South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-16
HARVESTLA
SITUATION GOOD
Surplus Supply is Evident in
Wheat Belt Offices
Report.

KANSAS CITY. Mo. July IS. -
The harvest labor situation in kan
sas and TIE southwest IS generally
good according TO officials Of the
federal free employment bureau IN
Kansas City. Kan. and the Missouri
bureau OF farm labor. conducted By
state authorities with federal aid IN
Kansas City. No.
AT the opening OF this month a
surplus OF farm labor was evident.
There were a number OF instances
Of men who came back from the
harvest field. declaring that they had
been unable 10 find employment At
the end OF the first week IN July
scattered requests were received for
more harvest laborers 20 be sent 20
counties IN northwestern Kansas. a
need which is being filled. according
70 the federal employment agents.
Generally speaking the southwest
has been supplied with all the
harvest labor necessary as soon as
the wheat crop was ready for cutting
this season. Indeed a number OF
men who came west 90 work in the
harvest fields were kept waiting for
some time because rains had de-
layed the wheat harvest.
Pay 90 Cents an Hour.
A wage standard Of 20 cents an
hour. agreed upon BY farmers in the
wheat belt OF Kansas and announced
through the state labor commits
sioner. Samuel Crawford. attracted
many workers. There have been re-
peated reports. which are credited
by the federal farm labor bureau
workers. OF wage-cutting on the part
OF the farmers who found for the
first time ia years that the farm
labor supply was more than ade-
quate and who desired therefore TO
save money by paying smaller wages
than those which had been adyer-
tised.
In regard 70 the car situation. op-
Grating officials OF the leading roads
through the wheat sections agree
that there is at present an made
Quate supply OF available cars
Plenty of cars have been ordered
west. ! IL is stated. but as yet they
have not arrived in sufficient num-
bers. However, an official of the
local terminal company in close
touch with the Interstate commerce
commission declared that although
the car supply IS still somewhat
short. IL IS better than in other sec
tiOns Of the country and better than
IL has been here in past years. Rail
road officials were not inclined TO
agree with this rather optimistic es-
innate.
Crop Averages Well
The 1920 wheat cop is beginning
20 reach Hutchinson. Kan. It is said
10 average better than for many
years. testing from 90 n 50 pounds
20 the bushel and bringing S2.4O to
$3.50 per bushel Yields run from
u 10 20 bushels to the acre. farm
ers declare.
"Grasshopper planted" wheat Is
reported 20 have turned out we'll in
many places. In their attacks on
wheat fields last fall, grasshoppers
cut the heads off the wheat, caus-
ing chem 10 drop TO the ground.
which resulted in tracts of volunteer
wheat Near Lyons a grower re-
ported a 20 bushel 10 the acre yield
from a grasshOpperp planted tract.
Extension Of credits TO farmers un-
able 10 market last years wheat be-
cause of car shortage has been prom
ised by federal reserve boards ac-
cording 10 members Of the Kansas
committee who have returned from
Washington after conference with
the interstate commerce commits
sion.
Ideal growing weather prevailed