The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-19
Secretary Grain Dealers Would
Provide Seed Wheat.
A Quarter Million Bushels for
Ten Counties.

The Kansas Grain Dealers aSsocla-
ton proposes to supply the farmers
of ten counties in the wheat belt of
western Kansas with quarter of a
million bushels of seed wheat through
farmers of the state who produced a
harvest this season.
The secretary of the association, E.
]. Smiley, who has returned from a
trip to western Kansas, which he
made upon the suggestion of the
state bank commissioner, gave out
an interesting statement today rela-
tive to conditions as he saw them and
the plan of the association to give re-
Mr.. Smiley said: There was no
wheat raised in Ness, Lane. Scott,
Wichita, Wallace, Logan, Cove. Trego,
the west half of Graham. Sher1den,
and the south half of Thomas coun-
ties. In an ordinary year one mil
lion acres of land is seeded to wheat
in these counties.
THE impression that the bankers
are able to assist the farmers is a
mistaken idea. The bankers assured
me that they are now carrying all the
paper permitted by the state and fed
eral laws and they they have gone
their limit.
But the farmers are the most
optimistic people on Gods earth. All
they possess is deeds for real estate
that is encountered with mortgages,
and a few cows and chickens. 1t
ing business with milk and egg
checks.
Unless assistance is given the
farmers will be unable to pay their
done they cannot remain longer in
these counties where they have eX-
hausted their borrowing capacity
The plan of assistance proposed by
the Kansas Grain Dealers association
is to get the prosperous farmers to
simply loan the grain with the un-
Outstanding that they will receive
per cent interest on the value of the
grain at the time it is loaned. When
information is complete relative to
the amount of seed required in each
locality the elevator operators and
millers in territories where good
crops were produced will be asked to
call upon the farmers to deliver to
them from five to fifty bushels of
wheat-depending upon the amount
they can spare. They will give a re-
ceipt to the farmer covering the mar
ket price of the wheat on the day OF
delivery. The wheat will be billed to
the county commissioners of the
counties in question, who will look
after the distribution of the seed.
They will take notes from the farm
erS payable after crop is raised
and the money will be returned to the
farmers furnishing the wheat, with
per cent interest. The bankers will
assist in the distribution of the wheat
and will see that no man receives
seed who has not thoroughly prepared
his ground.
According to Secretary Smiley the
ground is in unusually good condition
at the present time, as when 1T was
found that there would be no wheat
crop the farmers planted forage
crops and have kept the soil in a state
of cultivation. The forage crops will
provide food for the cattle. Mr. Smi-
lev estimates from the information he
has received that a quarter of mil
lion bushels of seed will be required
by the farmers.
Secretary Smiley has on file. large
number of letters from county Off
Gals and others who heartily favor
the plan of the Kansas Grain Dealers
In many instances they
have given estimates as to the amount
of grain required.