Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-04-11
STIMULATING AGRICULTURAL
FININCES.

ing WHICH IL suOulu III JuotiCc o"S
The farmer has more trouble in ar
ranging his loan, to say nothing OF
more expense, than it is right tina: he
should have. In this connection the
Atlanta Journal makes the following
comment;
The science of American agriculture
has markedly progressed within re-
cent years, but the business of agri-
culture is still at a faltering, if no,
chaotic, stage. Our farmers are
learning the value of accurate know :
edge in the cultivation and harvesting
of their crops, but they are yet without
any adequate means of MARKETING
their products or financing their great
interests. Advantages of this charac-
ter which have been enjoyed in ths
rural districts of Europe for decades
are practically unknown in the United
States. We have neglected the ques-
ton of farm credits, of agriculture fiji
ance and kindred issues until every
sphere of our economic life is begin
ming to suffer as a consequence; for,
after all, the needs of the farm are
the beginning and the end of the
country's common needs.
Of usual Importance, therefore, is
the Rural Credits Commission, which
is said to sail for Europe the latter
part of this month for the purpose CT
studying these problems as they have
been worked in the prosperous coun-
tries of the Old World. This Com
mission is composed of representative
men from all parts of the nation They
have been appointed in part by Presi-
dent Wilson and in part through the
Southern Commercial Congress whicn
has been especially active in this en-
terprise.
These delegates, representing the
government and the Southern organ
ization jointly, will visit Italy. Hun
gary, Austria, Germany, Denmark,
Sweden, Holland, Belgium. France,
England and Ireland, and sub-com-
mittees will go to Russia and the Bal
kan States. They will make a first
hand study of the cooperative sys-
tens through which the farmers o.
these countries are enabled to secure
loans on liberal terms and to place
their interests en- a business-like ba-
sis. They will also investigate agri-
cultural methods by which the pro-
ductive power of tn soil is increas ed
and conserved. The information thus
gathered will be carefully compiled
and adapted, in so far as possible, to
American needs and conditions.
The Importance of providing an
adequate system of rural credits for
the United States has been recogn,z-
ed by each of the national parties.
The Democrats considered this mat
ter OF equal Importance with curren-
cy reform and in their platform re-
commended that an investigation of
agricultural credit societies in for
eign countries be made so that it may
be escertained whether a system OF
rural credits may be devised suitable
to conditions in the United States.
Furthermore, the partys platform IA
vored Legislation permitting national
banks to loan a reasonable proper
ton of their funds on real estate s.
curity"
1t is interesting to note that the
first practical step toward carrying
tits constructive policy into effect was
due largely to the efforts of two
Southern senators, Senator Fletcher
loI Florida, and Senator Hoke Smith,
Of Georgia. Upon their insistence, a
provision was made in the agricul,u-
raj appropriation bill for the appoint
menr of the Rural Credits commits
sion that is soon to begin its work
There is, perhaps, no part of the
J, S,1,