El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-09

PPoDUcTION of food supplies is to be increased ap
precsby, means must be found tor financing many
farmers There are plenty of them who are willing to
farm but the money buy seed high as It Is now
That is the condition which prevails generally throughout
the west not particularly IN the Rio Grande valley
than In any other section Of the west where the Farmers
have not lived long enough and raised enough good crops 10
give them store of cash upon which to draw al
such times present requires investment before
crops can harvested The ground must be prepared
Often this necessates hiring farm hands The ground must
be seeded and cultivated until the crop IS ready TO
The farmer does not get his money until the
IS sold Perhaps his already slender resources for planting
have gone wheat other grain crop which now
appears be failure If he IS to grow another crop ne
must borrow, and where?
Here is me case as outlined by New Mexico farmer
We advised by pleas from president Wilson, our
merchants bankers and bakers to plant plant ana 1
wonder II Of these pleaders realize that i
There are thousands OF small fry farmers and ranch
ers who have the hard up for cash
that it impossible for them to increase their
1T tsEes horsef1esh and good feed TO plow. Corn is
selling for $3.50 and hay for $50 Labor has TO be paid
equally good that unable to prepare or to buy
Tesdy on account Of lack Of money for seed.
And may be sure that should ask for a loan az
ing any loans just now
IF some way could be devised |9sFeby some o. Ihe
t, icTssss ne ar3ount Of seed nut In the ground
quite natural that bankers should hesitate to extend
loans where any large amount Of sk is involved for the
money disposal not theirs but their depOstOrs
and they are justified in placing other peoples money
where If may be jeopardized by crop failures.
In Of the large which needed throughout
the country the government should prepare to finance the
farmers loans probably by the Of funds made avail
able by an act of congress The funds deposit in postal
savings banks viii be help but insufficient. Chambers
OF commerce and wealthy individuals may help in
cases If the crops success those who helped finance
the seeding might be repaid either cash from the sales
produce OF from a share IN the produce itself
This matter which deserves the closest inquiry by
organizations and government agencies for farming
as much practical matter running hardware business
OF drygoOds store. All the shouting in the world viii
sufficiently the crop acreage unless the money
available for seeding and bringing the crops to the harvest
point.
The prime needs Of the Elephant Butte project
lated to of the cultivated area well known
Federal aid needed in providing proper drainage through
construction Of drainage canals that the threatened
destruction of large of farming land through water
logging nay be avoided
Large crops from the menaoed lands cannot be guaran-
teed and what more farmers be expected to incur
risks when only is the return uncertain but the danger
Of permanently running their land is increased All this
be Obviaed and the farmers greatly encouraged if the gov
eminent viii hasten the work a drainage system
It is also fact that the payments government
hanging the heads Of the farmers burden The
government afford defer all payments the project
during The period when It desirable to encourage the
farmers by every possible Relieving them Of the
payments viii give the farmers feeling of freedom
and viii make available them money for increasing
the cultivated area, buying seed, etc.
Particularly for the assistance Of farmers who be
induced undertake the cultivation hitherto untitled
areas the government might make arrangements for pro-
dng free seed well water without the usual charges
1nssmuch there many farmers in New Mexico who