Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-07
Ho,V to Reduce Food
Cost

Aug. 20.-To the Editor of The Rec
In view of the acute need for
cheaper food and the attention
which the government is giving this
subject, permit me to bring to your
notice proposal of a French econ
omist, whose name / forget. but
which recently came to my atten-
ton through an article in The Liv-
ing Age"
This writer suggests that in place
of military CONSUMPTION we should
maintain a national draft of young
men to supply labor on the farms
in the production and distribution
of food. High prices and short sup
ply Of food are due mainly to lack
Of farm labor and the absence of
effective cooperation between land
owners, distributors and retailers of
food, and the national government.
This difficulty would be overcome
by having the national government
provide an abundant and assured
supply of agricultural labor
The term of this Federal agricul-
tural employment might not need to
be more than one or two years. In
most cases 1t could be for seven
months, from April to October in
elusive. During the remainder of
the year the young men could at
tend school or work in those indus
tries which operate most heavily n
winter.
The assignment should not be
merely for farm or ranch labor. The
young. men should be given a gem
erous amount of education in agri-
culture by simple, interesting, scien-
tific instruction through lectures,
farm and field demonstrations and
moving pictures. The fundamental
principles of raising crops, prepara-
ton of the land, selection of seed,
production and use of fertilizers
and care of the crops from sowing
TO harvest should be taught, as we'll
as the storage of the crops and their
distribution to market The breed
ing Of poultry, cattle and all live
stock should be taught, with special
laid on the economic i'm
portance of pure BREEDS and the Sc
lection of the most productive in
lividuals for breeding, as proven by
the experience Of Holsten Friesian
breeding and milk production
There would be abundant oppor-
of the out-of- doors relating to the
production of fruit and garden vege-
tables, protection against insect
pests, cultivation of flowers and the
elements of forestry. A multitude of
interesting facts regarding nature
would occur to any alert teacher.
This instruction would not only
afford pleasing recreation from man
al 10 hI1t oil DIV y
young men broad and liberal educa-
create an interest which would at
the farms. And it would give all of
long interest in outofdoor life.
The educational division of the
plan should be in charge Of the state
agricultural colleges.
The abundant supply Of depend
able labor would permit the farm
work to be done in two shifts of
eight hours, covering the entire day
from sunrise to sunset. A or 5 a. m.
to or p. m. This arrangement
of shifts would remove all cause for
objection by farmers to the daylight
saving, plan. because the farmer
vantage at all hours of the day.
AS the men would not be ex
hausted by twelve to sixteen hours
labor, but would be in excellent con-
dition from only eight hours labor,
thew could more than double the eff
fciencv Of the farms by thorough
and intense cultivation. More effec-
tive use of land would be possible.
A ;o inf Ctr
waste land could be brought into
fruitful production. Rich; bog lands
could be drained. Scrub growth
corners could be made permanent
forests. Roadsides could be beauti-
fed and used for pastures and for
fruit. Sheep-raising could be pro-
noted in order to fertilize abandoned
farms and to produce mutton and
wool.
A further advantage would be
that tractors and all expensive farm
could be used intensely.
The machinery would be owned by
groups of farmers or by the COM
and would be sent from farm
to farm and kept in action sixteen
hours day Some implements.
such as tractors operating plows or
hours day with the help of arti-
fetal li.,ht supplied by the tractor
engine. operated by eight hour Shift
la hor
The men should not be quartered
at the farmers homes, though in
some cases it might be an advantage
if they be furnished their midday
meal by the farmers, They should
be housed in camps or barracks CEN
trally located in agricultural dis
tricts and they would sleep and eat
their two main meals at these mill
tary camps.
These agricultural camps would
house 100 or more men according
to the character of the district and
the means of distribution. The men
would be sent to the farms and
brought back to the camps by auto
mobile. In order to facilitate this
of the men, as we'll as to
reduce the cost of marketing the
crops, some of the men could be
used in building country roads.
The eight-hour shifts would give
the men ample time for training
classes. The educational instruction
would be given at the camps.
Three great fundamentals of liv-
ing are food, clothing and housing.
Food is the product Of agriculture
Wool, cotton, leather and linen, the
raw materials of clothing, are pro-
ducts Of agriculture. Lumber. an
material in housing and
in furniture, is a product Of forestry
which is tree agriculture. The high
cost Of living can be reduced only
by abundant and cheap production
Of food. clothing and housing. TINS
result is assured by the system or
national agricultural cooperation
here presented. Not only is 1t cap.
able of yielding an abundance OF
cheap food and clothing for our own
people, but also it will insure lib
eral surplus for export to be ex
changed for the raw materials we
require from foreign countries.
The most highly perfected social
organiza ton in the world is that OF
Tho haas u,bo produce not only SUI