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A VERY FAIR
COMPARISON
OF THE
RELATIVE CONDITION OF FARMERS
IN
NEW YORK STATE AND THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO,
MADE BY
An Influential and Impartial Committee
of the County of Leeds.
>?f J
The CONCLUSION ARRIVED AT:
" From all we could learn we found that farmers in Jefferson
and St. Lawrence Counties, where we visited, pay as much or
more for what they have to purchase and get no more for the
produce they have to sell than do farmers in the County of
Leeds. We also found that they are not any more prosperous,
and ftom all we could gather are more heavilyKmortgaged than
farmers in the County of Leeds. We also found that well
improved farms of the very best of soil, £ree from broken lands,
and lying within from two to ten miles of the city of Ogdens-
burg, as well as in other localities ivhere we made enquiries,
can be purchased much cheaper than lands of the same quality
with same improvements similarly situated in the County ot
Leeds ; that lands have depreciated in value more in the last
%en years in St. Lawrence ard Jefferson Counties than similarly
situated lands in the County of Leeds."
During the lasst sessiou of Parliament the position of the Canadian farmer as
compared vvitli hi.s lirother farmer in tlie United States attracted a j<ood deal of
attention, especially with respect to the articles of binder twine and coal oil — the duty
on both of which articles was materially reduced by the Government. The f^eneral
contention of the Opposition was, in effect, that the operation of the National Policy
was to increase to the farmer the cost of those articles he was obliged to purchase,
and to Aossen the prices which he could obtain for the farm and other articles he pro-
duced. It was further argued by Sir Richard Cartwright and other Opposition
orators that the value of the fE,rm lands had greatly declined or. account of the adop-
tion of a Protective policy in 1879 ; that mortgages had increased ; that the general
condition of the farmer in Canada was worse than it was in the United States, and
that the only remedy for such a state of things was closer trade relations with the
United States, whereby the Canadian fanner would have access to their " market of
sixty-five millions," and he able to get more for lii-s prodnce and pay less for iniple-.
nients, clothing and other articles required by liini. On the other hand it was argued
by .su])p()rters of the National Policy that tlie success of that policy was shown by
the general i)rosperity of Canada at a time when a wave of commercial depression
was sweej)ing over Free Trade Great Britain, as well as the United States, whose
tariir is nearly twice as liigh as that of Canada ; that the general condition of the
Canadian farmer was lietter than that of the farmer in either Great Britain or the
United States, and that it was not true tluit the farmers in the United States paid
less for their agricultural implements, clothing, etc., than did the farmers of Canada,
nor did they obtain lietter prices for their produce. While this Imttle was l)eing
fouglit out theoretically it occurred to Mr. George Taylor, M.P. for South Leeds, that
it would be a good idea to put tlie question of tlie relative conditions of the farmers
in contiguous portions of the United States and Canada to a practical test, by having
vhose conditions compared by practical and impartial judges who would enquire
fully into tlie matter and report thereon from their personal experiei.ces. With the
object of makiug such a comparison he addressed a letter to a meeting of his con-
stituents, from wliich the following extract is taken : —
Mr. TAYLORS PROPOSITION.
Ottawa, 27th February, 1898.
Genti.kmen, —
* * * " Anotlier matter which I would suggest and ask the Council to approve
of and assist in carrying out is this : >
" As there is a great deal of talk at present about Free Trade, or freer trade
relations, Unrestricted Reciprocity, Connnercial or Political Union, or as the latest
platform, proposed by Sir Richard Cartwright in his amenclment now before the
House, viz. : Tariff Reform, and as you will have seen the Government proposition
is (as made by the Minister of Finance in his budget speech) that a general revision
of the tariff shall take place next year on the National Policy or protection lines, to
all our industries, manufacturing and agricultural, with the view of reducing and
equalising the burdens of the people, so far as is possible, without resorting to direct
taxation, in order to successfully carry on the business of the country, and that in
the meantime, the Minister -)f Finance, the Minister of Trade and Commerce,
together with the Comptrollers of Customs and Inland Revenue, will visit all the
manufacturing centres and agricultural districts to discuss with the people the
whole question and receive suggestions, etc.., etc., and as I expect them to visit our
county, where they will spend a day or two to meet the manufacturers and farmers,
■■*k
and in order that we may, from a farmer's point of view, discuss matters intelli-
gently and with a full knowledge of the situation, I suggest that a committee of two
l»e appointed to selec' one man from each township in South Leeds, and that the
most reliable, practical, common sense men be selected, and in the selection, I would
SUGGEST THAT ONE OR TWO REFORMERS BE CHOSEV.
am' that all are men who are able to express their opinions in public; and in
selecting to take one who is well up to the cheese and butter industry, another iii
stock, another in mercantile pursuits, another mi farm implements, another in
fruits and vegetables, &c., &c., so that all classes may fairly be represented ; and I
want it so an-anged that the men thus selected will meet me say early in June. We
will then cross over the river to Clayton and drive through the country as far as
Ogdensburg, calling at farm houses, stores, cheese factories, and learn how land
compares in value with ours, also horses, cattle, sheep, pork, eggs, fruits, butter,
cheese, grains, roots, &c., S^c. ; the taxes paid by farmers there as compared with
ours ; the prices of farm machinery, waggons, buggies, groceries, cottons, woollens,
clothing, &c., &c., and the prices paid to laborers, &c. ; and to see generally if the
farmers who have the benefit of the ()5,(K)(),00() market are more prosperous than we
are in Canadu. How lands and personal property stand as to mortgages, &c., and
to generally gather such information as to be able to advise the Government where
changes, if any, can be made that will benefit the agricultural interest of the
Canadian farmer. I may add that all I want is that good practical men be selected
in wliom their neighbors will have confidence when they make their report, to come
with me, as I will pay the expenses of the trip in order to be able to gather this
information, and to be in a position to represent properly the views of my consti-
tuents to the (rovernment in any changes that may be suggested. I may say also
that I will expect this Committee to meet the members of the Government when
they visit Gananoque. I suggest this course and hope it will meet with your
approval."
I am.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) G. TAYLOR.
THE LIBERALS BACK OUT.
It will be noticed that the proposal made was a perfectly fair one. The portions
of the United States Mr. Taylor proposed to visit are the counties of Jefferson and
St. Lawrence, in the large and populous State of New York, which State alone
6
contains a uroatiT population tlian tlie whole of Canada. TIioho co\inti«>H lie almost
due Houth of the County of Leeds, with the St. Lawrence river l)etween. They have
pnu'tically the same soil and climate as the County of Leeds, and the pursaitx are
almost precisely the same, namely afrficnltnre and dairying, with some mann'
factnring. The advautajje, such a." it is, lies witli the New York counties, is their
population is more dense than that of iiceds, and the towns in them are larger than
the towns in the Canadian cotmty. In ordi'r that there may he no charge of political
bias In the investigation, Mr. Taylor suggested that " onli or two Reformers he
chosen," which was done. Tl»e gentlemen selected were practical men of good
standing in tlie community, whose testimony wouhl have heen unimpeachal)le.
Unfortunately, these gentlemen attended the Liberal Convention held at Ottawa, on
the 20th and 21st .rune, an<l on their return home, bucked Hqiiurely out of their
eiiKaKeiiiont and declined to he members of the Committee. The reason assigned
for this was, that if they went they would feel in honor hound to report truthfully
on what they saw, and if this happened to be unfavorable to the position taken by
the Liberals, tliey would be accused of being traitors to their party. It is to be
regretted that these gentlemen allowed themselves to be inthienced by their party
leaders; but the fact that such inlluence was used is very conclusive evidence that
those party leaders had no desire to ascertain the truth or falsity of their statements
that the American farmer was more prosjierous than his Canadian brother, and that
they feared that free and imjiurtial investigation would show that thepe were no
grounds for any such conteiition, but that, on the contrary, the position of the Can-
adian farmer was, on the whole, better than that of his neighbor to the south of him.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
After the defection of the Liberals selected. Conservatives were appointed in
their places, and the Conunittee was finally constituted as follows : Andrew Gray,
Esq., farmer and Warden of the united counties of Leeds and Grenville ; John A.
Webster, Esq., farmer, Reeve of the front of Leeds and Lansdowne • John Connor,
fanner and cheese manufacturer ; Alexander Atcheson, farmer, President of the
South Leeds Agricultural Association ; John Roddick, miller and farmer, ex-Reeve
of Leeds and Lansdowne (rear) ; Thomas Berney, agricultural implement dealer, ex-
Reeve of rear of Young and Eascott ; John Franklin, farmer and. President of the
Farmers' institute for Brockville Rining ; E. Q. Adams, Esq., farmer and implement
dealer, ex-Reeve of North Crosby, and John R. Dargavel, general merchant and
Township Clerk for South Crosby. These gentlemen spent three days with Mr. Taylor
in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties, and have presented the following report,
which is given in full, merely omitting Mr. Taylor's letter,whioh is given above, and
which is quoted in thereport :
L
BROnRVlLi.K. 7th .Itily, 1M«.
To Geoff/e Taylor, Esq., M.P.,
South Leeds.
Dkar Sir,—
We, the (U'lo^Htos Hflectiul, whose iiaineH are lioreto annexed, met you as agreed
at Brockville on tlie 4th day of .Inly and proceeded with you to Ogdensburg, and
spent tluTc ((ays (h-ivhiK through diirerciit portions of the liest fanning and dairying
sections in St. Lawrence and Jed'erson Covinties in the State of New Yorl<, stopped
at farm liouses, tallced witli farmers and cheese manufacturers, visited a nund)er of
stores, obtaining samples of goods and prices also, visited harness shops, agricultural
implement dealers, carriage dealers, blacksmiths' shops, etc., etc., in order to carry
out the instructions contained in yotir letter. We embody in this our repor*: to you
several interviews we had with some of the men with whom we talked. We con-
versed also with many others and found them all fairly agreed in the views of those
herein reported. From all we could loarn we round that I'arinerN in JeflTerHon
afid 8t. liawrence Counties, where we viHited, pay as much or more IVir
what they have to purchase and get no more I'or the produce they have to
sell than do I'arnierN in the County ol' Leeds. We also found tluit they are
n»>t any m«»re prosperous, and I'roni all we could ^atlier are nutre heavily
mortgaged than f'arn>ers in the <:!ounty ol" iieeds. We also found that well
improved farms t)l'the very best of soil, free from broken lands, and lyiiig
within I'roni two to ten miles of the crlty of Ogdensbur^, as well as in other
localities where we made enquiries, can be purchased much (;heaper than
landsoftlie same (|uality with same improvements similarly situate<l in
the C«>unty ofljeeds; that lands have depreciated in value nuu-e in the
last ten years in St. liawrence ami Jefferson Counties than similarly
situated lands in the County ol' lieeds. In regard to prices we found cottjn
goods of all kinds will average about the same in the United States as in Canada;
woollen goods of all kinds and clothings are very much higher in the States than in
Canada; sugar and teas are higher in the States than iii Canada; provisions about
the same ; agricultural machinery and binder twine are higher in the States than in
Canada ; waggons and buggies, considering quality, the Canadian goods are as cheap
f not cheaper than the American ; cheese furnishings are higher in the Statjfs than
in Canada, while cheese is not so high ; taxes, irrespective of school and poll taxes,
are higher in the States than in Canada ; western corn is very little, if any, used by
the farmers in the section of country visited by us for feeding purposes, farmers
using chiefly their own coarse grains. The following are some of the prices quoted
by merchants in- Ogdensburg, Hewvelton, Redwood and Clayton, New York, for
their leading articles : —
8
CANADIAN PRICES.
AMERICAN PRICES.
nnocRHiRs.
10 lbs. pfran. suRar for fl.(M» l« n
20 lbs. Bt. Muscovado HUgar. . . " 1.(k»
Japan tea from 2«o to :inc
'^'"^'k tea " ;jr>ctor,<k-
^'"»«« " :i5cto4(Je
RtiisiiiH fjjj
Prunes g^
CuiTants j^f.
^'^^^ 22 lbs. for 111.00
Oatmeal g^^p
Flour, per 100 lbs ^2.«X)
)s. Kraii. suKar for f 1.00
IH lbs. Museovado " i.oo
Japan tea Wte, 40t;, 50c, fiOc
HIack tea 70c% 8Qc and upwards
^^°"«-'*' 37c to 45c
R^iisins
10c
^''■"n«« H»c
Currants jq^.
Rice, 20 lbs for 111.00
Oatmeal ^
Flour. . $1.00 to U 05 per sack of 6f. lbs.
DRY 0OOD8.
Factory cotton, '.Mi in. 5c to 8e
Bleached cotton, m lu 8Ac to 10c
Cottonades iSg t„ 2oc
Checked gingham 7e to 10c
Spool cotton, 200 yds 4e
Cheese bandage cloth, 15 to 1(1 in 5^e
Men's suits of black worsted. .1|10 to $15
Mr. ThojMas Berney has on a suit of
tweed, maoe to order by H. H. Arnohl,
Athens, which cost him $1.5.
Factory cotton, 3(5 in 5c to TJc
Bleached cotton, ;«J in (fc to 9c
Cottonades iCc to 2(te
Checked gingham 8c to lOc
Spool cotton, 200 yds 5c
Cheese band'ge cloth, 15 to 10 in., 0§ to (Jfc
Men's s\iits of black worsted. .$15 to $22
Mr. Farley, the proprietor of the Farley
House, Redwood, had a suit of wime
material, made to order at Carthage,
trimmed the same in every way, for
which he paid $24.
This is about th. difference we found at several points in all kinds of custom
clothmg. Ladies' woollen dress goods of every description we found at least 50 per
cent. h.gher than In Canada; linen goods also arc very n.uch cheaper in Canada than
in the United States, while rubber clothing is somewhat cheaper in the United States
than in Canada.
HARDWARE.
l'''')''^ «^to90c. Scythes 50r,to65c
Hay forks, 3-tined 4oc to 50c Hay forks, 3-tine,i 40c to 50c
S^^^'^'** 65c Shovels
.80c
9
HoM 40c to fiOc
Scythi! HtmthH ' fl()c to Tim-
Hiiy niki'M lOc to Ukr
Barbed wire 4\c
CutiiailN 9 2.<W>
Wood cook Htovc iiJll.ttO to 'Jf)M
Milk cans, !«) ^als 4.(K)
AxcH 7f5c to 1 .(H)
Ilorso nails lOt;
Coal oil, Imp. (ial l:^ to 30c
Horse fork, comp'ete for 00 ft. barn,
nianilla rope ^22.00 to #2»tH)
LawnmowerH ^4.(K)
Bam door, rollerfs and track roller
Jl.OO, track Oc ft.
Iloen 30c to ;«c
Scythe Rnaths 75c
Hay rakes 16c to 20c
Barbed wire . . .Hjc
Cut nails 9 2.10
Wood cook stove !$11.0() to 25.00
Milk cans, ;^0 khIh 5.50
A.ves (lOe to IKk;
Hor.se nails 15c
Coal oil, wine j?ul 10c to 12Jc
Horse fork, sinnle, 111. 25 to l$l.nO:
complete for 60 ft. barn, *i:i(X) to
l^lO.tK), but the American truck
and fork are not nearly so good as
the Canadian.
Lawn mowers 97.00
Barn door, rollers and track i-ollers,
iKil.OO, track 7c ft.
HARNKS8.
Single |t10.(M) to $20.01)
Lt. double 20.00 to 40. (K)
Lumber 25.00 to 27.00
Single 912.50 to 925.00
Lt. double 25 (K» to 50.00
Lumber 25.00 to .35.00
IMI'LKMENTS.
Best binders $100. (H) to 9110.00
Reapers : 00.00 to 05.00
Mowers 40.00 to 45.00
Hoi-se rake.s 22. (K)
Seeders 48.00
10-hoe drill 60.00
Randall Disk Harrow 22.00
General purpose plough, Fro.st &
Wood pattern, or the Wilkinson, 13.00
Binder twine, standard OJc
manilla lO^c
Best binders 9120. (X) to 9135.00
Reapers 60.(X»to 65.00
Mowers 40.00 to 48.00
Horse rakes 25.00
Seeders 50.00
10-hoe drill 65. (X)
Randall Disk Harrow 28.00
General purpose plough, Frost &
Wood pattern, or the Wilki.ison. 16.00
Bin^.er twine, standard lie
" manilla 12^c
Last year's prices for binder twine
were 12c and 13c
The prices of machinery are quoted for cash in both markets and qualities are
equal.
10
CARRIA0E8,
IjUinber waggon, box and all com-
plete $05.00
Open buggy, isather trimmed 50.0(»
to 05. 00
Top buggy, rubber top and leather
trirrmed $ (JO. 00 to 110.00
PIiaet'>n.s, leather trimVl. 125. 00 to 175.00
Cartb 12.00 to 45.00
Democrats 75.00 to 90.00
Lumber w.iggon, box and all com-
plete , $65.00
Open buggy, cloth trimmed 55.00
Top buggy, rubber top and cloth
trimmed $ 70.00 to 85. CO
Phaetons, cloth trim'd. 137.00 to 175.00
Carts 15.00 to 50.00
Democrats 75.00 to 90.00
CHEESE FACTORIES.
We visited several cheese factories in both St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties
and found that the cheese factories manufacture the cheese and furnish all the find-
ings at from Ic to ^^ per pound ; that the average is about lOJ lbs. mill' to produce
a pound of cheese. The furnishings cost as follows:—
Cheese boxes, \)c to 9.k'.
Bandage cloth, ()gc to fi.'c for seamless 15 to 16 inches, while the Canadian price
for same goods is 5^['c.
Salt, 12.75 per brl. Hue, or fiOc per Htick of 120 lbs. coarse.
Vat holding fi,0(K) lbs. milk costs |05.
Cheese hoops, $3 each • v
Press screws, f 3 each.
Rennet extract, $1.40 to f 1.50 per wine gallon.
Average sales of ehees.^ at last w-ek's .sale, July 1st, Sgc per pound at Watcrtown
Board, while on same date Canadian sales, Brockville Board, Oc to 9-Vc.
The following prices were given by Mr. E. H. Sheldon, Ogdensburg, N.Y.,
importer and jobber of the Wilkinson plough and dealer in carriages, harness and
all classes of agricultural implements, binder twine, etc., etc :— .
Cash. Time (Ist Oct).
Osl)orne mower $42.00 $45.00 '^
Deering mower 45.0a 48.00
^""ler 120.00 125.00
^^^'Per 60.00^ 65.00
Wilkinson plough 16.00
Wa.ygonH witnout box 50.00
Waggons with box and neck yoke and whiffletree. 65,00
Sulkyplough 42.00 45.00.
85.C0
175.00
50.(10
90.00
11
Mann seeder 50.00 55.00
Binder twine, standard ] 1 ctH
" manilla 12J cts
1 will furnish any of the above articles at the above prices.
(Signed) E. H. SHELDON,
Ogdensburg, N.Y.
THE TESTIMONY OF AMERICAN FARMERS,
J'j
L. King Martin lives three miles south of Ogdensburg, owns a well equipped 2J0
acre fam> with first-class buildings ; is also a hors3 and cattle dealer, and the County
Supervisor. His farm is well stocked, including 40 milch cows ; sells his milk at 5
cents per quart delivered in Ogdensburg. Says farms in his locality have depre-
ciated very much in the last few ye "-s— good farms on his road worth from $35 to
$50 r.n acre ; purchased the farm he now owns six years ago at f 6(5 per acre ; has con-
siderably improved it, but does not think he could now si;ll it for f 50 per acre ; that
f' . i have depreciated in value 25% in the last few years; thinks the tariff has
nothing to do with the depreciation of farm property. A large number of farms in
this locality were heavily mortgaged. Says good milch cows are worth from $30 to
|iHi> ; hogs, live weight, $5.50 per hundred pounds ; no market price lixed for lambs ;
his taxes last year were $74, exclusive of school taxes, road work or poll tax.
George H. Mulhinch lives withi.i two and a half miles of Ogdensburg, owns as
choline a farm as can be found anywhere, containing 95 acres with first-class build-
ings ; purchased it in 1879 at $60 pet' acre without any Iniildings. Would be glad to
sell it noAv at $55 per acre after expendinj- !$1,510 or $2,0 X) on improvements. Paid
.''?89 taxes K st year besides his school tax and ten days statute labori Paid $47 for
mowing maihine now using.
James Bell, living on the Hewvelton Road, about 6 mMes from the city of Ogdens-
b'.irg, owns 150 acres of choice land well improved. Says his farm is worth about $50
an acre and that that is the average price for well-improved fa- is in his section ; he
does not think he could sell at that, and says it is as good a farm as there^is in the
section. Taxes, exclusive of achool tax. statute labor and poll tax, $49 last year.
Good cows are worth from $30 to $35 ; veal calves, from $4 to $5. Keeps a large
number of cows ; manufactures all his milk into butter ; churns with horse power ;
has all the latest appliances for making choice creamery butter , raises a number of
hogs,— sold his pork for $7.50 per 100 lbs at Ogdensburg, dressed ; his creamery butter
■ for 22 cents.
12
Mr. Samuel McLennan lives three miles south of Hewvelton, in a f);ood well-
improved farm with good l)uilding8, — 160 acres of land assessed for f 3,200. Taxes, last
year, $30, exclusive of school, statute labor and poll taxes. Say^ price of land in his
seciicn has depreciated about 50 per cent, in last ten years. A first-class farm, with
ail modern improvements can be bought at $40 per acre. Wages to good farm hands
during haying and harvest, $1.75 to $2 per day. Milks 16 cows, which return him
$26 each, (realized this last year from the cheese factory). Horses have depreciated
at least 30 per cent, in the last six yeors ; sold a flne four-year old colt for $100 this
spring, while six years ago sold one of about same quality for $15[). Porlc sells at T'Jc
per lb. dres'ed on Ogdensburg market. Pays $250 rent per year for the farm and can
purchase it for $5,000 Paid $65 this spring for a seeder. S;*.ys binders are $120,
reapers $U5, rakes $25, ploughs $14. Says the Conger farm near Canton, contnining
150 acres, sold last spring at $50 per acre, oi^ which there had lately been erected a
$1,500 barn. This same farm was valued a few years ago by the appraiser of the Loan
Company at $60 per acre, before the liaru was erected.
Frank Gallager, of Hammond, a cattle and sheep dealer and general speculator,
says a good fancy horse with plenty of style and speed will command a good price,
while good farm horses, young and sound, can be bought for from $75 to $85 ; plugs,
$25, $;iO to $40. A No. 1 new milch cow, with calf at her side, worth $35, average
$;10. Hogs that will weigh 175 to 200 lbs. are worth $5.50 per 100 lbs., live weight,
wliile heavy hogs are worth less. Sheep and lambs, no price fixed, but will be con-
siderably less than last year; expect they will not bring ovev i.^c per lb., live weight,
for lambs that will weigh 70 to 80 lbs. Hay is worth $8, $10 and $12, according to
qualit^'. A 1 clear timothy is $12 when delivered at the station, the seller to furnish
the help to press and the wood to bind it -ind draw to station. Oats, 35c ; wool, 22c
-bought 3,000 lbs. last week at 22c per lb. ; butter, 16c to 18c ; e^gs, 13c on Ogdens-
burg market. Saj's for the ?ast ten years, to his certain knowledge, hogs and cattle
have been worth more money in Canada than in the States ; that th.e Montreal
market was considerably higher for both hogs and cattle than either New York,
Boston or any of the American markets. Says he purchased 300 calves from Mr. S.
Ransom, of Delta, four or five years ago, and that, with this exception, being a very
dry year, the Canadian markets were the best. Improved farms in his section are
worth $50 per acre if with flrst-class buildings ; the land can be oought from $30 to
$50. A ,000 farm sold in his section this year ; tho taxes on it last year, exclusive
of scho taxes, statute labor and poll tax, were somewhere between $60 and $70.
Land has depreciated in last ten years 33J at least. A large percentage of the farms
in his locality are mortgaged. Two years old steers are worth $20 to $25 ; has 27
bulls, all two years old, except four which are three years old, which cost him $18
per head, or X^c, per lb., live weight ; has 50 head of b^ef cattle from 3 to 8 years old,
-' V
13
cost him $19.23 per head when he put them in pasture this spring ; offered a party
25 of them last weelc, to pick them, at f 25 per head. A good milch cow is worth as
mucli at home as in New Yorli, -cannot sell tliem there at more than 135. The only
thing in his opinion, and he is well acquainted with both marlcets, that the Canadian
farmers would be benefited in by having free trade in natural products, woulf' be
in lambs, and now they are raising them in such quantities out West, expect thum
to be very low here this year. The farmers here buy very little, if any, corn for
feeding purposes.
Mr. S. Robertson, farmer. North Hammond Post Office, owns a good farm of 100
acres well improved, worth $4,000. Says average price for good well-improved farms
with good buildings in his vicinity, would run from $35 to $50 per acre ; that land
has depreciated in the last five or six years ; a great many of the farms are mortgaged
fully 25 per cent. Cows can be bought at from $25 to $30 — good milch cows. Pays
$1.10 per 100 lbs. to manufacture his milk into cheese. Buyers are offering from
$2.50 to $3 for lambs, and as yet no market established. Hay from $8 to $12 per ton.
Butter 13c to 20c per lb. His cheese sold last week to I>. Derbyshire, Brockville, at
8fc, delivered at Oak Point. Hogs for shipping are worth $4.50 per 100 lbs., live
weight, — the butchers are paying $5.50 for>home consumption. Purchased a new
mower and [)aid $48 cash for it, and a plough at $15. Good general purpose horse,
sound in every way, can be bought at from $75 to $100. Barley is worth 48c per
bushel ; wheat, 60c, and oats, 35c. Wages to men, during haying an«l harvesting,
$1.50 per day.
Val Hotis, a German farmer, within half a mile of Redwood, owns a farm which
he purchased four years ago, containing 150 acres of good land, well-improved, with
good frame house, a barn 105 x 41> ft., contains two drive floors, sheep barn, horse
barn and stabling for 35 cows, and other out buildings. This with 2D cows, 3 horses
and all the implements required to farm it, he got for $15,0011, and said he could >iot
sell it now for over $5,000. Said good milk cows were worCh $30, and his team of
five year old horses, weighirg 1,150 lbs. each, sound well-matched, no better team in
the county, could not sell for over $200 ; while three years ago the same team would
bring from $300 to $350. His taxes for 18!)2 were one cont on the dollar, exclusive of
school taxes, statute labor and poll tax. Mr. Butterfleld, an ex-member of
Congi-ess, and a retired gentleman living in Redwood, with whom we conversed,
told us that in his opinion the Hotis farm would nov^ bring over $30 per acre at the
present time.
Mr. Watson, a Conveyancer and the Chief Magistrate of Redwood, with whom
we also conversed, stated that land in that section with aA modern improvements
14
^al^S^f^lllL
■could be bought at from ^IH) to f o() per ac re and that to his certain knowledge over
30% of the farms in that locality were mortgaged, ft]id that chattel mortgages are in
excess of this. He also stated that to his knowledge, farming implements were
cheaper in Canada than in the States, and also other articles, such as sewing
machines, and accounted for this that combina.ions kept the ptices up for the Home
market and sold them less to go out of the country. Also that he bought coal in
Brockville, and after paying freight had it cheaper than he could buy it at home.
AMERICAN PRICES QUOTED.
Mr. Robert Layng, an extensive implement dealer at Redw-ood, quoted the
following as prices at which he is selling farm implements this year :—
Mowersfrom $42.00 to $50.00
McCormick binder i;^5.()0 to 140.00
Horse rakes .... 2.5. (X) to
Reapers HO. 00 to 65.00
Plough (Smiths Falls pat.) 14.00 to
Seed drills 60.00 to (i5.00
Cultivators 7.00 to
Binder twine, standard 10c, manilla He, and that last year's prices for same were
12c to 13c.
Messrs. VV, Cosgrove and F. Rupture, drovers and general dealers at Redwood
quote : —
Choice dairy cow.s, $30 to $35; hogs, live wt., $5 to $5.25; fat cattle that will
dress from 400 to 450, are worth fi-om $22 to $25 ; hay per ton, for No 1 quality, $12;
no price yet fixed for lambs.
THE RECORD OF THE POORHOUSE.
The question of whether there are more poor in the United States than in
Canada or not can be best judged by the figures which your Committee got from
the Report of the Jefferson County Poorhouse for last year, which is as follows :—
15
Tlie number of weeks' Iward furnished from October 1st 1891 to October 1st
1892, is 5,(522 5/7, average cost per week $1 . 15g
Males. Fenuiles.
Number of persons in poorliouse 1st Oct. 1891 .... 41 :j }
" " admitted during year 40 aft
•' " Iwrn " " fi a
Tmusferred from County Asylum 4 ifj
91 90
Total 181
Discharged during the year 24 28
Died " " 9 9
Absconded " " 7 1
40 38
Total 78
Remaining on hand 51 52
Total... 103
We interviewed several other fariner,s at different points and found their state-
ments to agree with those given ; also inii)lement dealers at Clayton and elsewhere
who gave similar «iuotations to those already mentioned. We may add that no liner
section of farming country can be found in the County of Leeds than that thiough
which we drove for many miles in the counties of St. Lawrence and JeU'erson. We
found all persons with whom we conversed to be quite willing to give all the
information they could, and upon whose statements we fully rely as being tmthful.
In concluding this our report, which is longer than we intended, we feel that
in justice to ourselves we ought to report the facts as fully as possible, and that we
have only reported them as we found them and know them to exist on both sides of
the line, and to which we can testify and give many other re[)orts of interviews,
which we have noted down, if necessary. AVe can also produce sami)les of cotton
and woollen goods, teas, sugar, binder twines and other articles which we secured by
purchase iiud otherwise, for comparison, and which we can produce at any time if
necessary. So that all the facts herein stated you may depend upon as being
perfectly reliable.
All of which is most respectfully submitted.
(Signed), ANDREW GRAY, Chairman.
JOHN A. WEBSTER, Secretary.
Committee.
ALEX. ATCHESON, JOHN FRANKLIN
JOHN CONNER, E. G. ADAMS,
THOS. BERNEY, JOHN RODDICK,
J. R. DARGAVEL.
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