The courier-index., 1917-08-10
This Page Belongs to the Marianna Commercial Club
 Andi Edited by Secretary O the
Commercial Club Planning
 Vigorous Wheat Campaign

through it marketing and agricul- tural committees, has been giving ,nuch consideration recently to the matter of providing a stable mar ket for wheat with a view to launch ino a campaign for the raising of more wheat in Lee county. Upon inc occasion of D. c. Welty's recent visit to Marianna he was asked to discuss this important matter in his address at the Elks Club. MT. Vel tv and otberB who are in position to know what they are talking about do not believe the establishment of small flouring mill will prove a successful venture, nor will such an institution create any better wheat market than the farmers can get without the mill. It was pointed out by MT. Welty that wheat is a staple product, just like cotton, that mrketing conditions are stable, that large mills always pay the top prices for the grain and that the great wheat belts of the west and northwest do not depend upon local mills for their markets, but sell to the big mills. MT. Welty discussed the question of establishing a small Touring mill in Marianna solely from the standpoint of improving marketing conditions, and leaders in the Commercial Club who heard his address and have since made some investigation in the matter are con- yinced MT. Welty is correct in his ideas so far as marketing conditions are concerned.
 But feature of the wheat situa- ton in Lee county that had not heretofore been given consideration has since arisen-that is, that a small mill will induce many farmers to raise enough wheat to furnish their own flour. It is hardly prob able any large number of Lee county farmers would care to go into wheat raising as money crop, and so long as this is true they would not be so vitally concerned about the establishment of flour ing mill merely with view afford ing them an opportunity to dispose of their grain at top market prices But if any considerable number of farmers can be induced to SOW a few acres of wheat in order that they may provide their families with flour, the saving in the course of year will be a substantial matter The presence of the boil weevil 1T some sections of the county has caused many of the farmers to turr their attention to wheat. They arc not planning to raise wheat for tho market, but for home consumption There is now no flouring mill closer than Wynne. These farmers con tend that if small mill is erected here it will be no trouble to gel scores of farmers, white and black to put in a small acreage of whea' each. Most of it would be converted into flour for the use of the farm CTS. If there is surplus it car easily be sold.
 In discussing the matter at th' Commercial Club meeting Tuesda! night this phase of the question re celved favorable consideration. 4 committee composed of R. L. Nixon and Secretary Glenn Leary of Mari anna, and J. B. Lowe, a substantial farmer residing in the VineyrC nelghborhood, was appointed to g
 !" Wynne and investigate the mill
 mg situation there. Upon their re
 mrn they will make report to thu commercial Club, immediately fol
 owing which a definite plan will b.
 agreed upon. The membership O
 me club, in conjunction with inter
 ested farmers, will then launch ;
 vigorous campaign for an increases
 sneat acreage in Lee county.
 II a Touring mill is establishe'
 aere It is quite likely a produce mar
 set will be conducted in connection
 with the plant.
 oome interesting correspondents
 mas % recently passed between D. (
 @melty, agricultural commissioner flo
 pe Missouri Pacific railroad, E. J
 ppOulaan, chairman of the Profitabl
 .a,mlng Bureau of the State Bank
 s.s s Association, w. N. Adams, presi r.,l' ca or the Philadelphia Millin
 " osOnipany' and President c. E. Dag S1' eI, or the Marianna Commercia Sn SruO. The correspondence is repro ss. asea Tn full below. Every public ns.. pnl'ed citizen in Lee county, an r~as'cularly ra those engaged in farm hs' are urged to read these letters ths thsuse they throw much light o " wheat situation:
 "ELTY'S LETTER TO DAGGET