The 1830 Indian Removal Act aimed to clear one obstacle, while the building of the railroads cleared another, linking Midwest farmers with East Coast markets.

The Chubb Corporation denies that it reneged on a drought insurance offer, despite its decision to provide coverage to only about 10 percent of the Midwest farmers who applied.

Dr. Cropp said Midwest farmers are thinking: "We're not part of the problem.

You suggest that Congress should spread the burden of your needy residents among suburbanites and Midwest farmers.

Storm damage and transportation bottlenecks sharply raised costs this year for producers, so that Midwest farmers had a tough time this fall finding buyers.

The Economy A hot August and an early frost may cause more damage to Midwest farmers than recent flooding.

Homeowners in New England and other wintery Northeast states along with Midwest farmers would be among those who would pay most of the cost of an oil tariff.

As for Mr. Bush's decision to offer Midwest farmers new wheat export subsidies of $1 billion, the move does not exactly bode well for future trade relations.

New Yorkers are no less responsible for these needy fellow residents than neighboring suburbanites or Midwest farmers.

After the extraordinary floods in the Mississippi and Missouri River basins and tributary areas in 1993, Midwest farmers now face the prospect of near-drought.