The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-08-21


cost us sass a bushel to raise. Seed
cost us $3.50 an acre. labor 40 cents
an acre and twine 10 cents a pound"
Another said
"The northwestern farmers grain
should be worth as much TO the al
lies as Canadian grain. Why dis
courage us when we expanded our
credit to the limit 10 increase the
acreage at the governments call nm
der the unusual advance in the cost
Of seed, labor and material. We
cannot raise wheat for less than
$3.50 a bushel in a year when all
costs are clear out of reason"
And the third said:
Farmers in this vicinity plowed
and seeded every available acre in
response 70 the call Of the govern
ment for maximum acreage. Seed
cost us $3.50 an acre, machine ex-
tras cost us Is per cent more than
last year. We must have So bush
ell. II we do not get a proht this
year, we will not be able to stay In
the game and consequently VIII not
seed any wheat next year"
The kilograms will be transmitted
to Washington this afternoon at the
expense of the Fargo Commercial
club.
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolutions adopted at the mass
meeting last Saturday morning were
read at the meeting this morning,
and unanimously reaftirmed, 1OS
names being attached to the original
copy which will be forwarded to
Washington tonight.
The resolutions. and the signers
follow:
"Resolved-That we as represen-
tative farmers and business men OF
this locality, protest against a fixed
price for wheat below its actual
value on the open market. That at
the date of Mr.. Hoover's notice to
the grain and elevator interests on
Aug. I3 last, the market price was
S30s per bushei at the Minneapolis
and Duluth terminals.
This too, in face of the fact that
Kansas. Oklahoma, Nebraska and
other winter wheat growing states
had been and were pouring their
produce into the terminals and en-
joying the full benefit of the prices
fixed by demand and supply.
Just as the threshing of wheat is
possible in the states of North pa-
kota, Minnesota and Montana a
price less than its actual value Is
unfair and unjust to the northwest
growers. This fact is further en-
phasized by the high cost of produc"
ton in 1917 as compared with form
er years, and further by the very
short crops Of this and last year
grown in North Dakota and Mon
tana-"
'It will entail upon the govern
ment or the states involved in such
price fixing the necessity Of aiding
the farmers in such districts where
practical failure now exists and
which was true last year-to the eX-
tent of the difference in the price.
OF So or any less figure named-and
its market value. and in effect will
prove a tax upon the government.
state or individual to such extent in
addition to the actual loss Of the
farmers of the three northwest
states of 1920. 100000 or thereabouts.
"A further injustice exists in such
price fixing in the fact that all win
Ter wheat growers have enjoyed the
price of the open market to Aug. 10.
Furthermore, the northwest wheat
grower has produced the 1917 crop
an minimum prices OF all articles
antering into the making of its crop
without aid from the government in
fixing a price on such commodi-
ties.
Meantime immediate action OF
your commission Is urged on. the
ground that the markets are so
demoralized here as to make mar
keting of our wheat almost impossi-
bic, and much grain may suffer
great damage from such congested
condition from lack of storage facili-
ties. making il necessary to pile the
grain in the open on the ground.
The agricultural interests OF the
country were called upon to exercise
their greatest endeavor to supply the
produce which would help the Uni
ted States to be on important factor
in the winning of the war. The same
agricultural interests now ask that
fair play be exercised toward them
for having done that which was re-
quested.
Signed