The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-21
FARMERS
UNION NEWS
Practical Thoughts for Practical
Farmers.
Conducted by e. w. Dabbs. Pres
ident S. G.. Farmers Union.)
Some Random Thoughts.

The bill printed below known as
the Webb-Calloway bill was drawn
by officers of the National Farmers
Union. A. c. Davis. of Arkansas. Sec
retary and Treasurer, and T. ].
Brooks Of Tennessee. 1t shows that
others besides the South Carolina
Farmers Union are studying the mat
ter of markets. That these studies
are not to be confined to this coun-
ty; and that the results of these
studies are to be reported "to farm
ers' organizations and societies of
consumers by daily bulletins or tel
egraphic reports. Such information
and statistics as will enable them to
adopt plans of marketing that will
facilitate the handling of farm pro-
ducts at the minimum Of cost" Is
shown by this quotation from the bill.
The readers Of this page who may
nave been inclined to think that
have made too much Of the market
ing Of our farm produce, will see that
others are waking up to the immense
losses to both producers and con-
sumers by the lack Of system in the
distribution Of our crops after we
have grown them. This lack of a
system by which the farmer can con-
veniently place his crops on the mar
ket Is responsible for his disinclina-
tion to engage In that kind of farm
ing which many a farmer knows as
any government expert can tell him,
Is the only kind that makes for the
increased fertility Of his farm, and
permanent prosperity.
1t was very refreshing to hear Mr..
Long tell a Charleston audience that
the present system Is in the interest
OF the fertilizer factories, and that
unless our methods are radically
changed there will be a famine in a
few years. Why do not the lessons
OF the experts bear more fruit? Be-
cause men have seen how hard it is
to sell food crops whenever there is
any abudance of them made in our
section. With this bill in congress,
and the attention of Mr.. Wilson drawn
to the subject as I showed by an in
terview with him in our last issue,
and with the way 1 have presented
this subject to the Boys Corn Club
organizers, and will continue to call
attention to 1t whenever occasion ar
ises. l firmly believe that not anoth-
er season will roll around before such
agencies are established all over our
country. And I long to see Sumter
take the lead in a practical produce
exchange as 1t has taken the lead In
calling attention to the need Of one.
One Of the enlightening sights in
Charleston last week was the unload
ing Of several carloads Of hay from
the hold of the Philadelphia
steamer. The agent on the deck told
me that the weekly shipments run
from to 10 carloads. This hay is
grown in Canada. shipped by rail TO
Philadelphia, then by water to Char
lesion. 1t costs, laid down in Char
lesion. s2s to $40 the ton. made
particular inquiry as to whether it
was all consumed in Charleston and
was told mo-" that quantities of it
was shipped to the interior of the
State. At st. George ! was told that
there was plenty of good peavine hay
In that section but SIS the ton was
all they could get for it. gentle
man who boarded the train at Orange
burg told me that this Northern hay
Che did not know that it came all
the way from Canada) is costing
$32 the ton i'm that market. In Sum-
ter it is costing s31 to $32 and selling
at sS5 ton in small lots. while pea
vine Is selling for $40.
In Charleston and Columbia fresh
eggs were selling last week for so
cents per dozen. How many in the
interior when 80 to 35 cents were the
prices paid, shipped to either city for
the additional Is or 20 cents?
But these remarks have bocme too
random. f.. w. d.
In The House of Representatives.
January 30, 1912.
Mr.. Webb introduced the follow
ing bill; which was referred to the
Com m ttpa N IntarpStatn nd