The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1919-04-09
FARM IMPROVEMENTS AND RU-
RIAL CONSTRUCTION WORK
WILL WORK AID IN READ
JUSTMENT.

Farm products have q greater pur-
chasing power today than ever before
in the country's history. This may
explain why rural districts of the
country are rapidly getting under way
with building and construction work.
1t is obvious, since building and con-
.struction work have such an impor-
tant bearing at this time on stimulat-
ing general business, the farmer may
serve both his own ard the national
interest by at once making needed i'm
provements on his property. He can
further the general welfare, while as
surfing himself Of immediate and per-
nanent benefits, in urging road con-
struction and improvements in his To-
cality.
1t is generally understood no mater
ial reduction may be expected in
building and construction costs in the
near future. To be sure, prices on
some materials may be slightly re-
auced in the readlustment, but the
best authorities on the subject assert
no pronounced reductions are proba-
bic. This is explained by money con-
43tions, the foreign demand, and the
marked courtailment of production OF
building material during the war.
Prof. Fisher Of Yale University has
issued a statement in which he says
the country is now on a new price
level from which there will be no gen
eral recession.
Many farmers have Deen unable to
get material and labor for barns, 81
los, houses and other improvements
during the war. The farmer who at
snce ayails Of the labor supply and
gets his improvement work under way
in the long run, may prove to be the
prudent business man, for there is
reason to believe that farmers who
delay in the hope OF materially re-
duced construction costs will have
been deprived of the use Of these inn
prOvements and in the ned be forced
to pay approximately the building
prices now prevailing.
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Missouri, Oregon and Colorado, siio
building campaigns are being carried
sn by the agricultural colleges. In
Wisconsin there is a milk house cam
paign being vigorously prosecuted in
the dairy districts, while in Illinois
farmers are being urged to build feed
ing floors Other campaigns for farm
improvements are on in Nebraska,
Kansas, Minnesota, South Dakota,
Kentucky, Ohio and in localities in
Texas and Iowa. While many of
3aaese are being conducted by building
interests, the Division Of Public
Works and Construction Development
of the U. S. Department of Labor IS
interested in seeing them successfully
carried out because the Division real
ICES such activities on the farms are
bound to have a beneficial effect on
general business conditions.
The farmers Of the country should
have an unusual interest in. road
building at this time. If farming is
t. continued it's present profitable
level, there must be no business stag
nation in the country and the vast
road building projects in the various
States are destined to exert a pro
found influence in keeping business
Is usual" or "better than usual"
Read building creates a demand for
materials and absorbs labor, and the
labor problem is a serious one at pres
eat and will continue serious until
American industries have readjusted
themselves to peace production on a
scale to meet the augmented demand
Of America and Europe.
The Trans Mississippi Re-adjust-
nent Congress, held in Omaha Nebi.
late in February, summarized tne
present situation in the . following
language:
1--WE do not favor a pause in the in
dustrial process to await some. tuture
readiustment of wages and prices Of
staples. So far as public improve
ments are concerned, they should be
resumed at once. 1t is better that the
public should absorb the increased
cost, if any should hereafter appear
than that general unemployment ant
consequent disaster and social diserd
er should follow.
"We believe also that the promoter:
>f private construction and business
enlargement should take heart o.
courage and should believe in the i'm
mediate resumption Of business pros
perity in the United States. Their
is no place in the American scheme O.
things for the pessimist or the douo
ter. Our country today leads tn
world in prosperity. It can lose it
leadership only by it's W taln1
heartedness. We especially deprecat
concerted holding back OF con
struction and business resumption, TO
the purpose Of forcing a reduction II
wages or cost of material.
"Both as a means of stimulating
the resumption of industry and re
moving the shadow of unemployment
from the working people and ais
serve the broader and more perman
ant Durnoso of supplementing tn