The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-07
DOMESTIC HELPS AND
 AIDS TO HOUSEWIVES
HOME HEALTH CLUB
Edited by pr. David H. Reet
 ChicagO0

Chicago.)
 Preparedness: The subject is one which should be approached from all angles. I have already discussed some phases of it. I want to emphasize feature that has been troubling the producers and consumers of food stuffs and again call attention to the work of the Department of AgricuI- ture at Washington. We are actually spending millions of dollars in that de- partment and if you will have your name put upon the milling list the de- partment will send to you the monthly crop reports as well as various bulle- tins that are available for free distri- button. The bulletins are of actual cash value to both producers and con- SumerS of food stuff and if the prOduc- CTS were as well organized as the deal CTS, the monthly reports would be of tremendous value, but as long as they are not and are not likely to be for some years to come, then the value of these reports are for the dealers.
 Now, as a matter of fact. the con- sumers of meat products including hogs, cattle, sheep and chickens, are paying from 25 per cent. to 100 per cent. more than they were 10 years ago and from 50 per cent. to 200 per cent. more than 20 years ago.
 The monthly crop report sent out Jan. 31, 1916, shows that the prices
 
 have actually decreased per cent. The farmers are actually receiving A per cent. less today than they were one years ago.
 Those of us who buy meats in the cities know from sad experience that year ago. The butcher tells us it is due to the war in Europe. that the packers are getting fancy prices for war rations and that they (the butch ers) are losing money.
 The actual increase of price level paid to. the farmers on all kinds of principle crops is only IA per cent. during the last eight years. If you wish to compare the retail selling prices with those of eight years ago, consult the advertisement of special prices published in newspapers of eight years ago with the bargain prices of today. When doing so keep in mind the fact that you are com pairing special advertised bargains, which are as a rule from 15 per cent. to 20 pAE cent. less than most people pay.
 It seems to me that the greatest and best work of the Agricultural Depart ment is in ways and means of distri- button, from the producer to the con- sumner and in a more extensive propa- ganda of home preparation of pro- ducts, making the products of the farm ready for the table.
 The farmer that never sells hay or grain is universally better off than the one that does. All hay, fodder and grain should be consumed on the farm. Let it walk to market in the form of hogs, cattle, sheep and pou1- try or better still, in the finished pro- duct. Hogs should go always in the form of hams. shoulders, bacon, spare ribs, sausage, etc. Many fruits and IJ fo more wholesome when canned imme- diate1y after coming from the garden and the community canning factories should become permanent and profitable part of farming.
 When the problem of distribution is settled in a practical manner the producer should receive much more for his crop and the consumer should pay less. In America every man is his own king It is our country and we must be ready at all times to de- fend it. I believe that the Department of Agriculture should at once, through a system of storage and farm credits prepare to care for the surplus of bumper crops that when the lean years come the people may have plenty The surplus could always be available in case the producers were called upon to defend their homes.
 Some might cali this kind of talk a, step toward paternalism. Instead it is simply cooperation. We, the people find through our employers at Wash ington, that we have a tremendous surplus of a certain crop. The de- rnand is for (to i11ustrate) 75 pounds stored from the previous crop and icashes it at a. big price.
 With cooperation or government control of storage and credits the proper level of prices to consumers and profits of production could be readily maintained to the advantage of the people.