Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-10-26
OUR TRENTON COMMUNICATION.

Trenton, October a. Not all the
high cost of living is due to the price
of food stuffs according to the annual,
report Of Franklin Dye, Secretary Of
the State Board of Agriculture, which
has just been issued. Mr.. Dye claims
that consumers are increasing and
that the agricultural crops are not
keeping pace with this abnormal in
crease, and that this is one of the
reasons for the soaring of the cost of
living. In this connection he says in
his report: I'VE have heard of the
high price of foodstuffs, and some
have endeavored to make the farmers
responsible for the lately increased
prices. but they are wrong. The con-
sumerS are increasing and agricultur-
al crops are not keeping pace with
this abnormal increase. An Increased
population, not only by births, but by
an addition of nearly one million a
year from foreign lands Gin ten years
eight and quarter million immigrants
have arrived in the United States,
and fifty thousand of these stopped in
New Jersey, a larger number than
was received by any other section of
the same size in the United States),
few of whom take to the soil and be-
come producers. The increase in the
cost of foods, therefore, is natural so.
far as the producer. the farmer, is
concerned /"
Secretary Dye goes on to show that
when the consumer buys one dollars
worth of any agricultural product, the
farmer received but 35 cents for his
share, the other 65 cents being tolled
on between the producer and the con-
sumer- 1t would SEEM, continued
Mr.. Dye, that from this vast number
OF immigrants coming annually to
our shores and to our State, there
would be an abundance of farm labor
ers. but that is not the case and the
scarcity of efficient farm help at
price commensurate with the price
OF farm products adds to the cost of
production and limits the total annual
output of our farms.
The amount available for the i'm
proved roads of the State this year
from the automobile license fee will
be more than $325,000. State Motor
Vehicle Commissioner J. R. B. Smith
said that the gross receipts for the
year from the auto fees would be at
least $365,000 and it may run up to
$4,000. 1t will require about $40 900
OF the amount to pay the expenses of
the Automobile Department and the
balance will go for road improve
ments
AS the result of what he heard at
the National Conservation Congress
in Kansas City, Colonel Edwin A. Stew
ems, State Road Commissioner. who
attended the meeting as New Jer-
sey representative, will report to Gov
ernor Wilson in favor of getting more
concerted action among the various
State departments and institutions
Colonel Stevens says this idea was
strongly emphasized at the meeting
for the reason that it would mean bet
ter services and greater economy. He
referred to the sentiment in favor of
the elimination of grade crossings and
declared that the State Utility Com
mission and the Road Department
could cooperate in the work in many
ways but present laws will not permit
it, He thought that in engineering
problems, as we'll as in the road con-
struction necessary, his department
could aid the Utility board, but as the
law stands, the boards cannot work
for each others interest and the good
of the State.