The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-08

states and of the relation of the federal
reserve bank of that region to this stu
pendous farming, he is certain to say
something which will be not only of in
interest but of Importance to the entire
country.
Governor Void says the very magni-
tude of the crop has made it necessary
to carry on, to use his own words, "a
tremendous burden of financing" He even
goes into details, stating that the fed
eral reserve bank Of Minneapolis ad
vanced to it's member banks in September
of last year chat month being that of We
peak of the load s97,Oo0,0o0. All of the
banks throughout the region needed funds
with which to aid in harvesting the crop
and the federal reserve bank so greatly
assisted in meeting this need that it be-
came possible to move the crops freely
and rapidly.
AS 1T is IN THE NORTI.W EST
Many people in the east and even in
the central west do not realize the mag
nitude of the agricultural industry of
the northwest. There agriculture has be-
come a very great national industry and
is sure to become greater,
The food administration at Washington
transferred through the federal reserve
bank at Minneapolis for the credit of
Minneapolis and Duluth offices from mid
summer of last year to April 8 of this,
$226, 214, 600 These figures show in concrete
form the magnitude of the agricultural
industry of the northwest.
OF course, the depreciation of the dollar
In its purchasing power was followed by
an increase il the cost of crop moving.
Governor Void says that in 1918 $3.50
were required to perform the work which
cost only 81 in the years prior to the
European war.
MUST INCREASE FARM ACREAGE
There are four states in the northwest,
Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
and Montana, which as a whole consti-
tute the principal grain raising section of
the country. Upon its capacity to pro-
duce will be placed much of the reliance
for the increased production of food COM
modities of which the United States is
sure to stand in need. These states as
whole contain about 100000 acres
adapted to the cultivation Of wheat. The
average yield last year was nearly 10
bushels to the acre. Therefore, this region
not many years ago bleak and almost un-
inhabited, furnished nearly 100000
bushels of wheat.
James j. Hill used to say that instead
of 15 bushels of wheat per acre, these
farmers of the northwest should be able
to harvest as many bushels as England or
Germany did. Before Germany entered
the war she was harvesting by intensive
and highly scientific methods about 30
bushels of wheat to the square acre. Gov
ernor Void estimates that If the farmers
of the northwest had adopted the Ger
man intensive methods they would have
harvested nearly 100000 5000 bushels more
of wheat than they did harvest. They
would have received an additional income
from wheat alone of nearly $500 COO, 0O0
Even if there were an increase of only
one bushel an acre the income of the
farmers last year would have been in
creased s35. 100000.
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
Governor ,Wold. like many of the other
business statesmen of the day, is looking
far into the future He agrees with the
estimate made some years ago by James
j. Hill that the population of the United
States in 1850 will be not less than 100000
900, certainly as much as that il the
present rate Of growth is continued.
Therefore, in order to meet the demands
of the American people for wheat as
that demand will be made 30 years from
this time, it will be necessary to increase
the production of each acre at the rate
of l per ceQt a year We must in years
to come and in less than generation
time greatly increase our production or
food from the land; or else we are GER
tam e1tner TO race d Seiiouo ohoi e"5S "
to be compelled to import food in large
quantities from other nations.
Two of the largest banks in New YORK
whose managers are wise and far-seeing
men, are at this time standing behlnu
the greatest single farming development
In the Ninth federal reserve district. And
all the banks are now well prepared to
aid in financing the crops from the har-
vest field to the markets. this being re-
garded as of greater Importance at this
time than any other financial undertas-
ing in which the American banks now
participate.