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VOL. XXV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., NOV. 29, 1890 NO. 48 Writ!en for tbe Indiana Farmer. Agronomics—No. BV JOHN M. STAHL. Ot frequent apperance in the new spapera are figure- showing that the percentage of population engaged in agriculture Is steadily decreasing. Ihe population en gaged"in manufacturing and commerce has gained rapidly on the population employed in agricultural pursuits. Very many consider this indisputable evidence that agriculture is suffering, that condi. tions for it are not so favorable as for manufacturers or commerce, and that the course cf development in this country is not for the general welfare. Without stopping to discuss whether or not agriculture has been fairly treated in the making of conditions, or whether or not our country is making substantial progress along the way of greater general good, I •wish to point out that the facts named have very little of the weight of evidence claimed for them. First, an increase in the population en gaged in manufacturing and commerceat tbe expense of the agricultural population has always accompanied an advance in civilization and is the best possible evl dence of such advance. A barbarous nation is a people composed of hunters. Next some become stockmen. The next step toward civilization is.evidenced by some becoming farmers and more becoming stockmen. As the people reach the flrst stage of civilization, practically all have become farmers and stockmen, and a few simple manufactures are introduced. As "the nation advances higher and higher toward enlightenment, manufactures are multiplied and commerce keep. pace. It i-i really self-evident that the nation could not keep on advancing in civilization If It did not multiply its manufactures. Greater civilization requires more appliances and aids in subduing nature; first tools, then machinery, and at each stage the diversity of form must increase. As the nation starts with practically all Its population engaged in farming, as It advances in civilization the percentage engaged in manufacture and commerce must steadily gain upon that engaged in agricultural pursuits. Those that would have our agricultural population gain upon the population engaged in manufacture and commerce -would have us go backward, to retrograde, to move toward the condition of nations just emerging from barbarism. However, the gain of the manufacturing and commercial population upon the agricultural, may be too rapid; indicating that in the shaping of conditions agriculture has been discriminated against, and a healthy, solid national development stimulated into one abnormal and not without danger. Second, the figures relating to percentage of population engaged in manufacture, commerce and agriculture are erroneously construed to indicate a decrease of farm labor proportionate to the decrease in agricultural population and an increase of labor in manufacture and commerces proportionate to the increase of population in those industries. Formerly, nearly all farm labor was expended directly, by persons living and laboring on the farms, and classed as farmers. Now a large part of farm labor is expended indirectly, by those living in villages and cities and classed as manufacturers or merchants. For example, In wheat harvest the labor -W_ all expended directly, except the little used In the manufacture of the cradle or sickle; now the greater part of the labor Is expended indirectly and oft the farm, in the manufacture of a complicated machine. A much less amount of labor is required to be expended upon the farm than form- «rly,;because a large part has been expended off the farm. Instead of several men cutting and binding the wheat, using only it sickle, some of them have gone to the city and put their labor Into a self-binder, with which those remaining upon the farm can cut and bind the wheat. Formerly, 100 per cent were classed as engaged in agriculture and not any per cent of them as engaged in manufacture or commerce. Now, probably at least 50 per cent of them are classed as manufacturers and only 50 per cent as farmers. Yet the labor of all Is as truly farm labor as before. Itsobj _tive point is the wheat harvest and it is expended for that only. Part of it has changed its place, that is all; yet no one thinks that when a farmer helps a neighbor plow, sow or reap that he Is not doing farm labor because he has left his farm in order to do that labor. What has taken more men from the farm than any other one line of development is transportation. Railroad men are not classed as farmers, yet the grain car is as truly a farm vehicle as is the wagon; the engineer on the locomotive pulling a stock train, is engaged as truly in agricultural labor, as is the man that is driving a farm wagon loaded with grain to market. Quincy, 111. A Villase Reading Circle. Editors Indiana Farmer: As there app _rs to be considerable In terest In the subject of country reading circles, I will describe one wo had for several yearsin ourlittletown. Ourvillagelsnota county seat and we have no professional men or women here, excepting two or three physicians, a minister, and the four or five public school teachers, but wo formed a reading circle that was for several years a great source of entertainment, and possibly Improvement to our town ship. The teachers, ministers, doctors and a few of the citizens began the circle, but in a few months nearly every family in the village was represented. We met weekly at different private houses. We had halls and churches we might havo used, but we sought to have so- social as well as intellectual culture, and we thought we would reach the home circle quicker in this manner than in using public rooms. Our program was fro.m 7 to 9 o'clock p. m., and the hour from 9 to 10 was devoted to social conversation by the circle, and the arrangement of next -week's program by the committeo. The principal of tbe school was the president, and a committee on program was elected by ballot. We devoted evenings to different authors, the authors being selected by thecircle, also the persons on each week's program. The president and committee then arranged the details of the next week's entertainment. We had readings, recitations, essays, a short sketch of the life of the author, (this came first on the program), then followed tableaux and music, vocal and instrumental. We had no refreshments, as that would have taken so much time and trouble for the people at whose houses we met; in fact many of the very persons whom'we most wished to benefit by the circle could not in that event have "entertained the circle" at all. Occasionally some cultivated person from the Stato University, or some gifted man or jwoman whose life was entirely devoted to literary work, would entertain us, only charging their expenses. I remember one very accomplished gentleman, a most beautiful reader, gave us an evening devoted to Longfellow, which was so entertaining to the circle that, In response to a petition to that effect, he gave us several talks on his travels in Egypt and the holy land. The circle Invited the village to this entertainment, which was so well attended that our largest church could not hold the audience. It was a good advertisement of the circle, and gained us a number of members. An improvement could be made on our program, by devoting an evening now and then, to discussing kindness to animals, and temperance. The humane society and the W. C. T. U. would assist by literature and speakers on both these occasions. Laura Davis Worley. Our Washington Letter. From Our Regular Correspondent: Washington may now truthfully claim to be the headquarters of the makers of political history. Never fduring the last twenty-five years has tbere been more political activity displayed here than there is now, and it is increasing every day as the city tills up witli tho men who control the destinies of the great political parties of the country. Here will be fought, this winter, the preliminary skirmish of the great battle of 'Hi, and a great many people are beginning to think that engagement will be a triangular one, and if the combination between the labor organizations and the Farmers' Alliance, that wonderful organization which has frightened', the professional politicians nearly out of their wits, can be perfected by that time, there are certainly squalls ahead for somebody. 1 'u .lie interest Is centered in the final session of the Fifty lirst'Congress, which meets Monday, December 1st, and conjecture Is rife as to what will be done. Whatever Ib done the wothods of doing it will be highly interesting, because of the personnel of the republican House. Many of the republicans, particularly those that were nominated and defeated at the late election, feel so sore that they would be willing to adopt the most radical political legislation that could possibly be proposed, and the Speaker is generally supposed t•> be ready to aid them in every way in his power, and those who watched the legislation In the House at the last session can form a idea of what that means. But there is another element in that party headed by Mr. Blaine that will attempt to steer a more conservative course. The mattors which are certain to come up during the threo months of this short session, to say nothing of those tbat may unexpectedly be brought up, will make it notable in Congressional history. The first thing to come up in the Senate will be the Federal Flection Bill, and that it will be fought to the last extremity by the democrats is a -"certainty. Nevertheless it is beleived that it will bo passed in a mod- fled form. In the House the first thing to be taken up will be an^apportionment bill, and that will also be fought by the democrats, but it will be certain to pass in the shape that will give the republicans all the advantage j«.sslble—it would be just reversed were the democrats in the position of the republicans. The game of politics is, get all you can. The question of free coinage of Bllver is going to make a rumpus too, and the general impression is that it will be adopted, although it is still opposed by Mr. Harrison and his Secretary of the Treasury. But Is whispered that Mr. Blaine has made up his mind to bring about free coinage at this session of Congress as a special concession to the Farmers' Alliance, which he is said to be particularly anxious to conciliate. There will not be much difficulty in getting a bill through Congress, as the Senate is already on record as favoring it, and it was charged that it was trickery that defeated It in the House at tho last sassion. Another troublesome matter is that of pensions. It's bound to come up in some shape or other. It is claimed that by the end of the next fiscal year the annual payments for pensions will have reached $200- 000,000, which, added to other expenses of the Government, will amount to considerably more than our receipts. What Is to be done? Not a baker's dozen votes could be secured for repealing any portion of the pension laws, so tbat some method of Increasing our rovenups, will have to be found, tf these claims prove to be correct. But how? That's an interesting question. Some answer it, by proposing a graduated income tax, others by increasing the tax on whiskey. Bat wait until the question comes up in Congress; then you will hear some interesting things. The speakership campaign, which gets warmer and warmer, will furnish some mighty interesting political news before it is ended, and it is believed that it will also be the means of determining, to a certainty, whether Mr. Cleveland will be at the head of the next National Democratic ticket, at least that's the w ay it looks now, when the Cleveland and anti-Cleveland Democrats are at daggers' points. And it willalsohavegreateffectupon the chances of the Democratic _arty in the coming Presidential {-lection. The question of the head of the next republican Presidential ticket, will be considered this winter by the leaders of that party, and the wirepulling they will indulge in, will add much interest to Washington political gossip. Just now, Mr. Blaine lias it all his owu way, but whether lio can k_p it that way, even if he desires tho nomination, is problematical. Mr. Harrison thinks himself entitled to a re- nomination,- Sonator Sherman has not abandoned all hope; General Alger is still in tbo field, and fn-in the Pacific slope comes the news that Senator Stanford has entered the lists, and that his platform will consist solely of his proposition to loan out Government money to farmers at two per cent per annum. It has also been strongly hinted by Farmers' Alliance men here, that Mr. Stanford can haVe the support of that organization if he wants it. Take it all in all, the prospect isforlots of very lively political news this winter. Nov. 21st. Wk have received a complimentary to (ho Central Indiana Poultry and Pet S'xick Show, to be held «at North Vernon, Ind., Decemb- r 2ad to 5th, also a very neatly gotten up premium list. GBAIN IN SIGHT. The grain reported in warehouses, elevators and in transit up to November 21th was as follows: Wheat, 23,189,818 bu., an Increase of 992,007 bu; corn, 4,328,559 bu., a decrease of 1,:. !0.048 bu; oats, 3,530,280 bu., a decrease of 410,999 bu; rye, 501,901 bu., a decrease of 124,084 bu; barley, 5,095,- 909 bu., an increase of 330,52") bu. "WHEAT AHD COBN ADVANCING. The London and New York money panic depressed prices of produce, but since the recovery of confidence, wheat and corn have sharply advanced again, and will doubtless continue to advance. Wheat will go above one dollar, and " we think corn will reach 00 cents. Speculative wheat, for May, is now above a dollar, and cash wheat will go to that, and above. And so of corn on speculation, it is 55 cents and is tending to 00 for cash. THE F0H_IGN GHAIN TBADE. The Mark Lane Express, of London, Nov. 24th, in its weekly review of the British grain trade, fays; English wheats are steady at a fractional rise for fine white-*. In foreign wheats, Russian and American are Od cheaper. Indian is firm. The decline in grain in America would have similarly depressed prices here but for tho rise in freights. Barley, rye and peas are quiet. American corn Is 5d per ton dearer. European is unchanged. At to-day's markets English wheats were slow of sale. Foreign dropped Od. Flour, especially American, was firm with an upward tendency. American corn was steady. Oats were firm. Rye .was 3d dearer.
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1890, v. 25, no. 48 (Nov. 29) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA2548 |
Date of Original | 1890 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | United States - Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 2011-01-21 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Orignal scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Transcript | VOL. XXV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., NOV. 29, 1890 NO. 48 Writ!en for tbe Indiana Farmer. Agronomics—No. BV JOHN M. STAHL. Ot frequent apperance in the new spapera are figure- showing that the percentage of population engaged in agriculture Is steadily decreasing. Ihe population en gaged"in manufacturing and commerce has gained rapidly on the population employed in agricultural pursuits. Very many consider this indisputable evidence that agriculture is suffering, that condi. tions for it are not so favorable as for manufacturers or commerce, and that the course cf development in this country is not for the general welfare. Without stopping to discuss whether or not agriculture has been fairly treated in the making of conditions, or whether or not our country is making substantial progress along the way of greater general good, I •wish to point out that the facts named have very little of the weight of evidence claimed for them. First, an increase in the population en gaged in manufacturing and commerceat tbe expense of the agricultural population has always accompanied an advance in civilization and is the best possible evl dence of such advance. A barbarous nation is a people composed of hunters. Next some become stockmen. The next step toward civilization is.evidenced by some becoming farmers and more becoming stockmen. As the people reach the flrst stage of civilization, practically all have become farmers and stockmen, and a few simple manufactures are introduced. As "the nation advances higher and higher toward enlightenment, manufactures are multiplied and commerce keep. pace. It i-i really self-evident that the nation could not keep on advancing in civilization If It did not multiply its manufactures. Greater civilization requires more appliances and aids in subduing nature; first tools, then machinery, and at each stage the diversity of form must increase. As the nation starts with practically all Its population engaged in farming, as It advances in civilization the percentage engaged in manufacture and commerce must steadily gain upon that engaged in agricultural pursuits. Those that would have our agricultural population gain upon the population engaged in manufacture and commerce -would have us go backward, to retrograde, to move toward the condition of nations just emerging from barbarism. However, the gain of the manufacturing and commercial population upon the agricultural, may be too rapid; indicating that in the shaping of conditions agriculture has been discriminated against, and a healthy, solid national development stimulated into one abnormal and not without danger. Second, the figures relating to percentage of population engaged in manufacture, commerce and agriculture are erroneously construed to indicate a decrease of farm labor proportionate to the decrease in agricultural population and an increase of labor in manufacture and commerces proportionate to the increase of population in those industries. Formerly, nearly all farm labor was expended directly, by persons living and laboring on the farms, and classed as farmers. Now a large part of farm labor is expended indirectly, by those living in villages and cities and classed as manufacturers or merchants. For example, In wheat harvest the labor -W_ all expended directly, except the little used In the manufacture of the cradle or sickle; now the greater part of the labor Is expended indirectly and oft the farm, in the manufacture of a complicated machine. A much less amount of labor is required to be expended upon the farm than form- «rly,;because a large part has been expended off the farm. Instead of several men cutting and binding the wheat, using only it sickle, some of them have gone to the city and put their labor Into a self-binder, with which those remaining upon the farm can cut and bind the wheat. Formerly, 100 per cent were classed as engaged in agriculture and not any per cent of them as engaged in manufacture or commerce. Now, probably at least 50 per cent of them are classed as manufacturers and only 50 per cent as farmers. Yet the labor of all Is as truly farm labor as before. Itsobj _tive point is the wheat harvest and it is expended for that only. Part of it has changed its place, that is all; yet no one thinks that when a farmer helps a neighbor plow, sow or reap that he Is not doing farm labor because he has left his farm in order to do that labor. What has taken more men from the farm than any other one line of development is transportation. Railroad men are not classed as farmers, yet the grain car is as truly a farm vehicle as is the wagon; the engineer on the locomotive pulling a stock train, is engaged as truly in agricultural labor, as is the man that is driving a farm wagon loaded with grain to market. Quincy, 111. A Villase Reading Circle. Editors Indiana Farmer: As there app _rs to be considerable In terest In the subject of country reading circles, I will describe one wo had for several yearsin ourlittletown. Ourvillagelsnota county seat and we have no professional men or women here, excepting two or three physicians, a minister, and the four or five public school teachers, but wo formed a reading circle that was for several years a great source of entertainment, and possibly Improvement to our town ship. The teachers, ministers, doctors and a few of the citizens began the circle, but in a few months nearly every family in the village was represented. We met weekly at different private houses. We had halls and churches we might havo used, but we sought to have so- social as well as intellectual culture, and we thought we would reach the home circle quicker in this manner than in using public rooms. Our program was fro.m 7 to 9 o'clock p. m., and the hour from 9 to 10 was devoted to social conversation by the circle, and the arrangement of next -week's program by the committeo. The principal of tbe school was the president, and a committee on program was elected by ballot. We devoted evenings to different authors, the authors being selected by thecircle, also the persons on each week's program. The president and committee then arranged the details of the next week's entertainment. We had readings, recitations, essays, a short sketch of the life of the author, (this came first on the program), then followed tableaux and music, vocal and instrumental. We had no refreshments, as that would have taken so much time and trouble for the people at whose houses we met; in fact many of the very persons whom'we most wished to benefit by the circle could not in that event have "entertained the circle" at all. Occasionally some cultivated person from the Stato University, or some gifted man or jwoman whose life was entirely devoted to literary work, would entertain us, only charging their expenses. I remember one very accomplished gentleman, a most beautiful reader, gave us an evening devoted to Longfellow, which was so entertaining to the circle that, In response to a petition to that effect, he gave us several talks on his travels in Egypt and the holy land. The circle Invited the village to this entertainment, which was so well attended that our largest church could not hold the audience. It was a good advertisement of the circle, and gained us a number of members. An improvement could be made on our program, by devoting an evening now and then, to discussing kindness to animals, and temperance. The humane society and the W. C. T. U. would assist by literature and speakers on both these occasions. Laura Davis Worley. Our Washington Letter. From Our Regular Correspondent: Washington may now truthfully claim to be the headquarters of the makers of political history. Never fduring the last twenty-five years has tbere been more political activity displayed here than there is now, and it is increasing every day as the city tills up witli tho men who control the destinies of the great political parties of the country. Here will be fought, this winter, the preliminary skirmish of the great battle of 'Hi, and a great many people are beginning to think that engagement will be a triangular one, and if the combination between the labor organizations and the Farmers' Alliance, that wonderful organization which has frightened', the professional politicians nearly out of their wits, can be perfected by that time, there are certainly squalls ahead for somebody. 1 'u .lie interest Is centered in the final session of the Fifty lirst'Congress, which meets Monday, December 1st, and conjecture Is rife as to what will be done. Whatever Ib done the wothods of doing it will be highly interesting, because of the personnel of the republican House. Many of the republicans, particularly those that were nominated and defeated at the late election, feel so sore that they would be willing to adopt the most radical political legislation that could possibly be proposed, and the Speaker is generally supposed t•> be ready to aid them in every way in his power, and those who watched the legislation In the House at the last session can form a idea of what that means. But there is another element in that party headed by Mr. Blaine that will attempt to steer a more conservative course. The mattors which are certain to come up during the threo months of this short session, to say nothing of those tbat may unexpectedly be brought up, will make it notable in Congressional history. The first thing to come up in the Senate will be the Federal Flection Bill, and that it will be fought to the last extremity by the democrats is a -"certainty. Nevertheless it is beleived that it will bo passed in a mod- fled form. In the House the first thing to be taken up will be an^apportionment bill, and that will also be fought by the democrats, but it will be certain to pass in the shape that will give the republicans all the advantage j«.sslble—it would be just reversed were the democrats in the position of the republicans. The game of politics is, get all you can. The question of free coinage of Bllver is going to make a rumpus too, and the general impression is that it will be adopted, although it is still opposed by Mr. Harrison and his Secretary of the Treasury. But Is whispered that Mr. Blaine has made up his mind to bring about free coinage at this session of Congress as a special concession to the Farmers' Alliance, which he is said to be particularly anxious to conciliate. There will not be much difficulty in getting a bill through Congress, as the Senate is already on record as favoring it, and it was charged that it was trickery that defeated It in the House at tho last sassion. Another troublesome matter is that of pensions. It's bound to come up in some shape or other. It is claimed that by the end of the next fiscal year the annual payments for pensions will have reached $200- 000,000, which, added to other expenses of the Government, will amount to considerably more than our receipts. What Is to be done? Not a baker's dozen votes could be secured for repealing any portion of the pension laws, so tbat some method of Increasing our rovenups, will have to be found, tf these claims prove to be correct. But how? That's an interesting question. Some answer it, by proposing a graduated income tax, others by increasing the tax on whiskey. Bat wait until the question comes up in Congress; then you will hear some interesting things. The speakership campaign, which gets warmer and warmer, will furnish some mighty interesting political news before it is ended, and it is believed that it will also be the means of determining, to a certainty, whether Mr. Cleveland will be at the head of the next National Democratic ticket, at least that's the w ay it looks now, when the Cleveland and anti-Cleveland Democrats are at daggers' points. And it willalsohavegreateffectupon the chances of the Democratic _arty in the coming Presidential {-lection. The question of the head of the next republican Presidential ticket, will be considered this winter by the leaders of that party, and the wirepulling they will indulge in, will add much interest to Washington political gossip. Just now, Mr. Blaine lias it all his owu way, but whether lio can k_p it that way, even if he desires tho nomination, is problematical. Mr. Harrison thinks himself entitled to a re- nomination,- Sonator Sherman has not abandoned all hope; General Alger is still in tbo field, and fn-in the Pacific slope comes the news that Senator Stanford has entered the lists, and that his platform will consist solely of his proposition to loan out Government money to farmers at two per cent per annum. It has also been strongly hinted by Farmers' Alliance men here, that Mr. Stanford can haVe the support of that organization if he wants it. Take it all in all, the prospect isforlots of very lively political news this winter. Nov. 21st. Wk have received a complimentary to (ho Central Indiana Poultry and Pet S'xick Show, to be held «at North Vernon, Ind., Decemb- r 2ad to 5th, also a very neatly gotten up premium list. GBAIN IN SIGHT. The grain reported in warehouses, elevators and in transit up to November 21th was as follows: Wheat, 23,189,818 bu., an Increase of 992,007 bu; corn, 4,328,559 bu., a decrease of 1,:. !0.048 bu; oats, 3,530,280 bu., a decrease of 410,999 bu; rye, 501,901 bu., a decrease of 124,084 bu; barley, 5,095,- 909 bu., an increase of 330,52") bu. "WHEAT AHD COBN ADVANCING. The London and New York money panic depressed prices of produce, but since the recovery of confidence, wheat and corn have sharply advanced again, and will doubtless continue to advance. Wheat will go above one dollar, and " we think corn will reach 00 cents. Speculative wheat, for May, is now above a dollar, and cash wheat will go to that, and above. And so of corn on speculation, it is 55 cents and is tending to 00 for cash. THE F0H_IGN GHAIN TBADE. The Mark Lane Express, of London, Nov. 24th, in its weekly review of the British grain trade, fays; English wheats are steady at a fractional rise for fine white-*. In foreign wheats, Russian and American are Od cheaper. Indian is firm. The decline in grain in America would have similarly depressed prices here but for tho rise in freights. Barley, rye and peas are quiet. American corn Is 5d per ton dearer. European is unchanged. At to-day's markets English wheats were slow of sale. Foreign dropped Od. Flour, especially American, was firm with an upward tendency. American corn was steady. Oats were firm. Rye .was 3d dearer. |
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