The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-11-14
nm
Output Does Not Reach the
Limit and Our Lands Are
Poorly Farmed.

imum returns. Secretary Houston,
Of the Department OF Agriculture,
told the National Grange OF Patrons
OF Husbandry in its forty-seventh an
nual convention here today, that the
best figures he could procure led TO
such conclusion and that only in
very few localities had conditions
been developed to Insure maximum
returns.
Secretary Houston touched upon
rural credits, marketing methods,
extension on agricultural education
and the cost OF living. He spoke OF
the man ipulations OF those middle
men who perform no useful or nec-
essary SERVICE, OF the high prices.
~ do not entertain the thought
for second that we have approx
mated the limit of our output from
the soil,' he said. 'sWe have not
even reached the end OF the pioneer
ing stage. We have been. so bent
on building up great industrial een-
tiers by every natural and artificial
device that we, have had little time
to think of the very foundation of
our industrial existence.
I'VE had better frankly face the
fact that we are relatively inef-
ficient, take stock OF our short-com
ings and earnestly seek the remedy.
That we have practically reached the
stage where we have ceased to be an
exporting nation OF food products
and are becoming dependent on for
eign nations for the necessaries of
Life, Is sad commentary upon our
use of the opportunities bestowed
upon us"
Speaking OF what the Department
'oi Agriculture hopes to do to solve
the problem OF the increasing cost
of living Secretary Houston expressed
the opinion that the existing chaos
and consequent wastes, result from
faults on the part of the farmer in
the growing and handling OF his
products; from the machinery Of
distribution including physical
equipment and physical handling;
from the manipulation of those mid
die men who perform no useful ana
necessary service; and from Ggnor-
ance on the part OF the consumer
and Of the producer of the character
of the. product which Is placed upon
the market. .
Secretary Hollston urged CO.
ordination OF federal and state agri-
CULTURAL agencies as essential to sue
cess, deplored the jealousy which, he
declared exists in many states be
tween the state agricultural com
missions and the agricultural col
ln1nz and dior{ad dnn1fcaf3np nj
work in many localities.
In the field OF marketing, he de-
clared, there was danger that press
ure would be brought to bear to
force the department to act every
where before it was intelf!gently pre-
pared to act anywhere. HE explain
ed that his department which
started last summer to make care
ful study OF the marketing problem
was studying 1t from every angle.
There was the same danger in re.
gard to the uestion of rural credits.
Il am not impressed" he said, with
the wisdom and justice Of proposals
that would take the money of all
the people through bonds or other
devices and lend it to the farmers
or TO any other class at a rate Of in
.terest lower than the economic con-
ditions would normally require and
at a rate of interest lower than that
lat which other classes are securing
their capital. This would be legis-
Ilation of a particularly odious type.
and no new excursions in this direc-
tion would be palataIble when we are
engaged in the gigantic task Of re-
storing the simple rule OF equity.
Before the problems of rural cred
1t and marketing, the secretary de-
clared the Individual farmer acting
alone was helpless Nothing less
than concerted action would suffice,
the said, and the same business
sense and the same organizing gent
us which have placed this nation in
the front rank of industry must be
involved in agriculture"
The problem of the individual
farmer, said the secretary, had re-
ceiyed scant systematic attention and
the problem OF rural life as a whole
had until recently been practically
ignored. From every section of the
country, he declared, came the story
VI iHCEGdSlus IeudlSg anu dbSSnhOS
ownership, OF soils depleted and
exploited. of inadequate business
methods, OF chaotic marketing and
distribution, of inferior roads, or
lack OF supervision of public health
and sanitation. OF isolated and I'll or
gained social activities and OF in
5erlor intellectual provision" He
added, however, that he was not OF
the pesssmists and expressed his be-
lief that out OF the chaos would come
order, better and bigger crops, inn
proved living conditions in the coun-
try and relief to the city dweller
through greater productivity of the
soil and a business like overhauling
OF marketing methods.
Speaking Of the need Of better ed
ucauonal opportunities in the coun-
try,4Secretary Houston declared that
II more enlightened attention were
devoted to the conservation and de-
ivelopment OF the people 1--WE shall be
relieved OF inuch OF the concern
about the conservation and devel-
opInent OF our natural resources