The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-05-12
new PARIS FARMER
TELLS WHAT'S WRONG
WITH SPUD OUTLOOK
BY WILLIAM r. SANBoRN.

A telegram to Richmond broker
from Lansing, Michigan. Tuesday,
stated that they were shipping pota-
toes to Indiana points at $3.50 per cwt.
in car lots
The price in Lansing means about
Si.60 per bushel on track in Richmond,
freight paid or say $11.50 for a 100
pound bag. What the dealer will charge
YOU is up to him.
In the meantime, If you can find
suitable soil, you can help out DIT by
planting few potatoes for winter use.
Mr.. Smoker, of New Paris, gives us
his version of why potatoes are high:
Omitting any reference to the specu-
lator who is now marketing potatoes at
$3.50 for which the farmer got around
42 last fall.
Few in Farmers Hands.
Some few farmers still hold potatoes,
it may be. but very few are now In
first hands" The farmer long since
got his money for his crop.
Mr.. Smoker writes as follows:
Potatoes are high because the sup
ply is not equal to the demand. The
demand is greater than the supply
because too many people thought they
could raise them
Very few farmers in this section
raise potatoes to SELL Ninety per cent
of them have tried it at some time or
other in their careers and have found
out from sad experience that they were
poorly paid for their work AS a result
their highest aim and ambition is to
raise enough for their own use and let
the other fellow do the same. or look
out for himself as best he can.
Farmer Got Hard Deal.
"A few years ago when potatoes first
retailed at 81 a peck there was weep
ing and wailing throughout the land.
The farmers of this country were ap-
pealed to. they were entreated and
implored to raise potatoes and help
save the nation. The farmers respond
ed nobly with a bumper crop and their
PATRIOTISM was rewarded by getting
about 81 a bushel for potatoes whose
seed had cost them 81 peck. Mean
time his city brethren was getting
cost plus 1907 and in many cases cost
plus 1000 This kind of dose cured
most of them. They are forever i'm
rune to another attack of potato
fever
Il got mine years ago. The price in
the spring was high and | planted six
ceres. expecting to get rich quick. But
alas I sold them at "A cents a bushel
and nv system is entirely and ever
lastingly pursed of the germs which
caused potato fever. Henceforth and
forcvermore. I raise enough for my
own individual needs and when | feel
inclined TO gamble or get rich quick
try something easier-like picking the
winner of the Kentucky Derby for
instance
Monev-But Hard Money.
"A friend of mine raises several
acres. yearly and usually hauls them
Il miles to Richmond markets. He
tnrives on a diet of hard work and
long hours and has made plenty of
money at it-but it isn't easv money"
He tells of one trip to Richmond
when he sold load of potatoes at
$50 hushel and before he had them
unl0aded from his wagon they were
we're being retailed at So My friend
can sling cuss-words Ground more pro-
n.iscously than vaudeville performer
can iuggle dinner plates. and the
l2neuage he uses in describing this
incident would make Texas cowboy
blush.
Last fall many acres Of potatoes in
MICHIGAN were never dug because OF
scarcity OF farm help. altho good
hands made as high as SO and S13 a
dav.
foI,