Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-12-12
LARGE SHAREN
TR0UBtELAD To
FREIGHT RATES
New Agricultural Era sForeseen
When Present Condition
Passes

WASHINGTON, December r. -
(By Associated ss.)-Freely and
frankly discussing the present plight
Of the American farmer, Secretary
Wallace tells the president in his first
annual report today that there
Seems to be good reasons for be-
lieving that the worst is over and
that we may reasonably hope for
gradual improvement from now on"
He adds that "a clear recognition of
the conditions as they exist should
help us to realize this hope"
In large part the troubles Of the
farmer today are due to worldwide
conditions and the inevitable result
of the world war, the secretary Of
agriculture says, adding that it Is
mot to be expected that by some s'r1f-
raculous transformation" the period
of adversely may be turned over
night into period of prosperity
High freight rates, big crops pro-
duced in the face of high costs, un.
employment in other Industries In the
country with attendant lesse1iing in
buying of foodstuffs; and the lack
Of foreign markets for the farm SUR
plus are given by the secretary as
the more immediate causes for pres
ent conditions in agriculture. He lays
particular stress upon the lack OF
foreign markets and his freight rates,
Terrible Indictment.
'It is terrible Indictment Of mod
ern civilization" he asesrts,, ssthat
with such abundance here there are
millions of people overseas suffering
for the bare necessities and other
millions starving to death. And sure
ly we are sadly lacking in our un-
derstanding Of economic laws. or III
our adjustment to them when the
productions Of bpnnteous crops
grown by the hard labor of oOl,a
''UUUT farmers and farm workeTg and
their families is permitted TO play
such a large part in paraiyzirg our
industries and business at home"
Large advances in freight rates,
while bearable in time Of high prices.
Mr.. Wallace says, if continued are
bound to involve remaking of the
American agricultural map.
"The simple process of marking
up the transportation cost few
cents hundfed pounds 2 the secre-
tary writes, "has the same effect on
the surplus-producing state as pick
ing it UP and setting it down 100 to
800 miles farther from the market,
Agriculture is depressed until the
rates are lowered or until population
and industry shift to meet this new
condition"
Handicap for Farmers.
With the heavy consuming popula-
tion of the country massed near the
eastern coast long distances from the
producing areas, Mr.. Wallace says,
substantial advances in the Transport
tation costs have the effect of im-
posing a differential against Ameri-
can producers In favor of their COM
petitors in foreign lands, particular.
ly those to the South Of this country,
who have the advantage of cheap
water transportation.
The agriculture secretary thinks
that when the country finally enierg-
es from the present condition it will
find itself at the beginning of new
agricultural era, pointing the large
increase in the country's population
and the fact that naost of the easily
cultivated land has been taken up, he
says the time is not far distant when
home needs will require practically
all that American farms produce ia
the average years.
a joint communication officers for
1922 will be elected by both lodges.