The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-25
SMILEY'S PLAN.
He Would Furnish 10 Big
Wheat Counties With Seed.
Hopes to Have 1t in Operation
by September 10.

sas Grain Dealers aSSocia ton, said to-
day that his plan for furnishing the
farmers of ten of the wheat growing
counties of western Kansas where the
crops have failed with seed wheat
should be in opera ton after Sept. 10.
By that date lie will know just how
much wheat will be available from
farmers who were successful in grow
ing crops this year. Mr.. Smiley esti-
mates that a quarter of a million bush
els of seed wheat will be required in
the counties in question. He is al
ready in receipt of letters from seVel al
farmers who have expressed their will
ingness to supply seed wheat.
Mr.. Smiley has sent a letter out to
all members of the association asking
for their cooperation in his plan. The
letter reads in part:
Il have lately returned from trip
through several of the western coun-
ties, meeting with the county commits
sioners in these counties, and while
there talked with bankers, business
men and many farmers.
THE wheat crop in Trego, Cove, Lo-
gan. Wallace. south half of Thomas,
Sheridan, west half of Graham, Ness.
Lane and Wichita counties is a total
failure. Owing to entire crop failure
this year and 1911. and partial failure
in 1912, the farmers in these counties
have exhausted their means and are
not in a position to buy seed wheat
to seed their farms the present fall.
while a great many of them feel
greatly discourag ed they are not will
ing to give up, and look forward to
crop the coming year and are anxious
to secure seed wheat from some
source. From personal observation
am convinced the soil is in better con-
dition than usual as practically every
farmer plOwed or diSced a part of his
wheat land in June and planted to
kaffir corn, milo maize and cane and
has continued to cultivate the land.
keeping same free from weeds. and
this ground will be in fine condition
at seeding time.
LAS these people are not in n posi-
ton to purchase seed wheat some
thing must be done to secure suf-
ficient amount of seed to seed part
of their land or this land will lie fall
low at least another year. None of
these people are asking donations.
preferring to settle for this seed
wheat at the time it is turned over
to them by executing promissory note,
same drawing per cent interest, pay
able after crop is matured.
Our plan is to present the true
situation to the more prosperous
farmers of central and eastern Kan
sas, where a fair to good crop of
ing them to loan to their less for
tunate neighbors a sufficient amount
of wheat to seed the land prepared.
We assume that every grain dealer
and miller in the state will gladly ar
range to receive and receipt for all
wheat delivered to him, and attend
to the LOADING and billing of same
The county commissioners have as
Sured me that they will look after the
distribution of this seed and will ar
700 fn FOL hA 60
the time the wheat is turned over to
them, and number of bankers have
assured me they will attend to the
collection of these notes when due
and remit. I think you may be safe
in advising every farmer in your com
that if crop is raised from
this seed he will receive value of
wheat with interest al the rate of 8
per cent. You will be expected to
give the farmers a receipt for the (
of bushels delivered showing |
the market price day of delivery, |
which he will hold until notes are col |
lected.
The Missouri Pacific. Rock Island. |
Santa Fe and L. z. railroads have
a greed to transport this wheat free of |
charge. These lines pass through tie |
ten counties above mentioned The
time for sowing wheat is near at ham |
and whatever is done must be done
Are you willing to assist in |
TINS work? If so, please hand the en-
closed sheet to the editor - YOUR To- |
cal papers with the request that they
print same in their weekly edition aud
ask them to give the movements favor {
a BILE editorial mention. Make il = Doin+
to try and see all your farmer CUSTOM
ers as soon as possible and explain to
them the great need of these western
farmers and the Importance of having
this seed reach them not later than
Sept. u. As practically all of the
ground in the western part of the state
is prepared and ready for seed the
ground could be seeded immedia teIy
following a general rain and might fur
nish needed pasture for live stock dur
ing fall nd early winter If every far
mer in Kansas who could would loan
from five TO twenty-five bushels of /
wheat it would be sufficient to give
these farmers a start and retain their Il
homes that they have worked so nobIy /
to keep possession Of l.
We now have on file a report from
the county commissioners of several OF
these western counties advising the
number of bushels of wheat needle /.
md as fast as this wheat is assembled
N car lots, advise us and you will re-
ceive billing instructions for same.
We Will expect to hear from you at