Lower coast gazette., 1913-07-19
POINTE-A-LA-HACHE LOUISIANA, SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1913.

aid in meeting the third requirement men,
that factor.
The total agricultural debt in this country is
estimated to be about five billion dollars d.
vided as follows:
55.9 per cent secured by real estate mort
gage;
ID per cent secured by chattel mortgage;
9 per cent secured by crop liens (other than
%cotton); :
7.8 per cent secured by cotton crop liens;
S per cent unsecured, due local merchants.
The farmers are paying from 6 to IL per cent
per annum interest on that five billion dollars;
say an average of 8 per cent.
In most European countries for a great many
years the farmers have not paid over 3K to
4 per cent interest. By establishing a proper
financial system, by organization and co-opera-
ton in dealing with cultivation, transporta-
ton and marketing, our farmers can save, not
only two hundred million dollars a year in in
@terest, but they can increase the yield from their
toll, the returns from their products and sup
ply the comforts and conveniences of home such
as they ought to have. One thing to do is to
devise a plan or system whereby their lands
can be utilized as an asset when needed, at their
value. Remove the ban on real estate as COM
mercial security. Have their open accounts in
their own banks and finance their own opera
lions.
The American Commission, assembled under
the auspices of the Southern Commercial Con-
gress, and the Federal Commission c0-Operat-
ing with it, are now in Europe, studying dill
gently the systems which have been obliged
to meet these difficulties years ago, and it is
confidently believed the report from these COM
missions will produce e%poch-making results in
the advancement of our agricultural interests.
Not only will a wise, workable plan of rural
credits greatly benefit the farmer by enabling
him to get what money he needs at a low rate
Of interest, but it will encourage saving and
thrift, introduce business methods in agricul-
ture, and go a long way toward solving the
problems of monetary reform, high cost of liv-
ing, and of the trusts in respect to agricultural
products. In addition to improving and exend-
ing the influences making for unfolding the first
and second elements above set forth, as applic-
able to them as well as the third, the new pro-
posals | would offer, therefore, are:
A. The establishment of Chambers Of Agri-
culture in the counties.
B. A system of rural banks, or agricultural
CIeulLS, VI ldIM lllduCo, Whatever you may
designate it, by which, in conjunction with
other cooperative organizations, the farmer
will be able to save enormous sums now going
as interest, profits to factors, and the like, sucn
as no other industry could stand, have his open
account at the bank, available as needed, his
lands recognized and treated in the money
market as an asset at it's real value, with a
basis of credit similar to the man engaged in
business, enabled to so finance his affairs as
to save himself from being obliged to dispose
of his products at the lowest prices ever pre-
vailing, and buy all his supplies always at the
time prices, and otherwise, in co-opera-
ton with his neighbors, finance all his opera
tons, himself.
| might make the further suggestion that
this principle of cooperation would make i'm
mensely to the relief of the women folks of the
farm.
When the farmer takes the milk to the CO.
dairy he should carry the household
to the cooperative laundry and save
the housewife that burden and dread, washing
and ironing"
AS matters are now, why women and men
will congregate and struggle along in crowded
and unhealthy situations, in the cities, shorten
ing their lives and dwarfing their posterity,
when pure air, bright sunshine, wholesome
and at least sufficient food and reason
able comforts are offered in the country, in any
and every portion Of this land, is beyond my
comprehension.