The evening world., 1920-07-23
TkeFarmers'
Leaving theFarms
BIZ Sophie Irene Loeb.

hllBA fhhu huheAAA - AkAAAnNa
city jobs and advantages and iucra-
tive pay, he has but "a 20 into the
farm districts and learn the truth
a truth that is daily growing serious
and threatens fhe very sustenanee Of
the community.
This particular phase Of the food
question was well set forth 10 me by
three of the most intelligent and pro-
gressive farmers in the State, with
whom discussed at length the grow
ing tendency for more shortage Of
food and higher prices,
These three men OF Dutcheaa
County. II. ID. Warner, j. q. butcher
and +. L. Carnage, gave me a word
picture Of the stuation that should
arouse every city dweller to sons.
concerted action to avoid hardshlps.
Prices may drop for the present, bun
what OF the future supply2
These men, 1t Is said, produce rifar
highest average Of milk from theft
respective herds Of any in the state.
DIR. Carnage put the matter very
plainly:
Just what inducement lie there :or
new farm Developments Take ms
80 COWS, each Of which produced las.
year between four and five thousand
quarts of milk at approximately &C. a
| quart, averaging for each COW a re-
turn of $3.50.
My grain for this herd approxls
mated $4,000. The pay OF two hireS
men and their board was about $4,000
What Is there left after charging OF
insurance, depreciation and other in-
cidentals in farm work2 Very little,
IL anything.
why does the farmer stay in the
business7 He just can't help himself.
There he is with his home and he
entire investment. He's got to stick
win or lose. He has no alter
native. Besides, he would be a fish
out of water anywhere else.
But the old farmer Is the only
lUnds who will stay.
For example, the other day | met
a friend of mine, a farmer. He Is an
old man. asked him, who is doing
your work now2' =
He answered, Myself and my son.
fifteen
"'Where Is Eddie 1 asked, refer-
ring to his twenty -oner year old son.
"'Oh, do you think he'd stay on the
farm he said surprised. Not much!
He's in Baltimore, working for the
Government, getting S6 a day for
eight hours. | don't blame Eddie. He
couldn't make half that much on the
farm.
''To take Eddies place this Ola
farmer, who has twenty-four cows
to care for, offered a hired man $l0O
n month and his board. The hired
man said he was going to the city
and learn to be a plumber and make
more while he was learning than the
farmer could pay him.
Another significant incident about
! y,lp of The
old farmer. which cannot last very
long, is that OF another friend l met
a few days ago. He was very hap
py," said DR.. Carnage.
"When asked what was the rea-
son of his good fortune, he said:
why, l made $500 in cash last
year. and I've got it in the bank.
There it is, what do you think of
that?'
And when 1 asked him had he
4 considered his own wages in the
matter, he answered, no, he hadn't,
nor that of his wife, who worked
with him.
Neither had he thought about
depreciation. painting his barn and
such other incidentals. He had 81, 500
in the bank in real money. But the
human endeavor that went into that
81, 900 had escaped him until one OF
| LleSe udyS no DeBlu5 10 IIlhkc COAu-
parsons, as he Is bound to do.
For when l asked him, why do
you think this $500 year Is such a
good year? his significant answer
was this: because this is the first
year I have come out with any real
cash. Every year before had moth
ing left in the bank
"Since that, this farmer has been
offered $3.10O for hts farm from some
| oil hn haa oh -
getting work in a shipyard for Sc a
day.
"The answer Is obvious. What a
pity this is because here Is a farmer
who, IL he had a return commen-
surate with his efforts. would want
nothing better than to stay right on
the farm.
"And you city people do not realize
what a skilled individual the farmer
must be; II takes him years TO learn
his trade, as 1t were, and you have
done practically nothing to encourage
him and his sons remaining where
they are most fitted and where they
will be OF greatest benetit to you as
s cons uu1enS.
att Is a grave state Of affairs"
These three dairy farmers discussed
at length the milk situation
The sum and substance OF their dis
5 course was to the effect that the farm
er is getting too small a price and tho
I consumer Is paying too much.
They were all reluctant to be quoted
on any OF these matters, but realized
the importance Of arousing some con
structive action in the JoinN interest
3 OF farm products and the consuming
public, which items are vital.
DR.. Carnage stated that the chief
troubles are:
High cost OF grain, high cost Of
) labor and the small return.
3 "The farmer is worthy Of his hire, -
I he concluded, "and somebody should
: see to It that he has a return com
; mensurate with his labor.
I This can be done by the process Of
s imination-elimination OF the super
tluous middlemen OF whom there Il
legion" he concluded