Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-27

bound to be fed unless the price is
kept up. for the agricultural depar
ment claims that 20 pounds of corn
is only equal to 12 pounds OF wheat
as food for stock and poultry. We as
sure the government Of the loyalty Of
North Dakota people and we will fur
ntsh our share Of the products, funds
and mon to carry the present wal to
completion, but request in return fair
and equitable treatment. The wheat
grower has not made his money rails
ing wheat. The prosperous farmers
In u section have made q large por-
|tion of their money out Of the rise in
value of land. Many farmers in every
exclusive grain growing country go
broke annually. The hazard Is greater
than in any other line OF business.
Hail, frosts, not winds. drought, rain,
rust, chtnoh bugs and grasshoppers
make 1t so. The farmer and his wife
put in hours than n other
class of labor and receive less wages
per hour than any other class. If you
lower the price it means less produc-
ton and greater consumption. Wheat
Is worth 8 cents per pound for feed
to produce, pork, poultry n eggs
and much Of it will be used for that
purpose II you should lower the price,
for it Is natural for farmers to feed
the cheaper product. When Canada
Communicated wheat they placed a
price 8 cents above the price made
by supply and demand. The commits
sion men and millers will not suffer
as their commission has been raised
from 100 to 900 per oent and IL now
in effect, and we trust you will not
discriminate or be unfair to the
farmer who has only the one crop
(spring wheat) to sell.
If the price of corn, oats, pork,
beef, poultry and other foods already
established by supply and demand,
had been reduced by an arbitrary
price during n marketing season Of
1917 n you should now reduce the
price of wheat proportionately
we would not complain, sven though
government statistics show that wheat
10 the only crop hat is materially
short. And the nutriment value Of
one dollars worth Of wheat Is create
than that of one dollars worth Of any
other food commodity.
We herewith submit schedule Of
cost OF production which il compared
with government estimates when you
consider the extra high cost Of seed,
labor. machinery, ETC., for this year
will be found quite favorable. We
suggest and urge that the same be
examined by experts familiar with
spring wheat growing during 1917.
If you consider $1,000 too much
salary for the farmer and his wife
when boarding themselves, except the
use of a COW and their garden, deduct
any amount you deem fair and we be-
lieve you will still find that under
present prices for everything the
farmer uses he is still entitled to the
price fixed by supply and demand be-
fore Mr.. Hoover issued his statement.
Schedule of Cost of Farming One
Hundred and Sixty Acres.
Value Of Farm. $50 per
acre 100000
Including house $500, out
buildings $500.
Five horses 100000
harness 10000
Wagons and machinery. s00.O 90
Cow and chickens. 1880
Total ..$10,126.00
Interest at e%............ $607.50
and stock ............. 5000
Insurance (hail and frey. 1000
Repairs and depreciation,
buildings ............. $500
Risk. life Of live stock. $500
Depreciation on horses and
machinery l6% on 49,.
$2,1O0) $500
Seeding 100 acres wheat at
81 per .......... 10000
(Much of the extra acreage
Seeding S. acres oats..... 1000
(25 acres for pasture. hay,
building spot and barn
yard.)
acre .................. 4o.5o
Help. one man one month
in spring, wages and
board ................. 5000
Help. one man one month
in fall, wages and board. 1890
Thrashing 1876 acres at
$3.50 per 202.5C
Salary and board for farm
er and wife one year,. 100000
Total $8.160.5o
Respectfully submitted.
]. Nelson Kelly, chairman, j.. D
Bacon, Harrison Garrett, Aubrey
Lawrence, O. J. Barnes, Clay Lari-
more, J. g.. Brown, Nathan Upham,
and A.P paaka committee