The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-20
ToPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BUREAU
TREDERIC ,. HAsK1N. DasScaSE.
WaahanGkaa. d q
THE CROP FOLLOWERS.

ing grain. fruit and vegetables creeps
slowly up the backbone OF North
America.
For example, right now they are
harvesting wheat in the Dakotas, Min
nesota, Montana, and Washington. A
wheat in Kansas, and a month from
now they will be cutting 1t in Canada.
II IL were possible to take n birds
eye view of the whole United States,
this harvest belt would show as a
broad golden streak across the central
states, and this streak would be seen
to move like a glacier. To be exact,
it would move at the rate OF about one
degree Of latitude, or four hundred
feet Of altitude, every four days.
Mountains. therefore, would hold 1t
back in spots, and so would great
bodies Uf cold water, like the Allan
tic ocean and the great lakes. But
Its movement, none the less, Is a
thing which can be mapped and cal
culated to nicely.
The bureau OF farm management of
the department OF agriculture Is just
now engaged in a most interesting
study OF this moving crop belt. For
behind the belt, and with it, travels
an army that numbers hundreds of
thousands-the army OF floating and
seasonal labor that gathers the crops
and unless this army Is right at the
front every minute. fully recruited and
equipped, and ably fed, there is dis
aster for all of us. The bread and
butter OF everyone in America. and of
millions in Europe depends upon this
army. II the wheat is not cut when
It is ripe. II skaters and goes to waste.
II the potatoes are not dug on the
right day. they rot in the ground. II
there is any delay in the apple pick
ing, the apples are lost. So that, in
this day when every ounce of food
Is literally precious, the army OF crop
followers Is one of the most important
bodies OF men in the world.
Even so, until about two years ago,
little attention was paid to the army
OF floating harvest hands. In those
days there were always lots of people
out of work. The crop army always
modified wherever it was needed
without call or direction, drawn by
ready work and good pay, coming
mysteriousiy from all quarters, as in
seets gather about spilled honey,
Not only did war change this, but
apparently IT affected a permanent
change. During the war the crop
army was lacking in many places and
crops rotted. In other places iawless
elements came in, and there were
lights and fires and general disorder
This year the army was recruited
again to its normal proportions, but
not without great deal of hustling
on the part OF the department of
agriculture. the department of labor
and numerous state and local agencies
That is why the bureau of farm
management is now making such a
careful study of that creeping crop
belt. The recruiting and movement
OF the crop army cannot be left any
longer to chance. From now on its
operations will be directed by map
Just as carefully as the operations of
any other army in the field. The
present investigation is designed to
snow exactly how many acres there
are in each of the principal crops in
the United States, on what date each
crop ripens in each vicinity. and ex-
actly how many men are needed at
that place at that time to harvest the
crop. Then every available agency
can be put TO work long in advance to
find the men.
or course 1t is undesirable for any
INDUSTRY to have to depend upon float
ing labor. This is undesirable, not
only for the industry. but for the float
ing labor. The floating laborer usual
~ mas neither home. wife, property
nor any of the other things which
make the difference between a mall
content and a good citizen. But in
farming, a floating labor supply Is es-
sentiaL- What one man can plant II
takes ten to harvest. That is a stub
born and unacceptable fact. No farm
er can afford OF carry ten men the
year around because he needs them
in the harvest field for a few weeks
In the summer or fall.
Floating labor. therefore, we must
nave. And the way to remedy the So
cial ills that afflict the floating labor
Is to make 1t float in a regular and
carefully calculated way. The farm
management experts say that there
are great many men in cities whose
AC
IS the dun time in the country, sum-
mer is usually the off-season in the
city. For example, people who have
TO do with the heating OF houses in
the city are generally out of work in
the summer. Furnace tenders and re-
pairers, drivers of coal wagons. men
who cut and haul wood. are a few of
the types that come readily to mind.
| These men are city workers and sell
dom think of going to the country for
Work IN the summer. The opportun-
lty must be advertised to them.
1t is possible for many workers to
establish regular routine, spending
| the winters in the city and the sum
mers in the harvest field. They will
make more money and enjoy better
health than they could by sticking to
one job all the year around For,
while the regular hired man on a
farm Is not very highly paid, the
| harvest hand Is coming to be one of
the best paid laborers in America.
Harvest hands in the wheat fields this
year are getting so cents an hour for
ten-hour day, and board and room
Expert stackers get 20 cents an hour.
OF course these men work hard and
| live under crude conditions, but they
| are able to save more money than
clerks and professional men making
from two to three thousand a year in
( cities.
Another class of seasonal workers
who may turn to the harvest field in
the summer is that of the students
and professors of universities and COL
leges. Some college boys have gone to
the wheat fields every summer for a
| long time. but many more would go
II the movement we're properly adver-
tised and ORGANIZED.
Nearly every section has some spe-
ciaI type OF seasonal laborer who Is
out OF Job in the summer. Thus In
| the South Atlantic states. the oyster