The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-18

county and the Red river valley offer
their straw free of cost to the farm
ers in the western part Of the state
to stave off the feed famine.
Enough straw has been burned in
this county and the Red river valley
at this date to tide over the farmers
in the western part Of the state"
said the commissioner. We have
not the stock in this section to feed
the straw to and rather than keep
IL on the fields where 1t would re-
quire years for 1t to rot, the match
is applied"
County Commissioner Boyd be-
lieves that every farmer in the val
ley would be willing to offer his
straw to the western farmers. He
states that the farmers in the sec
ton of the state where feed Is
scarce and who are or will be COM
PEELED to sell their livestock, should
band together, and hire a few men
or do 1t themselves, in baling the
waste straw in the valley and ship
ping 1t to the sections where needed.
He says the cost would be small.
Burn Straw; Cattle Want.
Nights the skies in the valley are
Illuminated with redness from burn
ing straw piles while out in the
western sections of the state, cattle
are losing flesh for want Of feed. The
drouth hit the pastures and the
meadows on the slope and the frost
cut down what little grass there was
on the grazing lands until now there
is no nOurishment whatever to be
had from the meagre growth.
Now is the time when the east
ern farmer can assist his western
friend in furnishing this straw free
OF cost" said Commissioner Boyd.
Where a number of farmers would
club together the cost OF shipping
would be cheap and l am positive
that the railroads might make some
when the true circum-
stances are brought to their atten-
ton. l did not know the true con-
dition OF affairs in the western part
of the state until l had talked the
matter over with Mr.. Kositzky."
Sell Stock At Sacrifice.
Owing to the shortage of hay and
other feed young stock, and in many
cases breeding stock, is being ship
ped to market in large numbers ana
sold at a sacrifice. Available hay Is |
said to be in the hands of specu-
lators, and held at eXorbitant prices. |
1t has been pointed out that II the |
meat supply of the future Is to be |
in North Dakota some &C
ton must be taken at once to assure |
a supply Of hay and straw to the |
stock men within 80 days.
Rail Commission Acts.
State officials have already pre-
sented the condition Of affairs to |
Food Administrator Herbert c.
for aid. The railroad COM
mission sought to relieve the feed |
condition by encouraging the farm
ers to go to Minnesota on the reser-
walton near Thief River Falls to cut |
hay and ship it to points where 1t is
needed most. The commission even |
went so far as to make application |
to the railroads to set half rates on |
hay and haying outfits and one Of |
the railroads, it is said, agreed to
these rates.
Commissioner Boyds suggestion
will probably carry considerable |
weight. He is a farmer and says he |
has no use for the large amount OF |
straw on his place and personally |
knows of other farmers in the coun- |
ty who would offer their straw free |
as he would gladly do to assist the |
western farmer and his stock.