The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-16

timately reaching into every farm Of
tho nation.
The Rural Credit Problem.
We shall leave nothing undone to
stimulate pcGdaciIaa-diEa4 lI-aEd tie.
convey information TO the farmer, but
we have suddenly been brought face
TO face with the fact that In many d.
rectious further increased production
waits on better distribution
There IL a general impression that
farmers need better credit arrange
ments The slightest reflection Will
convince ono that all farmers do not
equally need It; that oil sections are
not similarly circumstanced From
one section comes the cry, not for cap
ital at lower rates. bat for inforrna-
ton as TO how to invest capital That
many communities need long time
loans under reasonable conditions for
the purchase of farms and for per-
ulanent improvements and that other
communities need an Improvement
in conditions under which the small
farmer may secure relatively small
sums for operating expenses at low
rates cannot be denied. The question is
one Of ways and means. And just what
Is needed and Just what should be
done, no one. 80 far as | have been
able to discover. Is at present suiil-
:
assert. For generation economists
have known the facts about European
conditions but few have investigated
the conditions at home. This depart
nent Of agriculture IS now definitely
and rapidly making the home survey
and should in O short time have In
formation OF great value to the farm
err and to the legislature.
Farmer Does Not Demand Glass Credit
One thing Is clear: The schemes that
are multiplying which conceive the
farmer TO he mendicant and n sub
ject for unique and special legislation
may be at once condemned. The
American farmer does not need or de-
sire to be classed with those foreign
people who are Just emerging from
a condition Of serfdom and tutelage.
He asks no opportunity that Is not af-
forded TO every American citizen: he
asks for no legislation which shall give
him credit on easier terms than his
brother mechanic or his professional
friend or his merchant may secure it
But he does ask to be assisted in Great
ing conditions and machinery which
shall enable him on a similar credit
foundation to secure his money at the
same rates as any other class in the
community. This, and this alone. 1t
seems to me Is ali that he asks and Is
nothing less than he deserves. / am
not impressed with the wisdom and
the justice nf proposals that would
take the money of all the people
through bonds or other devices and
lend 1t to the farmers or to any other
class at rate OF interest lower than
that at which other classes are secur-
ing their capital. This would be spe-
cial legislation of particularly odious
type, and no new excursions IN this di-
rection would be palatable when we
are engaged In the gigantic task OF
restoring the simple rule Of equity.
In the field of marketing, there is
also danger that pressure Will be
brought to bear upon us to act every
where before We are prepared to act
intelligently anywhere. Not that as
sistance cannot be given here and
there, and not that the department is
not furnishing and will not furnish
Information of great practical value
to individuals and communities. The
department las arranged its market
Ing Investigations under five important
subdivisions:
First marketing surveys methods
and costs, including especially availa-
bile market supplies In given produce
ton areas, demand at consuming CEN
tiers, cold and other storages. market
ing systems and prices, and costs OF
wholesale and retail distribution of
farm products.
Second, transportation ard storage
problems. hlving in mind the elm
ination of waste and the study OF prob
lens connec.ed with surplus market
supplies, terminal and transfer facili-
ties, including freight congestion, car
supply, deterioration in transit, ex-
tension of the practice OF preceding
Of perisnable and other special ser
vices.
Third. City marketing and distribu-
tlon Investigations, involving a study
OF the uses and limitations OF farm
ers'. municipal. wholesale and retail