Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-07-21
FARM PRCFilv
COMINGBA

It is law of nature that action is
equal to reaction in the opposite
direction. For instance, a pendulum
always swings almost as far one way
as it went in the opposite direction
on the preceding swing. A slight
tap when it starts back may send it
farther 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 is the tick
ing of the clock When business
reaches the peak of its climb we can
always rest assured that there will
be decline at least nearly as far.
The world war really served as
vigorous push rather than light
tap on the bushes pendulum of the
world and sent it up and up almost
to Its zenith, in fact, many feared the
force of the impact would cause it to
dash from the beaten path and crash
to destruction. But the upward swing
tapped before the break, and for the
last year and a half we have been
witnessing the backward swing.
Many facts indicate that it is now
about time for the business pendulum
of the United States to return in the
direction of the business recovery.
And in the revival of business which
IS sure to occur, we anticipate that
farming will be one of the first lines
of business to be benefited.
There are several reasons why the
farmer now should take an optimistic
view of his business situation. The
wheat carryover from this season has
been the smallest in years T he lat
est information indicates that the 1921
crop is no larger than the 1920 crop.
Stocks of wheat at terminals and
in country elevators are reported to
be more than so per cent lower than
a year ago. The visible supply is
the smallest in eighteen years.
The supply of flour in the hands of
merchants as we'll as consumers is
very low. There was 10 per cent less
flour manufactured during the year
ending June LIST than during the pre-
ceding year.
fol fr,ta -
fact that there is decided shortage
in livestock. If per capita consump-
ton of meat and meat products were
suddenly to return to normal, the
demand for meat would be far great
er than the supply.
During the first five months of
1921 there were 7,716 business fail
ures in the United States as compar-
ed with 2,678 for the corresponding
period of 1920. An expert statistician
estimates that at present there are
about three million persons ordinari-
ly employed in Industries in the
United States out of employment 1t
his been demonstrated that the fami-
ly of a man who has employment
consumes three times as much of the
things people eat, wear and use, as it
does when the head of the family is
out Of employment. Latest informa-
ton indicates that the number of I'M
employed has probably reached the
maximum and that unemployment is
now on the decline.
One can readily see that is work
ers in textile mills, shoe factories,
automobile factories, furniture fact
cries, etc, are resuming employment,
their requirement will be proportion
ately increased. Certainly this means
greater demand and better prices
for all the things which are produced
by farmers. Lack of employment can
not be improved until utilization of
products 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 most assuredly will
result in farmers getting better prices
or at least getting larger percent
age of the final selling price of their
stuff, together with the probable re-
| duction in freight rates, and we have
ample reason for feeling optimistic
| in regard to the situation the farmer
will find himself in a few months
| hence.
There are other favorable signs and
we will admit a few clouds on the
horizon, but taking it all in all the
situation warrants reasonable OPP
| timism. Better times for agriculture
are coming, and coming soon. The
farmers who profit most during the
next few years will De those who keep
eyes and ears wide open for every bit
of information that will help them to
Judge what is best for them to do IN
the conduct of their own business.
Buy the things you need to enable
you to produce crops and livestock
economically. If you can cut the
cost of producing bushel OF wheat
br, IN oo,+c +ha+ ia auIIiva lent TO get