Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-04-20
Baltimore And Ohio Will Colonize
Farm Workers.

'o"o ioA INC HhOOillZHtlOn OF America
Agricultural Army are being crystallizet
as rapidly as possible. W. H. Manss, as.
sistant to Vice-president of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. is in charge of the work
and a large corps of experienced helpers
are aiding him in completing the huge task
ITO solve the agricultural problem right
now is vital to our country" said Mr.
Manss, in outlining the plans and oreani-
cation being perfected. ut means the
solution Of the food supply problem at the
same time. To get enough food for the
people Of this country means that we will
have to plant and raise food products on a
greater scale than ever has been done be-
fore. 1t should be clearly understood that
this movement is not one that is confined
to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Every
organization, association and individual
who can help should join in at once, for
this certainly is a patriotic duty and the
food conditions in this country today are
OF sort which demand not only serious
thought but concerted effort.
when we established our Farm Labor
Bureau and announced our intention of
stimulating the planting and growing of
food products along our own line and in
our own territory, we found that we had
merely made beginning. We discovered
that we were entering upon work which
is gigantic in its scope and which must be
nation wide.
1.-THE big problem. after all. is securing
labor. Granted that the land is to be had
for the planting of crops, the real problem
is to get the labor to cultivate the crops.
Something has to be done to change
the method of handling farm labor. For
the past five or six years 1t has been very
difficult to obtain labor and the matter is
one to which the best minds in our own
organization have given serious thought.
THE plans so far worked out by our
staff are fourfold." continued Mr.. Manss.
I'VE believe a great organization such as
ours can give the nation genuine help in
an hour Of need. We can apply to the
securing, distribution and handling Of farm
labor the advantages Of railroad organiza-
ton. and every great railway of this coun-
try has its own effective. economical ways
of handling a large volume of labor.
First, we are now making a survey to
ascertain the number Of permanent farm
laborers needed in various sections. Since
municipalities. counties and States in this
time of war will practically abandon all
public construction work, this labor can
be utilized on the farms-and our plan con
templates using this labor on the 'construc-
ton gang basis-locating labor gangs in
places where farm labor is demanded, hous-
ing the men in tents with their own kitchens
and have the farmers Of each center agree
to employ so many laborers for four or
more months. 1t will call for semi-mili-
tary organization in the handling Of each
gang, the farmers providing horses and
wagons for transporting men to and from
work-just as the railroads haul their men
back and forth on construction work.
For example: Six farmers could make
a contract to employ "a men for the sea-
son. They. with their boss, one Of the "a
will be located at a point equally distant
from each farm. some farmer giving up q
small tract of land where the tents can be
erected. commissary provided: and the
farmers will agree to pay a wage Of sc
much day for these laborers with the
understanding that they will use them
each working day in the week for the time
specified. This will provide for the heavy
labor required on farms.
THE second plan is Vice-President
Thompson's suggestion for the use of vaca-
tionists. We will through our agencies
and through the voluntary acknowledge
ment of men in the shops, factories. ETC.,
ask that they devote their vacation to
helping produce crops. The plan will be
to get men of the same neighborhood or
friends in the same community, who in
groups of ten, twenty or thirty. will take
their vacation at the same time The
farmer being unprepared to house and
board these people. they also will put in
tents which we hope the town or cham
bers of commerce or other public-spirited
organizations will provide. The men will
have an outdoor life. with someone desig-
mated to do the cooking, and will be ap-
portioned to the various farmers each day.
not to do the heavy work. but the small
chores, such as feeding of horses and cat
tie. taking care of harness. chopping wood,
If necessary, driving teams. pitching hay.
gathering small crops, so that the work
will not be onerous but a pleasure. The
pay will either be in money or its equiva-
lent. as many bushels of tomatoes or po-
tatOes as may be agreed upon between
the vacationists and farmer. and at price
not to exceed 10 per cent Of the cost Of
production. Lists will be made so that
each vacation camp as vacations termi-
nate will be replenished by other groups
and the farmers will be constantly sup
piled with the necessary labor.
1.-THE third plan is to take the boys of
IA years OF age and older with some good
public spirited teacher to supervise the
camp. These boys will also be placed in
tents. and for six hours day will help
the various farmers in many ways in which
they can assist. and at such remunera-
ton as is equivalent to the kind and
amount Of work performed In conjunction
with this. 1t might be well to mention that
plan Is also under consideration Of estab-
fishing in the small fruit and vegetable
sections girl camps under the supervision
OF a matron. where part OF the girls will
help pick the small fruit and vegetables
and the other girls will can the produce
given these girls in payment Of such ser
vice. thus supplying their homes with can
ned vegetables or fruits. the family Of
course supplying the cans and sugars for
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