Omaha daily bee., 1913-12-30
EARNINGS HALF THAT AMOUNT
Little Hope of Lower Cost of Living
for Consumer Seen.
GOVERNMENT BUREAU REPORTS
Distributors and Middlemen to Ex-
tent Control Market.
HIRED MEN" GETTING MORE
Largest Average Income shown In
Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa,
Kansas, Missouri and
Two DakOtas.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 99.-Ten billion
dollars worth Of products-s5,O 900. .OOO. 900
OF cash income-a bumper year in spite
of drouths and other setbacks, is the 1913
record of 100000 American farms.
The most successful year of husbandry
in the United States brought forth $780,
10000 of crops, of which $2,S96, 100000 were
represented by cereals alone and $780,
100000 worth of animals sold and slaugh-
tered and animzI products. The value Of
the 1918 crors is twice as great as that Of
1899; more than 81, 1000 900 over 1909 and
substantially greater than 1912. OF all the
crops however, 1t is estimated that 50
per cent will remain on farms where they
we're raised and that 20 per cent of the
animal production will remain. On that
basis the cash income is estimated by
4 the Department of Agriculture at $751;
OO0O0o
But despite a record year of crop
valuee-although the record of production
has fallen-and the fact that the number
Of farms has Increased Il per cent since
1910 until there are estimated to be Sc coo
farms in the country, the department, in
discussion OF the subject made public
today, does not take the view that a
lower cost Of living will follow as a con-
sequence.
No Lower Price for Consumer.
However desirable increased production
on farms may appear to be from the
consumers standpoint it does not follow
that such increased production would re-
suit in any increase in the cash income
for Of fa
ton, or that prices paid by consumers
would be any lower says the report.
Had the total production in 1913 equaled
or exceeded the 1912 production, 1t seems
probable that the cash income per farm
would not have been greater and might
have been less than in 1912. but 1t is ex-
tremely doubtful whether the cost to the
consumer would have been any less be-
cause retail prices are promptly raised
on a prospect of under production, but
are very slow to decline II there is over
production.
'"rhe long line of distributors and mid
dlemen between the farmer and the con-
sumer are in position to take advantage
of the market and to a certain extent
control the market in both directions be-
cause they are better organized to keep
informed OF crop and market conditions
and TO act promptly than either farmers
or consumers, who are not organized and
as individuals are helpless.
The high prices paid by consumers,
ranging from to nearly 500 per cent in
some cases more than the farmer re-
ceives, indicate there is plenty Of room
for lowering the cost of farm product.
to consumers and at the same time
largely increasing the cash income per
farm without increasing farm produc-
tion.
A Marketing Problem.
This condition is undoubtedly mar
ketlng problem which will have to be
solved by better organizations of farm
ers and improved methods OF marketing.
When, as the result of such organization
and improved methods. the price of farm
products can be maintained at a higher
level without increasing the cost to con-
sumers, farmers will be justified in in
creasing the output OF their farms with