The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-03
FACTORS IN HIGH
COST OF LIVING
Mayer of Spokane Does Not
Agree With James J. Hill
FARMERS NOT TO BLAME
Mr.. Pratt Declares That the Tariff Is
Responsible for Increased Cost
of Living and Not Careless
ness of Farmers.
FARMERS NOT TO BLAME

Spokane, WASH, January 2.-(Special)
Nelson S. Pratt, mayor of Spokane, a
successful farmer and lumberman in the
Mississippi valley and the Pacific North
west, takes exception to the sweeping
statement by James J. Hill that the pres
ent high cost of living is chargeable to
the extravaganza, careessness and lack
! of thrift of the agricultural classes of the
country. saying:
Il am more than surprised that a man
with the understanding and observation
of Mr.. Hill should undertake to make
such broad charges In view of the fact
fury ago are not to be compared to the
| present system of farming. There is
| nothing to bear out Mr.. Hills conten-
| tons.
AS a result of recent visit to sew
eral of the largest districts in the middle
western and Pacific states, 1 am prepared
to say there has never been a time when
general farming was conducted along
more economical lines than at present
In fact, the methods of today are marvels
to those who farmed land in the sos.
Had we been as skilled and thorough
then as are the farmers of today, we GER
tainly would have been equally success
| full
| 1T is not overstating the case when 1
say that the modern grower conducts his
farm along the same lines that prevail in
a well-organized business establishment
| and as a result he is not only making a
good living and educating his children,
but is also putting money into improve
| ments, as we'll as into the bank.
ut is idle talk to charge the high cost
of living to the farmer, as it must be
plain to any one who has studied the
subject that at least three causes con-
tribute to increasing prices of the necessi-
ties of life. The large production of gold
during the last few years Is an impor-
tant factor, in that it has resulted in
making money cheap and. to a great ex-
tent, no doubt. is responsible for in
creases in prices. Cheap money means
high prices.
Perhaps the greatest factor in the
high cost of living is the tariff, which
enables manufacturers to combine and
compel the consumers to pay enormous
and unreasonable prices. Such farm
products as beef and pork are controlled
entirely by the so-called beef trust while
butter, eggs, cheese and poultry are ham
died by cold storage companies and kim
bred combinations, and the prices of
cereals are fixed largely by the specula-
tive boards of trade.
"As a matter of fact, while in the Mis-
sissippi valley short time ago, l found
that the prices of butter eggs, cheese
and poultry are nearly as high there as
they are on the Pacific coast, where the
demand at present is far greater than
the supply. l also learned from reliable
sources that these products are almost
entirely controlled by combinations and
not by the producers.
II hold no brief for the farmers of the
country, but from an experience of al
most a lifetime as a farmer, born and
raised on a farm, know that the system
employed during my time holds no COM
parison to the present methods of farm
ing. Intensive agriculture, with the use
of water supplied by artificial means, was
then largely an experiment, and so-cailed
dry farming, or more properly soil and
moisture conservation, was in its very in
fancy. These methods are successes to-
day. The agricultural colleges and ex-
pertinent stations have also been and are
strong factors in advancing the Industry.
IT challenge Mr.. Hill to show any
period prior to 1894 when there were
larger acre yields of grain, fruit, grasses
and roots than at present, and with this
I would also ask him to point to any year
when the farmers were more prosperous
than they are today Extravaganza and
lack of thrift and progress and prosperity
do not go hand in hand, and that fact
alone answers Mr. Hills statement"