The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-04-30
FARMER HAS PLEASANT
OUTLOOK AS TO PRICES
EXTRAORDINARY DEMAND FOR
PRODUCTS PUTS TILLER OF
SOIL IN FAVORED CLASS.
QUESTION OF LABOR SUPPLY
IS ALL THAT CAUSES BOTHER

Percentage of Increase in Prices of
What the Farmer Sells Far Ex-
ceeds Increase of His Operating
Expenses, Says Agricultural De-
partment.
CHICAGO.-The estimate of the
department of agriculture of a win
ter wheat yield of 560,00O,O00 bush
els, although 140,OOO,00O bushels
larger than last years crop, is con-
sidered by Chicago experts quite too
conservative. 1t is assumed that the
department was determined to err if
at all on the side of moderation, for
there are some contingencies to reck-
on with before the berry is ready for
the market. The tendency in these re-
ports is to increase the estimate per
acre as the season goes on, and a
nineteen-bushel unit would raise the
figures well above 630,000,000 bush
els. Conditions have improved since
the statistics were accumulated, and
so good an authority as P. S. Good
man would not consider 700, 100000
bASllC40 as dlNOSCllCI Jul VI lilN
question. If that quantity should be
raised it is quite conceivable that
the country would produce 1,000,-
100000 bushels, as the outlook in
the spring wheat country is excellent.
We may therefore feel rather COM
Portable over the prospect of giving
Europe and ourselves plenty of that
cereal. 1t will be only a question of
transportation, which it is hoped will
not to be so serious matter as it
is now. A rye crop of 86,000,000
bushels, against 60,000,000 last year,
will be a good supplement.
Comparisons in Increase of Cost
and Selling.
The farmer surely has a pleasant
outlook, for he gets extraordinary
prices for all these products. 1t will
be a question of the labor supply.
The department of agriculture has
recently issued a number of tables
setting forth increases in cost and
selling price on those articles which
the farmer handles. 1t is found, how
ever, that percentages are given only
on those things which the farmer
buys. A comparison of percentages
of increase on both sides of the ac-
count make a highly favorable show
ing for the tiller of the soil. This
aspect of the case is not very definite
ly set forth by the government and
possibly there is a desire to show how
much more it costs the farmer to run
his business than formerly without
exhibiting the great increase in his
winnings. Necessary supplies for the
farm are shown to have increased
So per cent. over the cost of 1914,
the figures for this year being as of
March l. Among the details of ex-
pense farm machinery has gone up
AZ per cent, hand tools, So per cent.
Labor has advanced As or so per
cent, something depending on the
question of including board and lodg-
ing. On the other side, there has
been an increase in the selling price
of all farm commodities of 101 per
cent. Cereals have advanced 144
per cent. Beans have gone up $50
per cent, the bean-raiser now being
considered one of the most fortunate
among mortals. Cotton has gone up
I4O per cent. WnlIe cameo, winch IS
made out of cotton, has advanced
only 95 per cent. These figures
would show some variations from day
to day among those commodities on
which the governemnt has not placed
its clamp. AS to calico and other
fabrics the manufacturer can get al
most any price he chooses to ask.
Cotton Enriches South on
Grand Scale.
The pride Of the American in the
production of his country is entirely
i11stifpd evcpn+ vuhen II ,.nochnc the