American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-04-12
FARM PREPAREDNESS is BIG
PROBLEM FOR POWER COUNTY.
Bankers, Grain Dealers
and Farmers Must Cooperate In Ma
tiOn Wide Move for Maximum Yield.

Resolutions appealing to the farmers
of Power county to cultivate every
available acre of ground and increase
their crops as a preparedness meas
ure, were authorized Wednesday by
the commissioners of the county,
meeting in conjunction with farmers
and business men, as specified in an
order from Governor Alexander to
every board of county commissioners
in the state.
The short notice given in the gov
ernor's message to the commissioners
made it impossible for a large repre-
sentation of farmers to be present, so
only preliminary work toward prepar-
edness was done. Another meeting
will be called for Saturday at which
time more definite plans will be made
to insure the state and nation that
Power county will do her full share
towards preparation for eventualities
that seem impending.
Financial Condition Puzzles.
The financial phase of county pre-
paredness loomed as the big question
confronting local farmers, bankers
and business men, at the meeting We'd
nesday. 1t was explained by several
of the men present that, as individual
units, the business firms and banks of
American Falls are now extending
themselves to the limit in an effort to
tide over the dull season until the
crops have been harvested. Partial
failures of the past years have made
the burden extremely heavy and the
extension of further credit at the pres
ent time by business firms is deemed
next to impossible.
The only possible method of credit
extension that was suggested as be-
ing practicable under present condi-
tions was a cooperative plan to be
used by business firms, banks and
grain dealers. 1t was pointed out that
present custom made the collection of
debts on second or third mortgages
extremely difficult as no basis of ad-
justment was in common use. The
important consideration at present as
to allow the farmer to obtain the
needed stock, seed and feed to do his
spring planting. This can be done
only through grain dealers and feed
companies and they usually feel nat
ural unwillngness to sell on credit
with no prospect of payment within
the near future. The plan suggested
will allow grain dealers and feed
feed merchants to obtain their seed
and money before the claims Of cred
itOrs Will be allowed.
Adjusting Board May Result.
Should such a cooperative plan be
adopted by the business firms a board
consisting of three grain men will
probably be appointed to adjust the
claims of the different firms, see that
every farmer is supplied with the
proper amount of seed and insure each
dealer and creditor his proper amount
in payment prorated according to the
amount of credit that he is carrying
The preliminary work of the organi-
zation involves a thorough survey OF
the county with particular reference
to the number of farmers who need
seed feed and stock. There is re-
ported to be considerable available
ground that would be sowed to spring
grain if the seed could be procured
Farmers who are so situated should
communicate at once with the county
agent or one of the county commits
sioners and arrange for seed.
Committees appointed by Chairman
Walter Sparks. of the board of county
commissioners, are as follows: Fin
ance, L. L. Evans, Sr, D. w. Davis, ]
H. Brown. Henry Rock, H. c. Wones
and J. F. Kosanke. Seed and Feed, E
Z. Earring, VIM. Davie. Chester Green
Charles Goss and NJ. II. Mathisen.