The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-05
LOAN BANK HELP TO FARNERS
Claimed That it VIII Reduce Cost OF
Living So Far as Foodstu1s
Are Concerned.

Washington, Jan. 2.-Since the
Farm Loan Board has deslgnated
twelve cities where the farm loan
banks are to be located, we'll posted
agriculturists are asking the question
whether the people will take proper
advantage of this wonderful govern
mental agency which has been es-
tablished for their benefit.
European nations took the lead in
this matter and what they have ac-
| complished is sufficient evidence OF the
value of readily accessible agricul-
tural credit, based upon real estate
| values Of which there is none better.
One of the most important underly-
ing factors Of Germanys strength Is
the thoroughly organized system OF
rural credits, which enable a man to
develop his property to the utmost,
thus utilizing the lands of the en-
pire to the best possible advantage.
The general use Of the rural cred
! it system in the United States cannot
/ do other than work wonders. There
must come a transformation in agri-
cultural methods which will startle
the world, and old methods Of pur-
suit and finance must give way to
the new order of things.
One of the most important fea-
lures noted in connection with this
new farm owning plan will be to re-
duce the cost of living, in so far as
it relates to foodstuffs, without re-
ducing the farmers net income for
the simple reason that what he pro-
duces will be put upon the market at
recudecd cost, hence the ultimate
consumer may still buy leaving the
farmer a profit on his land and labor
and yet, buying at no excessive figure.
The big waste-now going on in the
form Of high interest-Will be elini-
mated and both producer and consu1a-
er will become the benefciaries.
Farmers will be enabled to method
; ically mobilize their resources under
the new farm loan system which
must, before long, make better busi-
ness men OF them. They will keep
| close watch not only on what they
receive but also upon what they ex-
pend, and learn habits Of Thrift, thus
! beneftting both themselves and the
people who are dependent upon them
for what they produce. The new
banks when put into operation ana
when the farmers begin to patronize
them as contemplated, must mean
money in the farmers pocket and
the farmer will become automatically
in closer touch with his neighbor
through the medium Of the loan as
sociations forming all over the eour-
try.
The new system must, necessarily,
take little time to be perfected In
some communities farmers may be
backward and maybe a little suspic-
ious of this new governmental agen-
ey, which has been both conceived
and placed upon the statute books
for their sole benefit but in time they
will realize that there is no poker in
it-there is no humbug- Is no
catchpenny scheme to get their hard
earned dollars. On the contrary,
they will become convinced that
this new arrangement Tor af0lnS
, them in securing money at low rates
of interest, for becoming owners OF
their own lands in the place Of re-
naming all their lives mere tenants
or croppers; means their financial sal
vation if they but take advantage OF
tha opportunities which have been
! given them. They will learn, too,
/ that best of all, perhaps, is the fact
that they are out Of the hands Of the
/! financial "Shylock" lying in wait to
get the pound of flesh and the drop
of brood to pay the debt. Europe has
operated for more than century
most successfully along this line and
it is now up to the western world
to advance in similar methods.