The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-11
A Valuable
Letter for Farmers
Communications Relating to Price Of
Implements and Farm Products
and Following Other Wars

and Following Other Wars
The following letters and speeches
as given by implement manufactur
ers to other manufacturers and deal
ers, when they were trying to fore
cast the conditions to be expected
during the present year, should b.
Of considerable value to our read
ers:
'In 1851 the price of western
wheat, T. o. b. New York was $1.3$
a bushel; in 1865, $2.45 per bushel;
in 1866, $2.O5 per bushel; in 1867
$3.50 per bushel.
I'm May 1870, the price Of No. /
northern wheat, +. o. b. Chicago, waf
$1.13 per bushel; in 1871, $3.50
per bushel and in 1872, SLIP pei
bushel.
1T is to be expected that history
will repeat itself after this war, and
there is therefore no reasonable
question, but that prices of materials
will remain upon substantially the
present level for many months to
come, and that one takes no chance
in conducting his business In a rea-
sonable, normal way.
The cost of living will remain
high as long as the demand for food
is greater than the supply. While
the cost of living remains where it
is, there can be no reduction of mo-
ment in the cost Of labor; as long as
the cost of labor is upon it's present
plane there can be no marked re-
duction in the cost of materials.
While these conditions prevail it
Is the business Of both manufactur-
ers and merchants to continue to
carry on" in the usual way. This
Is particularly important in this in
dustry for II there is any slacken-
ing upon the part of the manufac-
turer or dealer which interferes with
the farmers procuring the proper
supply of tools to produce the crop
necessary to feed the famished ma
tions Of the world, anarchy and social
dissolution will result. We cannot
make a satisfactory peace treaty
with starving nations-we cannot re-
habilitate the civilization of Europe
until its peoples are fed.
1T is more important that this
industry should conduct itself in a
way to produce maximum food crops
during the coming year than at any
time in the past, and such conduct
upon our part will result in profit to
ourselves and to the farmer whom
we serve. This Is the basis upon
which we are buying materials and
conducting our BUSINESS Of manu-
featuring implements, and this is the
basis upon which the dealer should
conduct his.
We cannot serve our country. we
cannot advance our own interests, ex-
cept by continuing to do business.
Let us hope that all Of our dealers |
vii! do their part in this time of |
national emergency.
ITO facilitate the tremendous |
crop production required by such a |
progress, the president of the United |
States has guaranteed to the farmers
OF this country price Of $3.50 for
all the wheat raised in 1919. The
price of corn will probably be upon
relatives basis, for the reason that
meat Is required in increasing quaint
tiles and corn is the principal food
for meat animals.
Such tremendous demand upon
the American farmer means the
greatest prosperity in his history. It
he must be provided with the
necessary tools to produce the great
est crop ever raised. If this is &C
complished, it is essential that the
and dealer in imple-
ments should proceed in a normal
way to produce and have ready for
the farmer when his demands arise,
an adequate supply of farm tools.
Approaching this fact, and also
approaching that the financial prob
lens involved in purchasing ma
terials at the prevailing prices must
have careful consideration, we made
study into the conditions maintain ;
Ing after the wras of the past to see
what, If any, light could be secured
rs to the course of prices during the {
year to come. IL
There have been two great wars 4
Turing the past century-our Civil I
var, from 1851 to 1855 and the /
9ranco-Prussian war of 1870 to
1871. During our Civil war there
vas but little destruction Of prop
'rty, but the people of half of our
country were in a starving condition :
It its termination. During the =
franco russian war there was large !
destruction of property, but food pro- L
luction was not materially inter- 8
cred with and no considerable num-
er OF people faced famine. During u
he present worlds war great de- =
truction of property has occurred and u
alf of the world is now upon the !,
erge of starvation; we must there y
ore conclude that we have to face, .
s an after-war condition, problems 2
9th as to material and food prices y
1hich prevailed after the two wars 81
bove referred to.
War Prices in the Past
s'The price of foundry pig iron +. q
. b. Philadelphia, when the Civil !.
'ar broke out in 1851, was $20.35ltW "
er ton; when It closed in 1865, it u
as $46.12 per ton; in 1866, $46.S7; "
/ 1857, $44.12. o.
When the Franco russian war e 7.
roke out in 1870, the price Of pig !,