Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-12
SCRAP METAL ON
FARM
Overlooked Waste Product Of Farming
Convertible Into Cash With Profit to
Farmer and with Service to Country

Inc shortage III tHc SuPpis "a eAAS
iron and STEEL which this country
must have in increasing amounts II
the war is to be won, has developed a
new source of income for the farmer.
and not merely few farmers but most
farmers.
The United States Geological Sur
vey, Department of the Interior. calls
the attention of farmers to the fact
that even at the recently fixed prices
of iron and steel 1t should be possible
for most farmers to reap an overlooked
profit through the sale of the old iron
and steel scattered about their prem
Uses; that the saving of such old scrap
metal will help to meet the present
serious deficiency in the supply of iron
and steel that the use Of the old metal
will accomplish savings in coke which
is now to be had only at unprecedented
prices: that the delivery of the old
iron and steel at foundries far from
iron mines and big steel centers will
correspondingly relieve the excessive
strain on the mines. some Of the
furnaces. and the railway and boat
traffic in the coke and iron producing
districts. The farmer who turns in his
junk while the present prices prevail
Is llhclS uOt Only 10 MAKE a GEAR
profit over the cost of hauling and
freight, but. through increasing the
iron and steel supply. he is contribut-
ing to the successful prosecution of the
war.
Iron and steel are needed and must
be had for innumerable things-for
guns. shells, ships. bridges. buildings
docks automobiles airpianes, rails
cars, engines, pipe. oil-well castings
etc. and for export to the Allies. Italy
In particular being badly in need of
steel for all purposes This IS the
main fact.
In the northeastern states scrap
metals have long been more or less
fully taken care Of mainly by the
ubiquitous junk man, and along most
railways and about most industrial
plants they are now salvaged sys-
tematically. However, in the greater
part of the United States little atten-
ton is given to saving the old metal
scattered about the industrial plants
of the farmers. where abandoned bind
ers' pio"s mowers. rakes, etc, deco
rate the fence corners and oadsides
ana discarded stoves. pumps. pipe and
small utensils rust about the harms
ana sheds. considerable part f
this junk is already on wheels with
tongue and whifhetree attached. ready
in fact to be walked on its own legs
to the freight station
According to the census ret,rns
there were in 1910 about 1.265o0o, 900
dollars worth of agricultural machin-
cry alone on the 6,3615O2 American
farms. Farm implements. not inc1ud-
ing stoves rhafre
about s15o 100000 are sold annually
A considerable part of the cost Of
manufacturing this farm machinery
lies in the metals used, and the metals
include not only iron and steel of
various grades and values but occa-
slonal small parts Of brass or conner
Most binders and mowers have ono ~
more bearings lined with Babbitt metal
containing tin now worth about en-
cents and lead worth 10 cents nsr
pound On the whole. excmdine ~
metals used in railroad construc.io,,
and transportation. or in citv err;
neering and building by far the sre,tor
part of all the iron and stee, nrod,oed
IN this country in normal wears is
shipped out to the farm. II has heen
roughly estimated that three fourths
OF this metal stays on the farm AZ ~
TINS question. the farmer can Judge for
himself. How much of this is ,,,;ra
around on your premises. Mr. Farmero
| II you have any-and you probably
nave plenty-it Is a good time TO CON
sider its disposal while the war lasts
ana the prices are high Besides vour
country needs the metal
| Many farmers will take ADVANTAGE of
the opportunity to recover a nroft.hJo
| revenue from this overlooked ana
waste product; others. according to
Instance from the markets. NAV sell, ~
niue or no profit. except the satisfy
ing sense OF patriotic duty performed
sun otners remote from the consu,,,
ing Ioundrles and furnaces can NOT af-
lord nigh cost Of delivery which ma,
.'i exceed the price received for tba
JUNK. information should be seo,raa
III ADVANCE on this question ~
oeological Survey suggests thai 10
axe up the question through The
orange the Alliance. the t.r,r.,
unions. state experiment stations ~.
iafihes institutes. and other sim;,.r
wa tions with view to ascertain
s 'ne iocatlon of the best marLa+
plooaoiy the nearest foundry or tunL
the cost OF transportation. N.
o.e' prices obtafnable for the difrer.rt
classes of junk or implement, .nd ~
quantities OF junk that can bs u.ea -.
.ne FOUNDRY or handled by the 6es,sr
me same agencies might well .rr.nao
Tor cooperative local action on ~ 80
OF the farmers in the difserent 80 49,
munities. fixing dates when car. ,.o'.,s
De IN readiness for loading ~ ~
metals, informing the farm. =. o.o
possible grading of their iunk ~ 70
tending to railway transporta,ion a.
livery and possible settlements ~ ~.
points OF consumption. VIC
Cooperation should bring -. -.
! results Care should be taken rot %
overwhelm the furnace or con.,,r. 10
oy all shipping at once, SO that .ea
great quantities are delivered within
snort period. for 1t is important N RS.
IN MIND that many foundries NAV ~.
nave the junk capacity or the ertrs
LABOR needed to assert and break nm
great quantities of scrap when II n
delivered Somewhat definite arrange.
ments should be made in advance q,
shipments. and these can best he ar
complished by some such agency a,
| those suggested above.
| The copnipO optr,on