Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-12-04
PROSPERITY IN PEACE
WRITER SAFS FARM PRICES WILL
REMAIN HIGH ON ACCOUNT OF
FOREIGN DEMANDS.

1t probably will take two years to
agree upon terms of peace. In our
revolutionary war it took twenty-five
and one-half months for the diploma
lists to arrive at a settlement Rare
has been the occasion when nations
/ of first rank have been able to come
to peace agreement in less than a
year, Never were there SO many diff
ficult questions to adjust as in this
war. More than twenty nations are
parties to the war. The whole world
is involved. Every continent is con-
cerned.
Each one of the allied nations, ex-
cept America, has it's own particular
interests, territorial or otherwise. to
protect. In a sense, every one of the
allies will become, at the peace table,
antagOnistic, each one thinking only
of ITSELF The working out of the
lines of the new nations created by
the war will require the most delicate
of treatment if animosities that will
breed future strife are to be avoided
While the diplomatists are at the
peace table, the people of the various
nations will be endeavoring to restore
and readjust their affairs; but in var
ious parts of the world, particularly
in central Europe, near-Asia and AT
RIGA, there will be hesitation more or
less until the final settlement is
reached.
Only America ana Japan of the ma
tiOns of the first class, will be who'll
ly free to carry en- work of every kind
and character
One of the greatest fields in which
America will be called upon to ex-
pand its efforts will be on the farm.
The stOppage of war does not lessen
the food shortage or relieve the stu
alton except to a small degree. The
world will need every pound OF beef,
every bushel of grain. every pounn of
vegetables possible to produce for
years to come.
Next to America, Russia has the
largest agricultural production of any
nation. Today Russia is PROSTATE.
Famine stalks through the vast en-
pire. The farms have been wrecked.
There are few horses. Most of them
were taken to haul supplies for the
army. Only the old and broken down
were left
Young men have been taken from
the farm. Russia lost 100000 men
in the war, in killed and wounded
Few soldiers have returned to the
farm. The Russian farm is depress-
ing. The young man who went to
war and saw cities and life generally
has no desire to return to farming
Farm implements have been worn
out in the years of war The whole
farm structure of the nation has col
lapsed
In Germany, austria, Hungary and
other European countries conditions
are not so bad as in Russia, but they
have become very serious.
The processes of the farm are slow.
1t is going to take several years to
! restore Europe agriculturally. In nor
NAL times Europe does not feed itself
1t depends in part on America. For
the next five years it must draw more
foodstuffs from these sources than
ever before. Meanwhile Europe must
turn from old methods of agriculture
to new. It's hope of restoration is in
the use of the tractor, particularly and
of all the other agricultural imple-
ments which American genius has de-
viSed.
Armistice makes it possible for
supplies of beef, mutton, hogs, grain
and other food stuffs to go to Europe
from America, Australia and the Ar
gentine in larger volume than before,
but when present stocks are reduced,
there must be concerted effort to in
| crease production or the world will
hunger.
Farm prices are going to be higher
for years, not so high as today per-
haps, but nevertheless high. The Am
erican farmer faces prosperity, big
prosperity. Conditions never were so
favorable There will be an eager, in
sistent market for everything he can
produce. The Rural Credit Act makes
it possible for him to get money
cheaper than was possible in former
times. Farm implements, building
material. fertilizers and other articles
he requires will not be so expensive
as they are today.-Richard Spillane
in State Jouranl