The Colorado statesman., 1917-11-03
PROFIT IN SCRAP
metal ON FARM
Owner Can Convert Waste Into
Cash and Aid Uncle Sam
at the Same Time
old MACHINERY is VALUABLE
Vast Amount of Iron and Steel. Needed
for War Purposes, Is Tied Up
In Worn-out Agricultural
Implements.

Inc shortage of the supply of the
iron and steel, which this country must
nave In increasing amounts IL the war
Is TO be won, has developed a new
source of income for the farmer and
not merely a few farmers, but most
farmers.
Uncle Sans geological survey calls
the attention of farmers to the fact
that even at the recently fixed prices
OF iron and steel it should be possible
for most farmers to reap an over.
looked profit through the sale of old
iron and steel scattered about their
premises; that the saving of such old
scrap metal will help to meet the pres
ent 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 Mt
unprecedented prices; that the deliv-
cry OF the old iron and steel at foun-
dries 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 likely not only to
make a clear profit over the cost of
hauling and freight, but through in
creasing the iron and steel supply, he
is contributing to the successful prose-
cution of the war.
Iron and steel are needed and must
be had for innumerable things-for
guns, shells, ships; bridges, buildings,
docks, automobiles, airplanes, 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.
Much Old Metal Thrown Away.
In the Northeastern states scrap
metals have long been more or less
fully taken care of, mainly by the
ubiquitous junk man, and along the
railways and about most industrial
plants they are now salvaged system
atically. 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 plows, mowers, rakes, etc, deco
rate the fence corners and roadsides
and discarded stoves, pumps, pipes
and small utensils rust about the
barn and sheds. A considerable part
of this junk is already on wheels, with
tongue and whiffietree attached, ready
in fact, to be "walked on its own legs"
to the freight station.
According to the census returns
there were in 1910 about 81, ,265, ,000,0 ,000
worth of agricultural implements an6
machinery on the 6,361 ,502 Ameri
can farms. Farm implements, not
including stoves, chains, tools, etc.
valued at about S165000,000 are sold
annually. A considerable part of the
cost of manufacturing this farm ma.
chinery lies in the metals used, and
the metals include not only iron and
steel of various grades and values, but
occasional small parts Of brass or cop
per. Most binders and mowers have
one or more bearings lined with bah
bitt metal containing tin now worth
about 60 cents, and lead worth ten
cents per pound. On the whole, ex-
Guiding metals used in railroad con-
struction and transportation, or in city
engineering and building, by far the
greater part of all the iron and steel
produced in this country in normal
years is shipped out to the farm. 1t
has been roughly estimated that three
fourths of this metal stays on the
farm. AS to this question, the farmer
can judge for himself.
Cooperative Action Proposed.
Many farmers will take advantage
of the opportunity to recover profit
able revenue from this overlooked and
waste product; others, according to
distance from the markets, may sell
at little or no profit, except the satisfy
ing sense of patriotic duty performed.
Still others remote from the consum'
ing foundries and furnaces cannot af-
ford high cost of delivery which may
far exceed the price received for the
junk. Information should be secured
in advance on this subject, it is urged.
The geological survey suggests that
farmers take up the question through
the Grange, the Alliance, the farmers
unions Institutes and other similar