Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-16
FREIGHT RATES
HOLDING BACK
FARM BUSINESS
Required to Pay Too Much on
the Things He Must
Purchase.
AUTOS VS.. IMPLEMENTS
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY C. b. EVANS,

and Philadelphia Public Ledger
BY C. B. EVANS,
CHICAGO, Sept. 16-It is reasonable
to assume that the manufacturers of agri-
cultural implements and the industries
tributary thereto are benefited by the
recent improved aspect of agricultural
affairs and there is a rather better feel
ing among these industries than few
months ago.
Early this year 8 man holding high
position in one of the large companies
painted a dark picture and events since
that time largely have borne out his
predictions. His view, however, was due
to anticipation of many unfortunate hap
penings in the finances Of this and other
countries, and those events have in great
measure occurred, but the thing itself
has not produced anything like the bane-
full effects that he and others might rea-
sonably have expected.
Accordingly at this time the interest
while not prosperous, is looking for bet
ter things. Most of the companies are
making no money applicable to dividend
payments, but some have moderate mar
gin to the good. The action Of the In
ternational Harvester Company in de-
claring the regular October dividend Is
interpreted as establishing the proba-
bility of a continuance Of dividends for
an indefinite period, and while there is
no Official authority for this expectation
the atmosphere in the board Of directors
is decidedly better than a few weeks ago
RATES INCREASE
COST OF MACHINERY.
Neither decline in cost Of material nor
the moderate reductions in wages are
sufficient to Offset unfavorable conditions.
and the item of freight rates is an ex-
ceedingly troublesome one. 1t can be
understood that, as the farmer has 70
pay in the price Of his machine. freight
rates from the Lake Superior mines to
Chicago on ore, not to mention the other
ingredients that 90 to make pig iron,
and then freight from the Chicago fac
tory to the home town of the purchaser,
he is much interested in this element
1t is stated by good authority that in
ton of pig worth $50 to $50 there is $40
in railroad freight
While no claim is made in this con
nection that freight rates In general
should be reduced, attention is called
TO the fact that the transportation cost
In the big heavy articles is burden
on the industry Of making large ma
chimes The railroad men have put ished
from time to time statements indicating
that the freight cost in pair OF shoes
or suit of clothes Is negligible. but this
certainly is not true of agricultural i'm
Elements. which in the raw and in the
completed form must do so many hun
bred miles OF travelling. 1t Is recog
nized ais othat the railroads can not
reasonably be called upon to reduce rates
IN general until labor cost is cut down
In fixing rates careful discrimination as
to the articles carried is necessary, ana
the Interstate Comemrce Commission ap-
pears to be studying the question on that
line.
FARMER BECOMING
EXTRAvAGANT ALSO.
The diversion of the farmers capital
into other channels has been an injury
TO the agricultural implement business
IT is a part of the extravaganza IN which
Americans of all classes have INDUCED
since the war began and up TO recent
time. major item is the automobile
II is estimated that the cost per year
for the maintenance and operation OF
automobiles owned by the farmer class
is $500 100000. The amount spent year
form farm machinery and tools is not in
excess of 5000 100000. Nor in this conn
harrison is any allowance made for de-
probation Of the automobiles, which one
might guess should be written from Co.'S
down 10 zero in a period of Ave years.
This is a comparison of luxuries and
necessities which does not look we'll
That the country can stand such things
is evidence of its strength and promise
of future prosperity among the farmers
n they will take little different view
of a pleasure trip to the village as COM
pared with one of those excursions up
and down a field with pillow.
There is in this view of the case no
hint of objection to the ownership and
use of automobiles by farmers They
are entitled to all that they can get out
of the pleasure car consistently with
reasonable consideration of economy.
The auto is now an integral part of our
life. the forests of Brazil and Sumatra
are drained of juice for the farmers
benefit as well as the city mans, and
from this time on the artist who wishes
TO picture human locomotion should not
paint a pair of legs, but four rubber
clad wheels.-Copyrigh 1921, by Public
Ledger Company.