VOL. XXIV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., JULY 13,1889.
NO. 28
Farmers' Trading Oombinatlons.
Xdltors Indiana Farmer:
The following extract which has simultaneously appeared in Chicago and other
city papers, and is still going the rounds
of the press, was copied from the Farmer
of Jane 29, viz.:
"Merchants in Posey and adjaoent
counties complain that a combination of
farmers in that section of the State is having serious effects upon their business.
The farmers combine and agree to purchase from only one store in town, the
owner agreeing to sell at a net profit of 10
per cent. The farmers reserve the right
to examine his books and invoices. In
some instances dealers have obtained two
invoices—one true, the other false—to
show the farmers' committee. If the
combination continues, which it probably
will, a number of merchants will be compelled to leave for other fields of business.
Already there has been a serious embarrassment in consequence of this attempt
to destroy competition."
Now the injustloe of the above tirade is
self evident. The thing is trumped together to show a conspiracy to destroy
competition, whereas in truth it is only a
small farmers' organization to invite
competition between dealers, and buy
from the lowest bidder, thus destroying
not competition, but offensive combination. Again the Item by impllcatiot
teaches that farmers have no commercial
rights in buying and selling, only such as
are given to them by the city dealers.
The latter claims to fix all prices, both on
what the poor farmer buys and sells. It
also covertly teaches the anarchist doctrine, that farmers owe every rascally
merchant a living.
In the name of common sense whose
business is it to interfere or say aught in
a plain matter of trade between a merchant and his customers? Is it indeed a
crime for a few citizens to club together
and buy their necessaries at wholesale or
jobbers'pricesT The criticisms of -possibly a hundred leading newspapers within
the past 10 days would indicate that it is
very wrong for farmers, but all right for
persons in other occupations.
They say "it seriously embarrasses the
other merchants." Oood heavensl
Memories of Washington, Jefferson and
other farmers of pioneer fame, Is It true
that in this Centennial year, agriculture
is so degraded that a little circle of toiling
husbandmen dare not contract with any
one merchant, except the conditions of
the bargain are made satisfactory to all
the other merchants of the town? That
is just what they say thistJuly 4th, 1889.
Now it is really none of tbe other disgruntled merchants' business to interfere
with whomsoever the Posey county farmers buy their materials, and the merchants who violated their contract on
fraudulent vouchers should be turned
over to the grand jury and punished to
the extent of the law.
This country does not owe anybody a
living. It there are more merchants in
that county than the profits of the farms
will reasonably support, then let some of
them move off and go West. There are
hundreds of otber agricultural communities where mortgaged farmers would sacrifice everything to protect mercantile
monopolies and enrioh the trusts. Those
are the farmers and theirs the proper locations, that high profit traders should
seek.
By the way, only a few days ago, several of those same daily papers have similarly printed the statement that the publishers of Indianapolis are perfecting a
purchasing agenoy for buying ink, paper
and printing materials in wholesale lots
direct from the manufacturers. They say
that they can buy their materials cheaper
in large orders through one agent, than
*y each firm  making Individual pur
chases. Yet not a word is said about "embarrassing the home merchants" or "driving them to other fields of business." It
makes a difference whose ox is gored.
The odium of cheap buying attaohes not
to city business, but to grangers' business
only.
Lst not organized farmers be intimidated, brow beaten or bulldozed. Continue to buy and sell j ast as you please,
and withal jast as freely as other persons
buy and Bell, to wit: in your most available market, wherever, whenever and of
whomsoever you can get the best accommodations, regardless of unfriendly circumstances, for who dare object? Farmers have rights that persons in other occupations are bound to respect. Lst the
lazy, lounging, eight-hours-a-day-sitting-
on-a-store-box-traders, who expect farmers to support them in idleness and luxury, move out lf they will, and give the
invoice swindlers free tickets to the penitentiary.
That merchants will swindle and deceive as already admitted and confessed,
is the best evidence in the world that
farmers should organize for their own
protection. Wm  M. Blackstock.
Lafayette.
—The item copied from our paper was
taken by us from some exchange in the
Section of the State referred to. We regret
that our correspondent did not quote our
word of comment upon it whioh was as
follows:
This is the result we predicted some
time ago. The farmers who enter into
this combination must decide between inflicting this damage and possible ruin on
their small trading towns, and paying the
usual prices demanded far goods at such
E laces.   It is a serious question and should
e carefully considered.
We still believe that farmers' organizations—for it Is the F. M. B. A. that Is referred to—should enter into these trade
enterprises cautiously, and should remember that in doing so they are bringing serious injury upon the Bmall trading
towns. More than this,they may be helping to build up monopolies, which Mr. B.
would certainly ob j act to as unwise and
detrimental to the interests of the farmers
themselves. The principle that free competition will regulate prices is an old and
safe one. Farmers demand fair, living
prices for their products and they are
willing to pay such prices for manufactured goods. They do not wish nor expect merchants and manufacturers to sell
to them at a loss. So where dealers are
fair and reasonable their business should
not be destroyed by combinations with
competitors. We do not refer here to
cases where trusts and syndicates are
made to keep prices beyond their proper
level, as is often done by dealers, but only
to fair, legitimate trade, which we contend
should not be interfered with, on the
ground of the farmers' own interests as
well as of common justice.
As to the statement that publishers of
this city have combined to buy paper etc,
it is the first we have heard of it, but we
think the combination would be justified
in so far as the papar la concerned, on ao-
count ef the syndicate formed by paper-
makers to keep up prices by preventing
competition. When dealers and manufacturers combine to hold prices on goods
sold to farmers above the normal level
they should organize to meet the injustice
in like manner.
We refer Mr. B. to a letter that appears elsewhere in this number, headed
"Successful Farming," for our idea ol the
proper and sensible method of promoting
the farmers' prosperity.—Eds.
 » * »-
The strikes In Germany are waning,
starvation forcing the strikers to yield.
In Berlin 3,000 masons resumed work on
the Sth. The police are obliged to protect
workmen coming trom the oountry
against the attacks of striken.
Successful Farming.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I was pleased with your reference last
week to the successful farming by Mr.
Mount, of Montgomery county. I have
heard before of his success and excellent
judgment in managing his farm matters,
and this 1% a good example to hold up for
imitation of other farmers. Some years
ago I had a neighbor whose farm laid
along side of mine. The land of both
was alike in quality and productiveness.
For five or six years my neighbor grew
poorer and poorer. He had 80 acres more
land than I had, and no greater expense in
family. At the end of five or six years he
had to place a mortgage on his land to
make ends meet. He complained at the
merchants, bankers and public officers as
robbers, and put the fault of his poverty
and indebtedness all on others. Dnrlng
this same time I paid ofl the balance of
my purchase money on my farm
and accumulated some property and
money besides. I found in my farm accounts carefully kep<*, that I had made a
fraction over 10 per cent at farming, while
my neighbor said he had lost heavily.
Why this difference? It was not all in
mos ole and brawn. My neighbor bought
two plows to my one for the same quantity of land, and other farm tools in the
same proportion. They laid ln tho
weather and rusted and rotted, while
mine were kept dry and bright. He read
the political papers instead of papers in
his own line, and became an able politi-
cian,butdld not keep up his farming ideas.
He was so absorbed about other matters
that did not pertain to his own calling
that he did not know when it was best to
sell or buy. His barn yard piles of
manure went to waste year after year,and
mine went into a bigger crop than he ever
could grow.
I tell you, Mr. Editor, nine times out of
ten the troubles of farmers are brought on
by themselves and not by others. They
look away at other classes and put all the
fault at their doors, when the most of it
is at home. Other classes are selfish, and
will do the best for themselves, and drive
the best bargains they can, but farmers
will do that also, for it's human nature to
do the best we all can. But I do not believe in piling the causa of troubles on
others when the fault is our own. Lst us
mend our own ways, and with good judgment and business ways, like business
men, we will hear less complaining at
others, and see more happiness and prosperity, like that found on the farm of
Mr. Mount. G. W.
Fulton Co.
Written lor the Indiana Farmer,
Farm Barns.
BT MIELLO,
I see you ask for some plans suitable
for building barns. Too much light can
hardly be given on the best methods of
constructing farm buildings.
A barn of most any design is a matter of
great worth in providing shelter for hay,
grain and live stook, but in the construction of farm buildings one of the most
important points is to plan for simplicity
and convenience.
As a rule farmers commit themselves to
the popular method of seleoting their
bullding sites on the most elevated place
near the road or highway. In some few
instances I have seen such situations that
were naturally perfect, for comfort and
convenience in caring for the live stock,
but in the majority they are situated so as
to be a never ending round of labor iu getting the stook to and from the barn, stabling, feeding and watering. The water
supply ls generally an after consideration,
and its value is not taken into consideration when arranging for the future welfare
o( the animals. The feed is hauled up to the
highest spot on the farm,while the water
is from a few rods to a quarter of a mile
away, which necessitates a vast amount
of inconvenience.
These farms are situation so as to be entirely dependent on artificial means in
f urc Uhlng water for stock. I would first
ascertain in what way the water supp ly
was to be had. If wells, pumps and wind
engines were to be the only means for
furnishing such, I would locate them at or
near tho point of greatest elevation, of a
gently ascending grade, and in support of
well and tanks, and pipes would excavate
a place on this elevation at least 50x100
feet, and six or eight feet deep, carefully
fenced in, so that a good supply of water
conld be stored there for emergencies by
connecting pipes from the well and tanks.
By being situated at a suitable elevation,
water can be carried in pipes to any point
below this at little cost.
If we were then to plan and build our
barn a little below the lower level of the
water supply, water could be conveyed by
pipes lmide the barn, and in lots adjoining, affording comfort and convenience
that could hardly be obtained so cheaply
and easily in any other way.
If I were to suggest any plans for building a general farm or stock barn it would
include, first, consideration of the water
supply in some such manner as the above;
a southern and eastern exposure of barn,
and a half or sub-basement so as to In-
olude the stabling, with yards adj olulng tor
keeping several kinds of stock separate.
Would want an elevated driveway, but
with as little slope as possible, which
should lead from the front lot and only
used for a road way and grass plat.
The advantages we have of improved
implements for storing hay and grain, enables us to get more under one roof, by
adding to the hight of the building, with
less width and as mu .h length as desired.
The second floor can be used to advantage
partly as room for loaded wagons in mowing hay, and partly for storing oorn fodder and for grain bins, eto , with spouts
and shoots for conveying grain and feed
to feed ways below in front of the animals.
In regard to the water supply, I have
found lt more labor in proportion, to get-
stock comfortably watered than the feed- *
ing, especially when the stook is stalled,
as I built before considering the advantages of bringing water directly into the
barn. However, I have learned something from my mistakes, and would not
withhold a suggestion that could be turned to profit.
After having expended nearly ?500 for a
driven well, wind engine, tanks, pipes,
etc., I soon saw that accident, calms and
the like were liable to give us much
trouble and labor at times, and I had an
excavation made some 300 feet above the
well and barns, to be supplied from the
well, and in turn to supply the stock
tanks from the pool or reservoir, incase of
accident to the well. The latter has come,
sure enough, as we had lifted the pump
rods for putting on a new valve leather
and a small piece of iron was dropped in,
and the more the well tools were used the
worse it made it, until a part of the pump
rods and pieces of tools are tightly wedged
in the well tubing a good ways down and
in all probability ruined the well entirely.
Bat for our reservoir we would have been
badly in the lurch for stock water many a
day the past and present season. I say it
is well to look out for maintaining the
water supply, and in such a way that
comfort and convenience are assured.
Upland.
The exportB of wheat and oorn from all
American ports and Montreal, from Sept
1,1888, to June 15,1889, were 62,902,000
bushels wheat and 60,915,000 bushels oorn,
as compared with 84,414,000 bushels wheat
and 21,600,000 bushels oorn same time
1887-S.    •   .      -.