Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-07-21
Meredith Speaks
About Conditions

Farming, has the following to say
about the present economic conditions,
which is worthy of the attention OF
all readers of The Record, especially
the rural readers:
1t is law Of nature that action is
equal TO reaction in the opposite di-
rcction. For instance, pendulum
always swings almost as far one way
as il went in the opposite direction on
the preceding swing. A slight tap when
it starts back may send it further
than it went on the up stroke.
Business has its ups and downs as
does the pendulum. In many respects
business expansions and depressions
are almost as regular as the ticking
of the clock When business reaches
the peak Of its climb we can always
rest assured that there will be a do
cline at least nearly as far. The world
war really served as a vigorous push
rather than a light tap on the busi-
ness pendulum OF the world end sent
it up and up almost to its zenith, in
fact, many feared the force of the i'm
pact would cause il to dash from the
beaten path and crash to destruction.
But the upward swing stopped before
the break, and for the last year and
a half we have been witnessing the
backward swing.
Many facts Indicate that il is now
about time for the business pendu-
lum to return in the direction of bus
mess recovery And i'm the revival Of
business which is sure to occur, we
anticipate that farming will be one OF
the first lines Of business to be bene-
fitted.
There are several reasons why the
farmer should now take an oDti-
inistic view of his business situation.
The wheat carry-ovcr from this sea-
son has been the smallest in years.
The latest information indicates that
the 1921 crop is no larger than the
1920 crop.
Stocks Of wheat 1t terminals md
in country elevators are reported to
be more than 80 per cent lower than
year ago. The visible supply is the
smallest in eighteen years.
The supply of flour in the hands Of
merchants as well as consumers is
very low. There was 20 per cent less
flour manufactured during the year
ending June LIST than during the pre-
ccding year.
of vital interest To- farmers is the
fact that there is q decided shortaro
in livestock. If per capita consump-
ton of meat and meat product wciC
Suddenly to return 10 normal, thc de-
mand for meat would be fan grclter
than the supply.
During the first five months Of l92
there were 7,7iG business failures ~
the United States as compared with
2,67S for the corrcspo0ding period of
1920. An export stat:s,icisn cstima. rs
that at prceont there are about three
million persons ordinarily employed in
Industries in the United States out Of
employment. 1t has been demonstrate
ed that the family Of a man who has
employment consumes three times as
much Of the Things people eat, VICAR
and use, as it does whom tic head Of
the family is out OF employment. Lat
est information indicates that the
number of unemployed has probably
reached the maximum and that mcm-
ployment is now on the doeline-
One can readily see that as workers
In textile mills, shoe factories auto
mobile factories, furniture factories,
etc, are resuming employment, THEN.
requirement. will be pgoportionately
increased. Certainly this means q
greater demand and better prices for
all the things which arc produced by
farmers. Lack Of employment cannot
be improved until utilization of pro-
ducts produced is resumed.
Add to all this the determination of
the farmers Of this country to take .
hand in the marketing Of their own
products, which will result in farmers
getting better prices or at least get
ting larger percentage of the final
selling price Of their stuff, togcthe
with the probable reelection in frciz b.
rates, and we have ample reason Cor
feeling optimistic in regard to the
situation the farmer will lind himself
IN a few months hence.
There arc other favorable signs
and we will admit few clouds on Che
horizon, but taking it all in all the sit
uation warrants reasonable optimism.
Better times for agriculture are COM
ing, and coming soon. The farmers
who profit most during the next few
years will be those who keep eyes and
ears wide open Tor every bi. Of info
nation that will help them to judge
what is best for them to DO in the con
duct of their own business.
Buy the things you need t. enable
you to produce crops and livestock
economically. IF you can cut the cost
OF producing bushol of wheat by ia
cents, that is equivalent to getting ia
cents bushcl more for It.
Successful Farmilg is WORKING ov.
ertlmc in an effort to keep its readers
fully abreast Of the times. The city
OF Washington is an important poioi
IN the farmers geography Mt tho