Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-15
MHAT STATES ARE DOING
TO AID AGRICULTURE
Council of Defense Complies Infor-
- nation as to Various Methods
SSslt Adopted.
BANKERS ARE MAKING LOANS
Prefer Local Handling to Plan of
4 Central Pool Suggested by Pres
ident l.. T.. Johnson, of Norfolk
M and Western Railway.


farmer in the present war crisis. There
has been no abatement in this effort.
Z but some changes in methods and plans
have been necessary owing TO condi-
lions that were not, and could not have
been. anticipated
50 In Virginia the Council of Defense
and the agencies allied with. especially
the agricultural council. have cndeav-
ored. with some success. TO provide a
means whereby the small farmer could
get small loans with which TO purchase
1 equipment of various kinds in - way
that would smooth the process of neco-
ttating the loans. Al first ii WAS
thought that the banks might be Will
ing to contribute pro rata To central
ly controlled fund of $2j00h0. from
which small loans would be made with
out the usual collateral This plan
was presented to the Virginia Bankers
Association by President l.. = johnson.
of the Norfolk and Western Railway
Company, who is a member OF the Viz
ginia Council OF Defense.
After carefully considering the pro
posal. the bankers decided that better
results might he obtained by handling
such loans locally. each bank caring
for the needy farmers in its locality.
A great many loans have been made in
this way and will continue to he made.
BANKERS ARE HANDLING
-is. SITUATION LOCALLY
The bankers replied to the councils
recomm lions as follows:
whilst this association desires to
lend its aid To the Council OF Defense
and TO cooperate in any practical lc
way possible in its work. At the same
time the association is clearly of the
opinion that the request OF the coupcu
that the bankers of the State contribute
fund OF 100000, the same 10 be rN-
pended by certain committees to farm
ers needing financial assistance in maxi
Ing the 1917 crop. is not advisable
for the reason that the bankers OF this
State have already taken up this mat
ter in advance OF the action of The
council and have loaned and arc still
lending their help along the foregoing
lines to all farmers worthy and need
ing assistance in making their present
crop. The amounts advanced arc FAR
IN excess of the sum named kN tie
council.
This association believes that the
local banks throughout the State are
in better position to know the needs
of the different farmers in each COM
munity in which they live than any
board could be. The bulk of all rops
TO be grown in our State has already
been planted and is now under cuItl-
walton. which condition has in a large
number of cases been BROUGHT about
by the timely and liberal policy aduD,
ed by the bankers over the state gcm-
orally"
The time IS approaching when fur
Their assistance. If the best results arc
TO be obtained. must be afforded small
farmers, and tho Virginia council viii
consider how best this may be done
STUDYING WHAT OTHER
STATES ARE DOING
AS preliminary move. the Council
has studied the record Of what has
been Gone in other States along this
line. 1t has found that Arizona. Con-
necticut. Florida. Kansas NIassn-
chusetts, Utah and Wisconsin have un-
dertaken the distribution If seeds to
farmers. In Arizona. Connecticut ana
Massachusetts, and in Utah where tn.
Legislature has made specific appro-
priation for this purpose. seed. have.
been purchased hy the Council OF De-
tense and distributed at cost for cash
or on credit In Connecticut the en-
deavor is only 10 distribute seeds in
solar as the mark., supply fails or
the market prices rise above u fair
amount. BY the purchase o. large
amount OF seeds which can be thrown
on the market rs cost tat any time. the
Connection; cennnritlee thus, to II large
Il
in the State
In Fairfield County. Connecticut, an
der the Fairncld County Resource
Mobilization Committee. and In Wis
consin, the councils have secured on
lions on seeds, making seeds available
at uniform Price 10 all farmers The
Fairfield County committee mas gone
further and secured options or for
tilizers and agriculture! implements.
In Wisconsin the principal seed dis
trloutors OF the state We're called in;o
conference by the state council and
through threat OF the use Of the law
empowering the council To seize food
stufs. which was then about 10 pass
the Legislature induced merchants to
make low uniform price for seeds
the option 10 purchase to last for sew
eral weeks. The farmers were enabled
10 acquire this seed a the option price
through the cooperation of the banks
SYSTEM OF SEED
EXCHANGE ESTABLISHED
I'm Florida and Kansas a system OF
seed exchange has been established.
The farmers are requested TO r,pcrt
any seeds which they may have avail
able for sale and any need for seeds
which they are unahl. 70 supuly them-
selves. In Florida the precinct RON
resentatives and local branch uf the
Agricultural Commission handle ;his
matter in the sam. manner that they
handle the farm labor problem In
Kansas the State council has published
catalogue Of the names OF various
farmers needing seed or having seed
to sell and the amounts or each This
was sent out generally Throughout The
State.
In Connecticut, Massachusetts. Rhode
Island and Vermont the councils have
assisted the farmers by securing loans
for them at low rates Of interest for
use In the purchase Of seeds In
Rhode Island this credi, has been OK
tended directly 10y The council. $50
600 having been appropriated by the
Legislature for this purpose In New
Mexico financial agents have been an
! pointed in each county to finance thc
planting Of land which would other
wise not be fully cultivated and TO CO.
operate with the county councils inso-
Tar IS Is possible These county n
nancial agents are carefully Instructed
! as to the quantity Of seed Of each KIND