Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1891 — THE FUTURE OF THE FARMER. [ARTICLE]

THE FUTURE OF THE FARMER.

Sever Was the Prospect of the American Agriculturist so Bright**! Horae Market. Milwaukee Sentinel. The American former has a splendid future and it is near. There is nothing doubtful in the prospect. It is as certain as the multiplication table. Nothing could be more unreasonable, more insane, than the expectation that the prices of farm products could stand at a profitable figure when the increase in production became out of all proportion to the increase of population and to the ability of other countries to buy. No industry on earth ever increased as rapidly as wheat culture in the fourteen years from 1866. The i acreage per capita in wheat in 1866 was 0.43 and in 1880 it was I 0.86: The requirment for domesI tic consumption is 0.48 per capita.

From 1870 to 1880 the increase in the annual wheat market production was over 80 per cent., while the increase in population was only : 30 per cent. Thera was almost the same ratio of increase in wheat acreage and production in India at the same time. That the prices of farm products should decrease and farm values should depreciate was inevitable.

The limit of agricultural extension has been nearly reached. The acreage and production per capita is decreasing and hab been deereasing for five years. Last year the acreage per capita iu all staples had fallen from 3.52 in 1885 to 3.35, and the wheat acreage per capita from 0.62 to 0.59. Tracing it year by year, there is found a steady increase in the proportionate acreage of all staples up to 1885 aud a steady increase since. At the present rate of population growth, and with no higher rate of increase in farm extension, the production of all staples in 1895 in this country will be barely enough to supply the home demand. If the statistics are trustworthy, as they are believed to be, there is no escape from this conclusion, which has been reached by Mr. C. Wood Davis, a Kansas farmer who has not become an advocate of government aid to farmers. He has no trouble in tracing the chief cause of the agricultural depression. At the very most there is needed but 3.16 acres (for all staple crops) per capita. In 1885 there was actually under cultivation 3.52 acres per capita, with wheat acreage in excess. This surplus acreage has been reduced in its per capita relations over twofifths in the past five years, “and will, from the increase in population and the constantly lessening rate of increase in cultivated acres, wholly disappear before 1896.” W ith a population of about 70,000,000 in 1895, the requi rments for home consumption and to meet the foreign demand fur cotton will make it necessary to employ 221,200, 000 acres in the growing of staple crops, without the exportation of a pound of foodstuff. There are now employed 221,000, 000 acres, and, with the rate of increase of the past five y ears, we shall still lack 1,200,000 acres to supply our own demands. “Such change,” concludes Mr. Davis, “is impending, and cannot be postponed beyond 1895 unless population shall cease to increase or the average standard-us living 7 shall be reduced greatly; and when this inevitable change comes, the era of cheap bread and world-wide agricultural depression will end, and the price of wheat and all other farm products reach a higher level than that known during and immediately after the American civil war.”

Ladies’ genuine hand-turned shoe $2.50 to $5, at Hemphill & Honan’s. ——.* - > Everything clean and new. Dry Goods, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Boots and shoes. Ellis A Murray. Move Sept. Ist. Bring in your Watches, Clocks and Jewelry and have them repaired in workmanlike maimer and warranted by H. J. Rossbacher, at F. B. Myers’ drug store. -- 1t Great drive in lawns, challies, India-linen Bouncings, etc. etc. Do not miss this golden opportunity to procure a real bargain. R. Fendig. As I have taken the agency for the Rockford Watch, and have just received a big stock of their movements. I will offer Tor the next ten days Special Prices on these celebrated Watches. H. J. Rossbacher. With Frank B. Meyer. Hello! Now look here! Why ask your friend what time it is when you can buy a Fine Stem-Wind Elgin or Waltham Watch for almost nothing, at H. J. Rossbacher’s. Please call and settle your account at once. We need the money to settle our bills. Your accounts may be small but a hundred such, amounts to considerable to us. Hemphill A Honan.