Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1873 — NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONGRESS.

SECOND DAY. Some new delegates were admitted. A report ivas adopted providing for the soliciting of the co-operation of all the farmers’ clubs and agricultural societies In the country; and that each society and dub he entitled to one delegate, no matter how small the dub, aud all State agricultural societies to two delegates, the entrance fee to be fixed by the Committee on Finance. * —,— _ Several resolutions relating to transportation, etc., were offered and referred. Resolutions.in favor of the Morrill landgrant bill, and providing for the appointment of a committee to memorialize Congress in its behalf, were debated and laid on tbe table to be called up at the pleasure of the Congress. The resolution condemning the Eight-hour -law and requesting Congress, to; repeMlLwas, after discussion, voted down by a large ityA resolution To 'appoint a oD'mmittee of three to confer with the railroads, and solicit the usual reduced fare courtesies to the members of the Congress, was debated and finally defeated— 3o to 26—many not voting. The Committee on transportation made the following report: The cheap transportation of persons and property is a national necessity. Oar country is Immense, and ils climate, productions and wants very varied and diverse in its different parts. The eminent thinker,Dr. Draper, in his “Civil Policy of America,” has stated that he regards cheap transportation, even looking at it simply as a means of commingling, fraternizing, and unifying our population aH a national necessity. Even more true, if possible, is me statement that the greatest good of the masseß of the people is to be subserved by furnishing all articles whose production is local, but whose consumption isjjeneratoind necessary, at the possible cost of transportation. Eight States in the Northwest produced 800,000,000 bushels of cereals in 1872—50 bushels for every man, woman and cTifld of Its population, and enough, properly distributed. to feed the whole 40.000,000 of the nation, while the East had not grain enough to last her more than three months of the year, and the four Southern States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida required 80,000.000 of bushels more grain than they grew. Pennsylvania has cxhaustiess mines of coal. Massachusetts, with her immense factories, has none. The Southern States have a soil eminently adapted to the production of cotton and sugar, articles sought and needed by all portions of the more Northern States. Missouri has her immense mines of iron, whoso manufacture and use goes everywhere. The Pacific Coast has her mines, her wheat, and her minerals, valuable to all. To fetch and carry these raw products, and the secondary products of their manufacture, from producer to consumer, at the lowest cost, is the most worthy and most desirable object of the day. It will remove an oppressive burden that now rests like an incubus upon the producing interests of the country, and give cheap food, cheap fuel, and cheap clothing to the people everywhere. In examining -Into thhmahieei we-find-that in- the first place the present avenues for freight and transportation are insufficient, or at least as now organized and operated do not do their proper work. Our water routes are obstructed by falls and rapids that are not overcome: by shoals and sand-hars that are not removed, and for mouths of the year are blockaded by ice or by low water. The railways, being used both for passenger and freight transportation, can carry only relatively small amounts of freight, and both water and railway routes arc blocked by an insufficiency of warehouses, elevators, and other modes .of transferring freight at om- principal inland and seaboard cities. We find, moreover, that rates charged by transportation companies are exorbitant, as compared with the necessary cost, and are even prohibitory in their character at points remote from the great markets. While Mr. Quincy and Mr. It. IT Ferguson have demonstrated that it ia’ possible to carry a bushel of gram from St. Louis or Chicago to the seaboard by rail for 6 cents, and we believe 10 cents is ample to do so, the statistics show that during the last five years the charges for such carriage have averaged over 31 cents from Chicago and over 37 cents from 9t. Louis, or from three to five times the necessary cost. The rates by water, whilst considerably lower, are still much above the necessary cost, and in the northern part of the country are not in operation during (he winter season. The charges of elevators and other warehouses have at many points been also exorbitant aud oppressive. Thus, in seasons of plenty, the producer finds the price of his prodnets reduced below the cost of - production, aud in seasons of scarcity the consumers must pay unwarrantable and unbearable prices for tbe necessaries of life. Not only this, but inasmuch as the seaboard prices, except in cities of local scarcity, fix the producer's prices at his own locality, the result is that the high prices of freight are a cause of loss to the producer, even upon what he sells at home. With au inimeuse region of wheat and other grain-growing country opening np in the Northwest, these evils to our special farming interests threaten to he greatly aggravated and increased in the future. We may add that the unjust discriminations of railroad corporations have aggravated and intensified this evil, Discriminations are unduly exciting aud building up the prosperity of competing points, and depressing and destroying that or other points. Real estate is depreciated, manufactures and agriculture languish, and the country is even becoming depopulated by reason of unjust dis--Xnminaiinns, 1 11 view of these facts, yonr Committee believe that due encouragement should be given to the opening of new routes, and the improvement of old one-, so as to furnish transportaliun at cheap rates between aH parts of the republic. Among these, we would call attention to the following, which from a cursory examination, seem to have more or less merit: The Niagara Ship Canal; the Caugliuawaga'S Champlain Canal route from the St. Lawrence - to New York: the Fox River Canal, of Wisconsin; the James River & Kanawha through water line: the Illinois <fc Michigan Canal and Ihe Illinois River improvement; the Atlantic * Great Western Canal, and the Mississippi and Apalachicola Canal along the Gulf coast. The Southern Pacific and the Northern Pacific Railroads are already aided by grants of lands, and their construction it is believed secured, and we believe will be important means of relieving the pressure of transcontinental transportation. The scheme of the Eastern & Western Transportation Company also promises a valuable new through route from the Northwest to the Atlantic. We call attention to and ask an investigation of the merits Of the narrow-gauge railroads, as much cheaper in their construction and operation than the Existing railways; of freight tracks or railways adapted especially to cheap transportation, and of tram railways laid upon the common highways of the country, which we believe can be done at a cost not exceeding that of macadamized roads. We recommend that efforts ,be made and persevered in until all railway corporations shall be subject, to the regulation of the General aud State Governments, so aB to insure the absolute and perpetual prohibition and prevention of extortionate charges and unjust dis--erHamarions. We recommend that all men who believe the rights of the people should be protected from the extortions and discriminations of transportation monopolies should unite in reforming the x Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Deragtinents of our National aud State Governments hyexciuding therefrom the proprietors and servants of such monopolies. We deprecate, finally, the practice of the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative officers in accepting favors from transportation corporations, whose interests are more or less in conflict with those of the people whom snch officers were elected to serve. The following resolutions were presented: Whereas, We recognize the raiiroads of the ,country as an effective means of developing its agricultural resources,'and a« having' an Interest m common and inseparable with the country through which they pass; arid Whereas, We have in times past fostered and aided them hv liberal charters and concessions, made by public and private parties, and still desire to encourage further development of the railway system: therefore. Resolved, That a fair degree of reciprocity would suggest that corporations having a common interest and public Hid should in turn endeavor to subserve the interests of the country through which they pass by charging fair rates for freight, and by the equitable and just treatment of all points along their lines. Resolved, That, on the contrary, railroad corporations in many instances have been exorbitant in their charges', have discriminated unjustly between localities, and have failed to respond to the generous grants of power and moneys that have been given them by onr National and local Governments. ‘ Resolved. That the system adopted and now practiced in the building' of railroads, the soliciting of st ock subscriptions froin individuals, corpora tionsand counties, and after receiving these subsidies to depress the value of said stock by forcing it upon the market and depressing its value to such an extent as to enable a few speculators to have control of the road, thereby depriving those who aided in its construction of aH voice in its management, increasing its cost four or five times above the amount it would have cost if those managing it in the outset had had the foresight to have hadjthe funds od hand at the start to build and equip the road, then requiring the pfhdflcer and* shipper to pay dividends upon the fictitious cost by charging excessive freight and passenger tariffs, operates most injuriously to the best interests of the farming class; and calls loudly for reform and restraint by adequate legislation. Resolved. That we recommend all farmers to withhold their votes and their aid from railway corporations, unless it he faliy conceded that corporations so aided are subject to regulations hv the power incorporating them, and will not. after receiving the advantages conferred hv public authority, claim the immunities of a private corporation. Resolved, That we indorse, and will support, the doctrine promulgated by some of OU# courts, that a railway corporation receiving and exercising the Slate’s right of eminent domain, and receiving aid raised by taxation from public authorities, has thereby accepted and admitted itself to he a corporation with a public function and subject to the power from which it has received it* charter in the limitation of its rates: and Resolved. That a railway being practically a monopoly. controlling the transportation of nearly all the country through which it passes, and that com. petition, except at-a few points, cannot be relied on to fix rates, that therefore It becomes the duty of the State to fix reasonable and medium rates, affording a fair remuneration to the transporters.and without being an onerous charge to the producer and oonsuiner. . , 1 • Resolved, That inasmuch as Belgium has succeeded in regulating the rates upon railways bv ' government lines, we ask an investigation of-Jhe proposition to control the rate* upon esie ting oil- ■■■ V

ways by trank linee, and controlled by the State authorities, and ran at uniform and cheap rates. Resolved, That the consolidation of parallel linns of railways is contrary to public policy, and should be prohibited by law. . Resolved, That whenever auMjaray corporation owns or controls a line or litres in two or more States,it la the right and duty of the General Government to regulate the rates of freight and fares upon such lines, under the constitutional power to regulate commerce between tbe States. Resolved, That we recommend a thorough qrganizn’lon of local, county and State organizations for the purpose of reforming these great abuses, and dealing equal and exact justice to ail men. Considerable discussion of the report ensued, when it was recommitted to the Committee, and returned, with amendments striking out the estimate of Quincy and Ferguson, and making the paragraph referring to Legislative control read as follows: “Railway corporations shall be subject to legislative control, so as,” etc. After a lengthy discussion the report as amended was adopted. , The Committee also recommended the adoptlon of a resolution enflorslngtlie James River and Kanawha Canal in connection with the improvement of the Ohio and Kanawha River*, and requesting: 'Congress to make appropriations therefor. The resolutions presented and recommended by the Committee were then unanimously adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President—W. H. Jackson, of Tennessee. Vice-Presidents —D. Spurr, of Kentucky; A. Boyd,of Pennsylvania; Governor R. W. Furness, Nebraska; General Meredith, Indiana; W. Lawton, South Carolina; A. M." Garland, Illinois; Colonel Charleton, Tennessee; Norman Coleman, Mo.; J. K. Hudson, Kan.; C. C. Langdon, Ala.; Eli Wilson, Wis.; Column Younger, California; O. H. Jones, Georgia; G. M. Milliken, Ohio; O. S. Bliss, Vermont; W. S. King, Minn.; M. W. Phillips, Mississippi; W. N.Byers, Colorado; H.jL Walker, West Virginia; Henry E. Peyton, Virginia. Secretary—Charles VV. Greene, Term.; Treasurer—Joseph Pool, Indiana, The Congress decided to hold the next annual meeting on thesecond Tuesday in May, 1874, at Atlanta. Adjourned to the 30th. THIRD DAY. The Meteorological and Crop Report Committee presented resolutions/ which were adopted—approving the meteorological reports now furnished from Washington; urging upon Congress the extension of the system, so that the farmers could receive daily reports at all post-offices and railway stations; recognizing the importance of at national system of crop reports; indorsing the plan laid down by the late Commodore Maury, and providing for urging these points on the Government. A motion was made to take from the table the resolutions relative to donating public lands to Agricultural Colleges, but there was a large majority against the motion, and the resolutions were undisturbed. Resolutions were adopted regretting the death of Commodore Maury, pf Virginia, and Mr. McAllister, of Pennsylvania, late members of the Congress. The Constitution was amended so that each regularly-orgaiiized agricultural, horticultural, or other kindred association contributing $5 or more to the support of the Congress should be entitled to one representative, and establishing hereafter standing committees of the Congress. A motion to indorse the Western and Eastern Transportation scheme, being a railroad from Leavenworth, Kansas, to Port Royal, S. e., was reported to the Transportation Committee to report to the next Congress. General Jackson, of Tennessee, tbe new President, was installed, and, after returning thanks, said that, after a long period of apathy and criminal neglect of the most important interest of the nation, the cultivators of the soil, North and South, East and West, by cooperation with each other, had set on foot and fully organized the National Congress. Twenty-five States of the Union were represented at the meeting. They recognized in the Congress as constituted every form of society having for its purpose the advancement of agriculture and the protection of the farmer, whether known as Farmers’ Clubs, Associations, Gran ges of Husbandry, Farmers’ Unions, or by whatever name they might be designated. The representatives of these, including the National and State Boards of Agriculture aud Agricultural Colleges, would meet in the Congress on the common ground, to consult upon subjects of public import, and compare interests, and for mutual advancement and self-protection. Heretofore they had been an army at rout, each one for himself aud to himself, oftentimes pulling opposite directions, thereby neutralizing their strength. Their plan was simple, possible and feasible. By it the farmers of this broad land could exert the influeuce and power to which their aggregate numbers, about onehalf the population of America, their preperty, interests, and importance entitled-them. They should work up their States, and the watchword in all forms of Farmers’ Unions should be “Organize and Harmonize.” [Applause.] The Congress adjourned to meet at Atlanta, Ga., in May, 1874.