Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-04-16
SAYS SOUTH WAISTS
S6,OOO,OOO,OOO YEARLY
Poor Methods of Farming Account for
Nearly Half of This-Interest
Big Feature.

Richmond, W. Va, April 16,-On the
theory that the farmers of Dixie annu.
ally lose six billion dollars which they
might receive for their crops under
proper systems of production and mar.
keting, great cooperative movement
was launched here today at farmers
conference, the 10Th education meeting
of its kind to be held in the South. In
the two.day program will appear two
score authorities on agriculture, fl
rance and general organization, many
of them successful farmers themselves,
1t was pointed out that the virtual
waste of six billion dollars is caused by
poor farming methods, unwise borrow.
ing of money and the purchase of sup.
plies the farmers themselves could pro.
duce. 1t is proposed that the farmer
market his crop comparatively; buy
goods in the same manner, and borrow
money from cooperative societies. This
plan, those behind the movement claim,
will add to the farmers income; he
will be able to spend more on the
pleasant as well as the useful things of
life to build better roads, to maintain
better schools, and to make country
life better in every way,
This would also have the effect of
checking the exodus from the farm to
the cities, promoters of the idea de.
clare. With this increase in the rural
population, when young people find life
the gayer, will come in time an in.
crease in the amount Of foodstuffs
raised and a corresponding decrease in
the cost of living.
Prof. John Lee Coulter, expert spe.
cial agent for the census bureau, has
estimated that the value Of all south.
ern farm products is $2,5OO,O00OOO a
year. but that they cost consumers
twice that amount. Southern farmers,
he estimates, spend most Of their two
and half billions for farm supplies,
food, clothing and the like, and Of this
one billion goes to the middlemen of all
classes. Southern agriculturists, COul.
ter also figures, lose an additional two
and half billions each year because
Of poor farming methods. They could
double their yield by crop diversified.
tion and other improvements, if it were
not for the "advance system" " under
which the creditor forces the farmer
to plant "cash crops" year in and
year out,
This financing Of the southern farm
is one of the biggest questions to be
considered by the conference II is es
timated that the farmer south Of Ma
son and Dixon g line lose $1630OO, 900
yearly because Of excessive interest
rates-much Of which they might re.
tain If they controlled their own credit
systems and agencies for marketing and
buying.
Among the experts who will start
the cooperative movement by speak
ing at the conference here are j. G..
Caldwell, Of Lakefield, Mimi; A. O..
Nelson Of Svea, MINI. A. L. Hacker,
who will detail the results Of Minneso.
Ia cooperative creameries, and c. W.
Moomaw, W j. Shuford, +. NJ. Mckee,
who were organizers Of the Virginia
Fruit Growers association, Eastern
Shore Of Virginia Produce Exchange,
Catawba County N. c., and woodford
County, Kvo cooperative organizations
Prof. Coulter will also discuss practical
plans for organization OF cooperative
movements
One ~ the features Of the confer
cpce will be an interstate meeting ~
state and aounty superiutendents teach
rr II agriculture and other rducatious.
At which the subject for discussion will
be- "The Most Effective Means Nv. de-
yeloping the Rural School A. & Mon
ahan, rural school specialist in the
United States bureau Of education. viii
, urge the necessity for a well.defiued,
constructive county plan in rural educa.
tion. Typical rural school problems
} will be discussed by Albert s Cook of
baltimore county, Nd; zebulon Judd,
Wake county, N. G.; Miss Rhea c.
Scott and l.. J. Hanifan, supervisors in
Virginia and West Virginia, respective.
"; Miss Jessie Yancy Mason county,
-lKy,i A. r. Jones, Equality, Ala; J. s.
Ataxyor - ANkauu ~ avI ...a..s aNl..-