The midland journal., 1917-11-02
Owner Can Convert Waste Into
Cash and Aid Uncle Sam
st the Same Time.
old MACHINERY IS VALUABLE
Vast Amount Of Iron and Steel. Needed
for War Purposes, Is Tied up
In Worn-out Agricultural
Implements,

Ane shortage OF the supply Of the
iron and steel, which this country rnust
nave In increasing amounts If the war
is TO be won, has developed a new
source OF income for the farmer. and
not merely few farmers, but most
farmers.
Uncle Sans geological survey calls
the attention of farmers to the fact
that even at the recently fixed prices
OF iron and steel 1t should be possible
Ior most farmers to reap an over
looked profit through the sale of old
iron and steel scattered about their
premises; that the saving of such old
scrap metal will help to meet the preS-
ent serious deficiency in the supply of
iron and steel; that the use of the
OLD metal will accomplish savings in
coke which is now to be had only at
unprecedented prices; that the deliv-
efy or the old iron and steel at foun-
dfles far from iron mines and big steel
centers will correspondingly relieve
the excessive strain on the mines,
some OF the furnaces, and the railway
and boat traffic in the coke and iron
producing districts. The farmer who
turns in his junk while the present
prices prevail is likely not only to
make a clear profit over the cost Of
hauling and freight, but, through in
creasing the iron and steel supply, he
is contributing to the successful prose
cution of the war.
Iron and steel are needed and must
be had for innumerable things-for
guns, shells, ships, bridges, buildings,
docks, automobiles, airplanes, rails,
cars, engines, pipe, oil-well castings,
etc., and for export to the allies, Italy
in particular being badly in need Of
steel for all purposes. This is the
main fact.
Much Old Metal Thrown Away.
In the Northeastern states scrap
metals have long been more or less
fully taken care of, mainly by the
ubiquitous junk man, and along the
railways and about most industrial
plants they are now salvaged system.
atically. However, in the greater
part Of the United States little atten-
tion is given to saving the old metal
scattered about the industrial plants
Of the farmers, where abandoned bind
ers, plows, mowers, rakes, ETC., deco.
rate the fence corners and roadsideS,
and discarded stoves, pumps, pipes,
and small utensils rust about the
barn and sheds. A considerable part
Of this junk is already on wheels, with
tongue and whiffietree attached, ready.
in fact, to be walked on its own legs"
to the freight station.
According to the census returns
there were in 1910 about 81 ,265, 100000
worth of agricultural implements and
machinery on the 6,361, ,502 Ameri.
can farms. Farm implements, not
including stoves, chains, tools, ETC.,
valued at about $165,OO0,000 are sold
annually. A considerable part Of the
cost of manufacturing this farm ma
chinery lies in the metals used, and
the metals include not only iron and
steel Of various grades and values, but
occasional small parts of brass, or cop
per. Most binders and mowers have
one or more bearings lined with bab-
bitt metal containing tin now worth
about 60 cents and lead worth ten
cents per pound. On the whole, ex-
Guiding metals used in railroad con-
struction and transportation, or in city
engineering and building, by far the
greater part of all the iron and steel
produced in this country in normal
years is shipped out to the farm. 1t
has been roughly estimated that three
fourths of this metal stays on the
farm. AS to this question, the farmer
can judge for himself
Cooperative Action Proposed.
Many farmers will take advantage
of the opportunity to recover a profit
able revenue from this overlooked and
waste product; others, according to
distance from the markets, may sell
at little or no profit, except the satisfy
ing sense of patriotic duty performed.
Still others remote from the consum
ing foundrieS and furnaces cannot af-
ford high cost of delivery which may
far exceed the price received for the
junk. Information should be secured
in advance on this subject, it is urged.
The geological survey suggests that
farmers take up the question through
the Grange, the Alliance, the farmers
unions, institutes, and other similar
organizations, with a view to ascer-
tanning the location of the best mar
ket, probably the nearest foundry or
junk dealer; the cost of transporta-
ton; the best prices obtainable for the
different classes of junk or imple-
ments, and the quantities of junk that
can be used at the foundry or handled
by the dealer. The same agencies
might well arrange for cooperative To-
cal action on the part OF the farmers
in different communities, fixing dates
when cars would be in readiness for
loading the old metals, informing the
farmers as to possible grading of their