New-York tribune., 1913-12-30
PRICES UP DESPITE
BANNER CROP YEAR
Sis, ,OOO,OOO,OO0 in Farm
Products Fail to Reduce
Cost of Living.
MIDDLEMEN OFTEN
GET 500 P. c. PROFIT
Official Report Says Elimination
of Many Between Farmer and
Consumer Is Necessary.

Washington. Dec 2sITen billion dol
lars worth Of products. five billion dollars
OF cash income--a bumper year in spite or
drouths and other setbacks-is the 1913
record of six million American farms.
The most successful year OF husbandry
in the United States brought forth $500,
100000 worth Of crops, OF which 2.ssSOoco
were represented by cereals alone, ana
81. $50, ,0Do 900 worth Of animals sold and
slaughtered and animal products. Inc
value of the 1913 crops is twice as great as
that OF 1899, more than a billion dailars
over 1909 and substantially greater than
1872 or all the crops, however, II is esti-
mated that 80 per cent will remain on
farms where they were produced and that
% per cent of the animal production VIII
remain. On that basis the cash income Is
estimated by the Department OF Agrl-
culture at s. jSi7,ocoOCo.
Cost Of Living Keeps UP.
However desirable increased produc-
ton on farms may appear to he from the
consumers standpoint. 1t does not follow
that such increased production would re-
suit In any increase in the cash income
per farm or per capita OF farm population
or that prices paid by consumers would be
any lower" SAYS the report "Iad the
total production in 1913 equalled or eX-
ceeded the 1912 production 1t seems PROB
able that the cash income per farm would
rot have been greater and might have
been less than in 1872; but il is extremely
doubtful whether the cost TO the con-
sumer would have been any less because
retail prices are promptly raised on
Prospect OF underproduction, but are very
slow TO decline II there is overproductioh'
The long list OF distributors and Md
dlemen between the farmer and the con-
suIner are in a position 20 take advantage
OF the market, and TO certain extent
control the market. I'm both directions. be-
cause they are better organized 10 Keep
informed OF crop and market conditions
and to act promptly than either farmers
or consumers. who are not organized, ana
as individuals are helpless.
The high prices paid by consumers
ranging from 10 nearly 800 per cent, In
some cases, more than the farmer re-
ccives, indicate that there is plenty OF
room for lowering the cost OF farm prod
ucts 10 consumers. and AZ the same time
largely increasing the cash income per
farm without increasing farm production.
Problem Of Marketing.
This condition IS undoubtedly a mar
keting problem. which will have TO be
solved by better organization OF farmers
and improved methods OF marketing.
When. as the result OF such organization
and improved methods, the price OF farm
products can be maintained at a higher
level without increasing the cost 20 con-
sumers. farmers will be justified in in
creasing the output OF their farms with a
fair prospect OF realizing a reasonable
profit on their investment OF time. Labor
and money which In the aggregate Is
enormous.
Corn, with a value or 81 .692 900 90, COM
prised 2s per cent of the value OF all crops,
although tho volume was under the rec
ord. The other principal crops, with
values, are given in the order in which
they come: Cotton, s79S 100000. hay, $780,
10000: wheat-the largest crop ever raised
in this countryside, 0O0 900: oats, $40, 900, =,
go: potatoes. s22S OOO.0c: tobacco. y220 900
600: barley. Sc 900 Oco: sweet potatoes. s43,-
600, O0. sugar beets. 1900. coo; Louisiana
cane sugar $4,000 90; rye, $4,000, 90; rice,
So, coo OO0 naxseed. 81 10000; hops, So
00000o. and buckwheat. 100000.
New High Crop Value.
The value OF the crops OF 1918 is nigh
\ new high record In estimated value is
made by the total OF all cereals. and sepa-
rately by corn. cotton. cottonseed. tobacco
and sugar beets. Only once has there been
a higher estimated value for oats, rye.
rice, potatoes. hay. hops and the total Of
beet and cane sugar Only twice has the
estimated value OF wheat and OF beet
sugar been exceeded.
Dairy products OF 1918 are estimated at
more than ,sll,0O0,o0O. Eggs and fowls
have an estimated value OF more than
S57s 10000
The wool production OF 1918. estimated
at SO4 ,Ocooo pounds, was more than SOL
000 600.
The value OF the agricultural exports
of domestic production in the fiscal year
1913 was 81, ,l23 OF. .i69, an amount which has
rot before been equalled. The re-exports,
otherwise called the exports OF foreign
agricultural products are estimated at
sl2 10000. The so-called balance OF trade