South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-03

Artificial measures like those Of
the Piedmont tobacco growers. who
recommended pOstponement Of the
local tobacco market opening sale
az not more than half the crop be-
fore Jan T. 1921 and reduction OF
next years acreage by 40 per cent.
avail nothing before an avalanche
OF prices such as marked the fort
night past. Fortunately. agricul-
tural products. which admittedly
sold at inflated prices during and
after the war. just as did practically
all mmodities. are fairly well Ii
undated as the result OF intermlt-
s-nt declines spread over the two
years following the armistiCe rather
than "A sudden dive 20 saner levels.
II farm prices go below the point
which world supply and cost OF pro-
duction establish as minimum.
they viii recover
The farmer Is concerned no less
than any producer with the effects
Of price reduction upon his cost OF
doing business. and no less than any
consumer upon the cost OF living.
The prices II such important items
as fertilizer. lumber. ami nipple
ments have been COuspiouOusly in
fIated Freight rates are a sustain
ing influence So are WAGES. Against
these may DE set the general eXpec-
tation OF reduction and the prevail
ing distaste FOR nigh prices AL
ready lumber wherein prohteeriug
has been fragrant is seeking lower
Levels. Wool may not raise to- the
general level of prices. as growers
hope but the general level may
travel downward in the direction of
wool
Just as expansion OF the automo-
bile industry drew men from the
farms so curtailmcut Is returning
them. Men have never within recent
years been so willing 20 do rarm
work. and the farm labor shortage is
not acute The natural element of
incompetence and business depres-
sion would seem 10 be a slow pro
gressive reduction I'm wages. This
reduction the unions viii oppose If
they achieve q measure of success.
they viii do So az the expense OF
oeher economic groups The finan-
cial read adjustment between groups
which accompanied the war would
Dee perpetuated. Classes with fixed"
income would suffer heavy loss and
salaried and professional men would
lose some of their prerogativcs
through the maintenance OF prices
charged FOR manufactured articles.
Great mOyem Cuts are iu progress
The farmer must bee alert 90 guar=
his interests and see that justice IS
done
The enormous shortage of oil and
the impending shortage about which
there is much talk call attention TO
recent experiments with straw gas
obtainablc from wheat oats. barley.
rye and rice str3wS and from corn
stalks. corn Cobs and other vege-
table matter ordinarily burned as
waste. Straw gas is not q new thing
The most modern process of eXtraC-
tlon was developed by George Har-
rison. Canadian engineer at
MOosejaw. Can. reports the depart
rueut OF Agriculture Already ~ has
been found possible TO operate an
automobile with straw gas Fifty
pounds OF straw viii produce about
900 cubic feet Of gas-an amount
sufficient 20 drive q light roadster
= miles. An essential problem ia
To find some means OF reducing the
gas 20 liquid form.
Should eXperime with
straw gas progress satisfactorily the
farmer may one day be able TO light
and heat his house. run his station
AIRY engines. and. possibly. operate
his tractor with the humble straw
stack.