The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-02
Manufacturers of America
Confer Greatly Increas-
ed Demand This Year.
VITAL NECESSITY OF
SUPPLY rs REALIZED
Steel Manufacturers Will
Increase Allotments For
This Purpose.
fRv Associated Press. J

Chicago, May members Of the
special committee recently appointed
by the National Implement and We
hicle association to cooperate with
the federal government to increase
this countryis food production met
here and issued a statement calling
attention to the fact that the success
of the campaign would be seriously
jeopardized because of a shortage OF
farm implements due to the inability
of implement manufacturers to obtain
more than IS per cent of the sheet steel
needed to supply the normal demand
of the farmers this year.
1t is pointed out that farm imple-
ment manufacturers have practically
no stock on hand and that thousands
of farmers in recent years have allow
ed their equipment to deteriorate to
such an extent that many implements
cannot be used this year without re-
pairs.
with . largely increased demand
for farm implements to meet the war
necessities of this country and Europe
the manufacturers find themselves
unable in some lines of implements to
supply more than rs per cent of the
normal trade this year because Of a
reduction in the allotment of raw ma
terial.
The manufacturers declared every
effort will be made to turn out as many
implements as possible for use at
home and abroad under prevailing
conditions.
They further declare they used every
possible effort to contract for the
steel necessary to meet the extraor-
binary demand but have been unsuc-
cessful. They were compelled to APP
peal to the federal government re-
Gently in order to obtain 20 per cent
of their normal annual supply.
Those present at the meeting repre-
sent the largest farm implement
manufacturers in the country. They
are: C. s. Birmingham, Rockford, ILL.,.
chairman; II. NJ. Wallis, Racine, Wis;
George A. Ranney. Chicago; G. N.
Peek, Moline. ILL.,: r. r. Todd. Moline,
ILL.,; II. S. Lord, Moline, ILL.,; Ma
thanieI French, Davenport, Iowa and
Alexander Legge, Chicago.
The committee issued statement
which read in part:
reports from all parts Of the coun-
try show that a great shortage IN
farm implements prevails right now
All factories making tractor plows are
unable to meet the requirements OF
their trade. The corn acreage has
been decreased by the shortage OF list
ers, the tool necessary to plant corn
IN fall wheat. fields. A shortage OF
regular corn planters is also immin-
ent. All this is occasioned by inability
to secure raw material. particularly
iron and steel products.
"The production OF implements has
been less than normal since 1918. Dur
Ing this period farmers have not pur-
chased to fully provide for their needs.
Tools in the hands OF farmers are
more nearly worn out than ever be-
FORE Dealers and manufacturers
stocks are reduced to low ebb. The
Increased food requirements means in
creased acreage and more than the
normal supply of implements is neces-
sary IL the situation is met. This
condition Is accumulated by a shortage
OF labor on the farms and the necessity
for increasing the proportion done
with machinery.
.'The volume of business Of the
implement companies in the number
OF implements sold in 1916. was con-
siderably less than in 1913. Implement
manufacturers are making every
endeavor to increase their production