Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-18

In such q crisis as faces our nation
1t 10 natural for every humble citizen
to be doing his best thinking for his
country, and 20. many like myself,
who have never before broken into
print are emboldened to do SO now.
Although only an occasional visitor
in North Dakota for some years. I feel
that 1t 10 still more OF home than any
other state. I know its resources bet
sibilities more than those. perhaps,
who live there continuously. That is
why I urge q greater self appreciation
and sense Of her responsibility at the
present time.
AS each individual should do the
thing he can do most efficiently for
the good Of all so with each state.
North Dakota's contribution will be
pre-eminently It's agricultural prod
ucts. 1t is one Of the nations great
granaries. and It goes without saying
that from the motive of self interest
the farmers will push grain raising to
the people Of the towns and cities, in
GLIDING the children in the higher
grades Of the schools, m alive to the
food emergency and see the part they
might take in: vastly increasing the
productivity Of the state by their tenn
porary entrance into tho special line
Of gardening-the raising of the less
%perishable vegetables such as pota-
toes. beans. carrots. onions, etc.
All have heard Of the food riots
because OF the high prices in the large
cities-potatoes over four dollars q
bushel in New York, Baltimore and
in proportion. When this condition
prevails now. what may be expected
another winter when some millions of
our people-farm workers among
others-Are taken from their accus-
toned pursuits to prosecute war?
1t is into this gap that the people
Of the towns and the older children
might step.
The farmers will be prevented from
help. They Will be taxed to the ut
most to carry on grain raising, and
stock raising-industries that require
a large permanent investment Of cap
ital in land and machinery, while
the gardener may rent land and re-
quires little machinery. His work is
the much needed contribution.
You may ask why North Dakotane
not farmeFs-should particularly
enter the vegetable industry. For two
reasons-one being that the soil is SO
= A@A1 A. IA y W 00- SAOP1 VI VS60-
tables without. fertilizer. and leave
the land improved for grain. That
is not the ASA in a great many Of the
eastern states. You ask people here
why they do not increase the acreage
these years Of war prices and they say
the land win not five profitable re-
turns without fertilizer and the price
of fertilizer since the war began IL alb
solutely ~prohibitive. In soil resource,
North Dakota Is PREPARED.
A second reason 10 that many other
states that have q rich soil have also
cities. with large manufacturing in
dustries in their midst. These are
paying high wages now 80 there are
counter Inducements to the worker
who could give some time to q tenn.
porary occupation. North Dakota haa
few such counter Inducements.
In this crisis why not have the
schools arrange to release the Older
pupils from attendance for the week,
Of seed planting and harvesting oil
these products7 Then II public-spir.
tied citizens or civic societies would
organize such effort and make 1t Of.
fective in buying seed, renting land
selling the product, etc.. and II soml
such plan were carried out by ever
village and town in North Dakota, {
vastly increased product would re-
suit and a great patriotic duty .woult
have been accomplished.
I would suggest that your governor
VINO II q practical farmer could Civ
great assistanos in any such move
mont, especially In the way Of collec
IL, selling Of products.
There d nd doubt at all but tina