The Robesonian., 1918-05-30
JUNK VS.. JUNKERISM.
A New Source of Income as Well as
Patriotic Enterprise Opened to
The Farmer.
(By North Carolina Geological and
Economical. Su-vey)

EcOnomlca. SU-vey.)
Chapel Hill, May Z1.-Because of
the shortage in the supply of iron
and steel, materials which this coun-
try must have in increasing amounts
as the war progresses, new source
of income as well SIS patriotic en-
terprise is opened t. the farmers and
others who have any scrap iron. Even
at the recently fixed prices Of iron
and steel, it is possible for farmers
to reap an overlooked p-of.t from the
sale of old iron and steel scattered
about the premises. -ne saving OF
such old scrap metal will help to meet
the present deficiency in the supply
of iron and steel, and the use of this
old metal will accomplish saving IN
coke, which can now only be had at
unprecedented prices. Also, the de-
livery of old iron and steel at foun-
dries far from the iron mines and big
steel centers will relieve the excessive
strain on the mines and the railway
and boat traffic in the coke and iro..
producing districts. The farmer who
turns in his junk while the present
prices prevail is likely not only to
make clear profit over the cost of
hauling and freight, but, through In
creasing the iron and steel supply,
he is contributing to the successful
prosecution Of the war.
Iron ard steel are needed and must
be had for innumerable tllings-for
guns. shells, ships, bridges, buildings,
docks, automobiles, airplanes, rails,
| cars, engines, pipe, oil-well castings,
etc, ETC., and for exporting to our
Allies. Italy, in particular, is badly
| in need Of steel for all purposes. Such
iron can be obtained from abandoned
! binders, ploughs, mowers, rakes, and
discarded stoves, pumps, pipe, smal:
| utensils, etc A considerable part OF
the cost of manufacturing farm ma,
chinery lies in the metals used, ard
| these metals include not only 1ro1
and steel Of various grades and val
ues, but occasionally small parts OF
brass or copper. Most binders and
mowers have one or more bearings
| lined with Babbitt metal containing
| tin, now worth about sixty cents, and
| lead, worth ten cents per pound. Or
| the whole, excluding the metals usec
| in railroad construction an dIranspor:
tation, or in city engineering anc
building, by far the greater part OF al
the iron and steel produced IL this
country in normal years is shIppee
to the farm It has been roughly es
timated that three-fourtE,s Of thi:
metal stays on the farm. How mucl
is living around on your premises, Mr.
Farmer? If you have any, it is ;
good time to consider it's disposa
while the war lasts an dthe price L
high. Besides, your country need
the metal.
It is suggested that farmers take vi
the question of marketing this mater
ial through their Alliance, Farmers
! Unions, State Experiment Stations
or the Farmers Institutes, with
view to ascertaining the location 0
the best market, probably the neares
foundry or junk dealer; the cost o
TRANSPORTATION; the best price obtain
able for the different classes of jun
or implements land the quantities
or handled by the dealer. The sam
Junk that can be used at the foundr
agencies might we'll arrange for &C
operative local action on the part Q
the farmers in the different commu
mites, fixing dates when cars woul
be in readiness for loading old met
ais, informing the farmers as to pos
sible grading of their junk, and al
tending Transportation, delivery, an
possible settlement at points Of cor
sumption. :,
Farmers of the country undoubtedl
have many hundreds Of thousands 9
!. tons of scrap iron on hand; tn
t prices are unprecedentedly high; tn
country needs the metal. From tn
economic standpoint, it is a questio
t Of profitable thrift, of relievin
t in part the shortage
: the metals, of conserving the iro1
ore and coal in the ground, and {
q service to country.
Another service we can rende
t "over here!"