Graham guardian., 1915-11-12
SULl US COLUMN

of food products for which the con
summer pays $27, ,000,00O.OO. Ir
other words, the farmer receives
about IS cents on every dollar that
the consumer pays The consumer
complains of the high cost of living
and the farmer is not receiving a
living wage for his labor, regardless
of the amount of capital he has in.
vested. The middlemen and the
transportation companies claim that
they are only receiving a fair profit
and all that we know is that while
the producer and the consumer are
holding up both ends, the middle
men and the transportation COM
panies are playing safe.
We know that produce rottens in
our fields here IN the Gila valley, be-
cause it does not pay for harvesting,
and only few miles away are peo-
pie in Miami and Globe. who cannot
afford to buy the same kind of pro
duce, because the price is too high
Instances of this kind are innumer-
able, and we are confronted with
the fact that the mining camps for
miles around Graham county are re-
ceivlng their food products from
California and Texas markets and
the middle west and paying prices
that makes it cheaper to use canned
goods, while our products find no
market.
The condition Of our produce here
in the GiIa valley is in bad shape
and we must find some way to over
come it. so that the, producer can
find out the needs of the consumers
and cater to them, and the middle
man must find some way to handle
the produce in such a manner as to
avoid the tremendous waste that is
everywhere apparent, and some
means must be devised for a more
economical distribution of food pro-
ducts.
The need is urgent for a better
understanding between The producer,
consumer and middlemen, and
more hearty cooperation all along
the line. The farmers of Graham
county must get together and stay
together if they want to accomplish
anything in the way of progress
The Graham County Chamber of
Commerce is now the one way for
the farmers to take. advantage of
methods at very small
cost.
Did you send in your application
for membership yet? Then get busy
and do it now.
Graham county has thousands of
acres of government land that some
time must be filed on by those
citizens who have not used their
homestead rights. This land is open
for entry under the Desert Entry
Act, or the Enlarged Homestead
Act, and needs only the development
If water to make it worth on an
average $4,000 per acre.
Other counties in the State are
lOing everything in their power to
attract the right kind of settlers to
lie on their vacant lands and with
he use of labor and capital, put the
and into a state of cultivation that
will pay taxes and make the county
more prosperous in every way. Cut
ing down hills and bringing water
,hru a system of canals for miles is
IN ever day occurrence in the sec
ions where they are taking up the |
'acant government lands and put
ing up with hardships unknown to
he most of US.
Graham county has an ideal
climate all the year round, and pure
water on every hand. with |
and that is as level as a billiard |
able, with the large mining camps
learby, paying top prices for every
hing that they can raise, with the
abroad and postoffice only few
niles away. there is every possible
for the right kind of
nen to come here and file on a 40
Icre tract that will later on prove a
in their old age.
Many a man will laugh at the
dea of taking up government land
hat is right next door to him and
hink it a waste of time to develop
t, when he will go on, year after
ear, working for wages and be
ucky in his old age if he don't leave
lebts for his children to pay off for
i'm. There is none of this land in
iraham county that is open for
ntry now that won't some day be
worth a fortune for the man that
olds the deed.
The Graham County Chamber of
commerce is going to do everything
n its power to settle up our vacant
ands and induce the right kind of
nen to invest their capital where it
lill earn handsome dividends as the
ears roll by.
Distress in the Stomach