The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-03-06
THE 1918 OUTLOOK.

the 1918 OUTLOOK. .
Numerous inquiries have been made
during the past few weeks concerning
the 1918 outlook with special reference
to the man operating a farm. .4..-.
have given the matter considerable
thought, and, while do not lay claim
to being endowed with power to pene'
trate the future, yet it seems plain to
portunity for the American farmer
Certainly crop prices will make the
opportunity a real one. The govern.
ment has guaranteed price which
will assure q profit on our hogs and
has also fixed a liberal price on wheat.
1t looks to me that the Iowa farmer Is
setting pretty, so far as the financial
returns for his labor is concerned.
The January report Of the secretary
of agriculture gives us some clue. On
Jan. l, 1918, the index of prices OF
farm crops for the entire United States
was 1873 per cent higher than the same
date year ago, 1O4.7 per cent higher
+ than two years ago and 1921 per cent
higher than the average of the last
ten years on the corresponding dates.
The tendency is upward. 1t must con.
tinue SO as long as the war lasts. The
worlds production Is right now below
its normal consumption. Everywhere
heroic efforts are being made to save
food and the greater effort in food
production will be made by the farm.
ers of our country during the year
1918. AS long as we continue to draw
men from production and turn them
to consumption, food will become
scarcer and their prices will continue
to rise. What this years crop prices
will be is very apparent. 1918 fur
nishes us with an excellent outlook
and gives us well grounded reason
for stating that 1918 will be the year
OF opportunity for the American farm
er. --s ,.
The above assertion is made with
full knowledge that possibly the war
will end during the year. Some will
ask how about prices then. For ma.
terials which go into munitions and
war supplies, the prices will probably
decline rapidly. For farm crops, not
80. 1t will take a year, perhaps two
or more, for the world, Europe in par
ticular, TO start rehabilitation and get
back in productive channels. With the
danger of transatlantic shipping re-
moved and the people of Europe TAX
ing off war rations and permitted to
eat their fill, food crops will move to
Europe much more rapidly and in
greater quantities, than at present.
Logical reasoning permits me to think
that such condition will mean q
ready demand for everything America
RonEQnoduce at good prices.
In my opinion everything points to
d greater year for the Crawford coun.
W farmer. Whether war continues or
peace comes, he Is assured Of good
prices for everything he can produce.
His patriotic obligation to his dag and
to his country will be the rule and
guide Of his faith so that he Is In p0.
lsition to avail himself of the oppor-
tunity which seems 80 apparent.
Far from the worlds tempestuous
strife, free mid the scented fields"
the sons of rural toll will this year
start their work with renewed vigor,/
for they are assured Of rich fruitage
for hard labor.
County Agent Quist reports that he
IS having many calls for farm labor at
his Office. Farm labor is scarce. To
meet the demand for help requires the
cooperation of hired men and farmer
alike. The farm bureau Office at Den
ison will act as a labor exchange. Mar.
ried men looking for farm work are
urged to leave their applications for
farm work at the farm bureau Office.
Mr.. Quist has places open in all parts
OF the county and Is anxious to use all
available labor in the county before
getting men from other parts Of the
state Farmers can help with the lab
or shortage. if they will leave their
calls at the farm bureau Office for
hired men now, instead of waiting Q
day or two before they want help. In
other words book your orders. This
gives All estimate of how much labor
will be needed. and gives the county
agent a chance to get the men to the
farms when they are wanted. This
week boys Of the towns and the cities
between the ages of 16 and 81 are re-
ceiving training for farm work. The
boys taking the training are enrolled
In the Boys Working Reserve. They
are required to take oath Of service.
Last year Chicago boys made good
with Chicago farmers. or the 562
boys sent out $50 were satisfactory.
The Working Reserve boys do not ex-
pect the wages of experienced hired
men. They are anxious to learn farm
Ing from experienced farmers, and in
many cases, the boys have their en-
players name the wages at the end OF
the first months work. Any farmer
who would like to hire one of these
boys for the, summer months can do
So by getting in touch with the county !
agent. q. -, =; 44''
s} 80 ..atr 49, ~
"a understand; that Escller & Ryan,
OF Irwin. are fitting Bravo of 'Deni-
SON. one of their good Aberdeen An. |
gus bulls, for. this years fairs to be
entered in the aged class and they be- |
lieve that they can make him weigh !
1900 pounds by June. From the name |
Of the animal am led to believe this
bull at one time was a member Of the
famous McHenry herd.
sss5 #&a 90
T. w. Bell brought to the office last
week copy of the Breeders Gazette |
which contained clipping taken from
b Chicago newspaper dated Jan. 5,
1865. It was a market report and cat
lie then sold in those good old days.
or 81 to $3.50; hogs, $3.50 to 1885;