward to all inventors of meritorious 
improvements and devices. 
Sporting by Spiritualism.—Recently several 
sporting men of New York “Interviewed" a 
spiritual medium. During the “seance," the 
spirit of a lately deceased trainer of trotting 
equines was consulted, and various questions 
asked and answered relative to noted fast nags 
and their performances during the approaching 
season. Among other things the querists were 
oracularly (or otherwise) advised by the spirit 
of their departed friend as to which houses 
would win, and which lose, at the coming trots 
and races! ThlH Information was supposed to 
be “important if true,” but was not considered 
reliable after the authority appealed to an¬ 
swered erroneously as to the present condition 
of certain horses, and hence it is doubtful 
whether they will put up any money without a 
confirmation of the spiritualistic dispatch. 
-M4- 
The Order of Progressive Farmers Is the name 
of an order organized about n year ago in the 
South, It Is said to bo a farmers' society, and 
every member of the order is bound to be pro¬ 
gressive in the fullest sense of the word, favor¬ 
ing a better system of agriculture and striving 
ardently for self-improvement, the Improve¬ 
ment of family and friends, and an advance¬ 
ment of farming Interests generally. Whether 
it is a secret order we are not informed, but 
conclude that it is. It has & national council, 
which issues circulars. Such divisions of the 
farmers into separate orders may conserve gen¬ 
eral public Interests ns well as centralization 
and a single combination—and may not. 
- 
Hop Grower* Want Protection,—A memorial 
has been presented in tho United States Senate 
by Senator Conk LINO from the Oneida Co., N. 
V., hop growers, asking the imposition of a 
duty of fifteen cents per pound on imported 
hops. All good total abstinence people will 
favor sue t protection of American hop grow¬ 
ers, for it will practically amount to the prohi¬ 
bition of the importation of foreign hops—un¬ 
less we are very much mistaken. 
-M«- 
Knn»n* Hay in Michigan.—The Kalamazoo 
Gazette states that largo quantities of baled 
hay which have been shipped from Kansas and 
Southern Indiana are being sold there, the 
farmers thereabout* being compelled to buy It 
because their own crop is exhausted. Michigan 
farmers ought to be ashamed of themselves. 
There can be no need of such a state of things 
in that magnificent State ! 
-«♦«- 
lliill<-lin of the Miimbov Institution of Harvard 
University.—We have received this publica¬ 
tion. It is overwhelmingly full of reports of 
experiments with crops and manures, illus¬ 
trated with tables, from which we can make 
no satisfactory analysis for the edification of 
our readers. New Englanders should send for 
and study It. It may serve them- 
- M < 
Grain In Chicago.—Chicago elevators, as per 
official returns, contained 1.904,38ft bushels of 
wheat; 3,383,28ft bushels of corn; 785,503 bush¬ 
els of oats; 22,311 bushels of rye and 130,500 
bushels of barley, making a grand total of 6,226,- 
052 bushels; against 6,491, '452 bushels one week 
previously, and 9,735,22ft bushels at the same 
period 1 ast year. 
■— — «♦« 
The Foreign Grain Market continues firm in 
tone, with steady advance ill figures. The 
stock oil hand Is unusually light, and the ODly 
hope expressed of a decline Is based upon In¬ 
creased foreign arrivals and the early opening 
of the Russian ports. 
-♦♦♦- 
RURAL BREVITIES. 
France is said to be exporting to England 
one and one-half millions of eggs per day. 
Unless our advertising columns tell, we can¬ 
not inform Joel Likii where Southern Queen 
potato plants can be obtained. 
Mr. J. A. Brown should know that we only 
insert iidvortlsementH in our advertising col¬ 
umns and require cash for doing so. 
X. A. Willard of the Rural New-Yorker 
is to deliver two addresses on The Dairy, in 
Hamilton, London Co., Va., May 20 and 21. 
Science Gossip, No. 4, is received from G. P. 
Putnam and Sons. It is chock full of meaty 
matter for the scientific reader. It is good. 
A St. Louis, Gratiot Co., Mich.* agent writes; 
“ The Kora 13 came all right and I can assure 
you met with a welcome from all who joined 
the club." 
Western Horticulturists are reported to bo 
preparing for a great floral exhibition in con¬ 
nection with the Chicago Inter-State Exposi¬ 
tion this season. 
Geo. B. Rice is informed that lie should ad¬ 
dress advertisers In the Rural New-Yorker 
for price lists of Huff Cochin and Houdan fowls. 
We cannot, supply them. 
Wk acknowledge the receipt of the 10th 
Annual Report of the Ohio Dairymen’s Asso¬ 
ciation; also l lie Transactions of the Western 
Reserve Dairymen’s Association. 
The Fanciers arid Breeders of Poultry of On¬ 
tario, Canada, have organized a Poultry Asso¬ 
ciation with Rev. W. F.Clarke, President, and 
George Muhton, Secretary and Treasurer. 
It is always refreshing to know that Editors 
of industrial journals read what each other 
says. W e have evidence that tlm Editors' of the 
American Agriculturist and Gardeners’ Month¬ 
ly read each other* "remarks.’’ 
Smith’s Patent Flexible Horse Shoe, adver¬ 
tised on page 342, seems to be based upon 
sound physiological reasoning and to supply 
an assistant rather than an obstruction to na¬ 
ture’s course. Upon receiving from Mr. Smith 
an explanatory circular the value of the shoe 
can be seen at once. 
It is announced that John J. Thomas will 
deliver the address before the Michigan Pom. 
Soc., at Adrian, Michigan, June 24, on “Horti¬ 
culture lor the people with notes showing its 
progress during the last 30 years." 
W. G. F. is informed that tho Poultry World 
Is publishing pedigrees of American poultry, 
witli number of pedigree entry, name of the 
breed, name of variety, year when hatched, 
name of sire and dam and name of owner. 
The Turtle Harrow advertised on page 342 
appears to be new and valuable in Its line. Its 
ow ners, CAkk & Houson, claim for it durabil¬ 
ity and efficient work that it perfectly pulver¬ 
izes the soil without plowing it into ridges. Hy 
an application to the above tlrm for a circular, 
the virtues of the Harrow can be seen. 
BUSINESS NOTICES 
Our lady Irieuds who have used the Eureka 
Spool Bilks will use do other. It Is full size, full 
length, and every spool is found as represented, 
