The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-20
Men ARE WANTED Markets TODAY.
Mr. COburn Receives Request for Heavy Selling by Commission
1000. Houses Weakens Wheat
These Decatur County for Clear Weather Reports Makes
Corn Huskng. Corn Bearish.
GREATER THAN HOPED. LIVE STOCK TRADE.
Kansas Is Surprising Cattle Are Seady-Natives
All Estimates. Bring 81 to Sc.
Railroads May Be Appealed Hog Sales at S55 to
for Huskers Rates. $500.
Mr.. COburn Receives Request for
1000.
These in Decatur County for
Corn Husking.
GREATER THAN HOPED.
Yield in Kansas Is Surprising
All Estimates.
Railroads May Be Appealed to
for Huskers' Rates.

Cornhuskers are needed in the state of
Kansas; there is employment for thou
sands of men from now until next
spring peeling the shucks from the
great staple cereal Of the state.
Today F. D. Coburn, secretary of the
state board of agriculture, received from
Decatur county a request for l 600 men.
Work is promised in abundance. The
farmers are afraid they can't get all
their corn in the crib in time to plant
the next crop next spring
1t seems that the corn yield is sur
passing all expectations; even the
farmers themselves did not know how
much corn they had. An estimate made
by agents Of the Union Pacific railroad
is 100000 600 bushels.
The acreage this year, as reported by
r. D. Coburn on August q. is 6,775, 979,
or an increase Of 281, 900 over 1904. The
reports are that the crop will go over
80 bushels to the acre.
It is expected that State Free En-
ployment Agent T. B. Gerow viii have
his hands full from now on supplying
the demand for labor in the corn fields.
The demand for 1000 men from Decatur
county is only a foretaste of what is
to come. Every county which ranks
high in corn production will need men.
The facilities for handling the corn crop
by machinery are so improved of late
years that one man can cultivate a
much larger acreage than in the old
time, and the result is that he raises,
in a good year, more corn than he can
conveniently harvest. He needs help in
the husking.
Corn huskers are usually paid by the
bushel. This is of course contrary to
the principles of unionism; it is piece
work and encourag es- the labOrer to
work al his best speed. But so far there
is no corn huskers' union, and the farm
c.r.-
the piece work plan. The usual rate is
from to 4 cents bushel.
Where the yield is heavy, and con-
ditions are favorable for fast work, the
cent rate is paid
If the demand for men for the corn
husking continues, it is possible that
the railroad companies may make a
low rate to the places where they are
most needed. The railroads make such
a concession for the wheat harvest,
and it is likely that they would make
a similar concession for the corn har-
vest
Mr.. Gerow. the state employment
agent. is now on the lookout for men
to send to the places where huskers
are needed. The supply OF men is
very short, however. and it will be diff
ncult for the farmers to get the as
sistance they need.
The Oberlin county call for help is
sent up by F. F. Bliss. stockman
ana farmer IN Llldl equity. MI DilSS
says in his letter:
f'This county needs about 1000
extra men to husk the corn this fall.
All the corn is listed and one man
with the tools we now use can put
in and tend 100 acres But when it
| comes to husking it is a different
proposition and I do not know of a
farmer in the county who would not
be glad to hire at least a part of his
corn huslIed and the help is not here
to husk it. Last year there was plen-
ty Of corn still to husk in March
and this year the corn is better than
last. I think it will run from 20 to
so bushels perhaps average IS bush
els the county over. Wages will run
from to cents per bushel and
/ board, depending on corn and loca-
ton"
Secretary Coburn suggests that if
there was some way by which the
state employment bureau could con-
! script the needed thousand from
among the joint-keepers of Topeka,
Leavenworth, Atchison and Kansas
| City, and compel them to shUck corn,
/ break rock or do some other honest
and honorable work, it would not only
somewhat diminish the number of
| jointists in these towns but be help
/ full to the commonwealth.