Evening journal., 1915-02-24

price of 9S cents per hushcl. This
sound like romance now when we are
threatened with a bread famine and IL
is reasonable to predict 81 wheat be-
fore the new crop can be harvested
Il have thus briefly referred to the
past IN order to rivet attention on the
change which Is coming The Euro
pean war is fraught with such mo-
mentous consequence to our nation as
to appear incredulous TO the average
citizen. New riches are to be added
10 our nation as suddenly as good
fortune came TO Aladdin The pres
ent generation Of farmers Is to be
the most favored since Adam was
driven from the Garden of Eden
AT the outbreak of the war, we
were in a splendid state of prepared
ness to meet an extra demand for ag-
ricultural products at a higher price.
For a generation, we had been busy
improving our roads and transporta-
tion facilities; we had likewise inn
proved our livestock. seed grains and
agricultural tools. We have steadily
extended our arabic area by drain
ing swamps. clearing forest areas
l L
and colleges have been adding to our
source of knowledge by dinusing sci
entifc Information concerning all
phases Of agricultural production.
Indeed 10 seems as if the hand of
fate which has so favored the destin-
les of our nation was designodly pre-
pairing us TO meet our present unpar-
alleled opportunities to garner in the
! Iar 3
European agriculture will be de-
moralized by this war and it will re-
quire at least a generation before
farms can again reach the past vol
ume Of production. Their agriculture
is more highly organized than ours:
and this condition was brought about
by large government aid and assis-
tance. 1t is an agriculture which can
be sustained only by the most perfect
organization.
Belgium, France. Holland. Ger
many and the British Isles are the
very gardens Of Europe and their ag-
riculture was the most highly organ
lied of any people in the world; yet
their combined production under the
most favorable conditions could not
feed their own people. The result Of
, the war can only be to increase large
! ly the worlds demands on the Ameri-
) can farmer. This means, for the first
5 time in existence as a nation, that
5 increased farm production can gC
7 steadily forward with rising prices
for our products. That Is what will
give new life 10 our agriculture and
increased wealth to our nation.
q 4
feel this increased demand; but that
on our agriculture will be the most
permanent. Agricultural industry
cannot be created in a season; il re-
quires the preparation of years Our
own Southland is a good Illustration
of the proof of this assertion. Il is
therefore certain that this increased
demand at rising prices for farm pro-
ducts will continue for years TO come.
Our farm homes require refurnish-
ing, or rather. rebuilding Our far
mers, as a class, have had less money
TO spend by way of improving their
homes and banishing monotony from
their lives, than any other class Of
citizens.
Il speak from actual knowledge. |
came up through pioneer conditions
on farm. know the extreme priva-
tions and the pitiful enforced econom-
les which we're endured. These con-
ditions will now pass and never to
return again.
Thus a new commercial era will
follow this agricultural revival and
prosperity will attend all industries.
I have always been proud to call my
self farmer; but / have recognized
the immense disadvantages under
which we, as class. have labored.
81 deplore the miseries of war and
lregret the stupendous folly which has
plunged the world in this horrible
cataclysm; but l can see in IL the up
lifting of our farming class. the re-
building of our agriculture. and the
acquisition Of national wealth beyond
even the hopes of the fervent dreamer
of yesterday. Il is a time for every
American TO get busy, whatever may
be his field of labor; for he is certain
to receive an ample reward for his
industry"
Meat at 50 cents a pound and shoes
at $40 a pair are further away than
ever. the Department of Agriculture
announces. for the reason that for
the first time in many years all classes
of livestock in the United States are
increasing in numbers.
Despite the ravages of foot-and-
mouth disease. the number of beef
cattle increased by nearly a million
and quarter. or 3.4 per cent. last
year, after declining steadily since
1910. There were half million more
milch COWS on January / than a year
ago. Swine increased nearly 6.O0O,-
900, or more than nine per cent In
the face of the expectation of horses
to the Allies, these animals increased
900 head, and there is no reason
to fear a shortage of horses, says tho
department. The increasing use OF
autos took the average price of horses
down to Sc and mules down S11.5C
during the year.
Importation of hides showed a fall
ing OFF. There is. however" says
the department. little reason 10 sup
pose this decrease will be permanen
or of sufficient Importance 10 creat
any real scarcity. Since the grea
bulk of the imported hides come
from countries now at war, shipment
are not interfered with in any way
and the only new factor to be consid
cred is the possibility of an increasing
demand by the warning countries"
1T is believed" the department
continues, that the United States /