The Topeka state journal., 1921-11-07
Kansas Officials Not Pleased
With Wallace Statement.
VIII Not Aid Farmers to In
crease Production.
STATEMENT BY SEC'Y MOHLER
Gov. Allen Says State Has Been
Oyer-Fed on Reports.
Agricultural Head Sees Increase
in Price of Corn.


Washington, Nov. Corn at 81
cents a bushel is equal in value to
coal at SIS ton, H. c. Wallace, secre-
tary of agriculture, said in comment
| ing on reports that some farmers were
burning corn for fuel. At 20 cents a
bushel, he said, corn would be equiva-
lent to fuel at $40 a ton.
'Tn districts where corn is very
cheap now the coal is of a rather poor
grade and is selling at high prices"
he continued. Under such conditions,
it will pay both farmers and people
| in country towns to use corn instead
of coal and undoubtedly large Quanti-
ties of corn will be burned on western
farms this winter, unless the prices
should materially advance"
| Mr.. Wallace said the use OF surplus
grain as fuel in times of low Inarketa-
| bility was not an uncommon occur
renee in other cereal raising countries
corn having been burned in Argen-
tina under such conditions mot only
on the farms but in power plants"
Kansas officials are not giving loud
cheers because of Secretary WaIace's
statement to the effect that corn is
being burned because OF the high price
of coal and shortage of fuel. They see
in the statement a suggestion which
fails to harmonic with movements to
aid farmers in holding their crops and
increasing production.
In a statement today J. c. MohIer.
secretary of the state board of agri-
culture, said the entire tendency Of
the suggestion was to add to the cost
of living and increase unemployment.
ITO burn up one form of wealth to
make wealth in another form of less
value is curious way to aid our re-
sources" said the Kansas secretary of
! agriculture.
! Over-Fed on Reports.
Governor Allen said he had been
oVer-fed on reports of corn burning.
They've been current for forty years
always some one burning corn" he
said. 'E really don't believe there
! has been much corn burned in either
Kansas or Iowa in thirty years" Re
| Gently Secretary Mohler said that re-
ports to his department-showed a very
slight tendency to use corn for fuel.
The present report of relative fuel
values in corn and coal, said Secretary
Mohler tended to destroy the pur-
pose of the War Finance Corporation
in seeking to convert low priced feed
into feedstuffs. He anticipated a ris-
ing value in corn. particularly If the
1922 acreage is reduced, and the ef-
fort to provide funds for purchase of
1 hogs is successful.
MohIer's Statement.
! In his statement MohIer said:
1T strikes me that the statement.
tho true, is unfortunate. in that by
inference at any rate it would seem to
encourage the use of this premier
feedstuff for fuel. Corn is the main
stay of the matchmaking industry. 1t
is chief element in the ma.ntenanee
and fattening of livestock. Consider
I ing its efficiency in rations for live
stock, certainly it cannot be used TO
! greater advantage than as a feedstuff
at the present low prices. 1 hardly
see how the farmer can provide n
more economical ration for livestock
than with corn. Moreover. It appeals
| to me that a large carry-over when
corn is cheap would be judicious. In
doing 50 there would be protection
against the possibility of a short crop
next year, either from reduced acre
age or crop failure, and ability to meet
any increased demands thru possible
revival of the livestock industry.
Money now made available to produc-
ers by the War Finance Corporation Is
1ra ad IN ef Mi
the cheap feed they have grown and
realize on it Here we have one gov
ernmentaI agency assisting the farm
ers to convert their low-priced feed
stuffs into animal products in hopes
of deriving a profit; while another
government department would appa--
emily encourage the burning Of corn
: and cut off any possibility of gain.
This seems like working at cross
purposes.
Even at equal values for heating
! purposes. burning corn in place of coal
involves an economic waste. To de-
stroy the value of coal by substituting
corn as fuel and at the same time de-
priving the world of the services that
corn may render as feed and food is
ridiculous. The whole tendency, IN
a broad way, is to increase the cost of
living and to add to unemployment
Would it help to secure lower freight
rates to reduce the tonnage; or to Sc
cure cheaper mar ufactured products
| by increasing the cost of food; or 10
increase human efficiency by utilizing
commodities to the poorest instead of
the best advantage? To burn up one
fnrm of wealth to make wealth in an