South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-07-24
Agriculture

The country "a slowly awakening
to the fact that conditions IN the
livestock industry are not all that
they should be and that growers
need a substantial measure Of relief
Sen. Kendrick Of wyoming told the
Interstate Commerce commission
that assistance IN the form OF re-
duced transportation charges must
come before Aug. 10 or 1t will be too
late. Interstate Commerce Com
mission examiners have already rec
commended material reductions IN
rates on livestock, recognizing that
rates in western and mountain-Pa-
cific territories "are not excessive
from a strictly transportation stand
point, but are unreasonable from an
economic standpoint"
In other words the examiners
have virtually served notice on the
railroads that necessity brooks no
excuse and that they must give ser
vice at less cost, whatever readjust-
ments that dictum may require.
Rate reductions would stimulate the
livestock industry and increase load
ings-tO the great advantage of the
railroads themselves-fa more than
they would help the manufacturing
industries. The building industry
might conceivably profit in a like
degree.
The banks are making progress
with the S5O.OO0,OOO pool designed
o. help the livestock growers, and
with range conditions favorable. a
large carryovcr from the last corn
rop. and prospect OF an abundant
crop this year. the future of the
livestock industry has frightened
appreciably. Sentiment is more
cheerful than before.
The Joint Congressional commits
sion OF agriculture inquiry is to ques-
ton officials of the federal reserve
board and financial leaders as to
reasons for the 1920 debacle in farm
prices. one witness told the commits
sion that dcfation was "artificially
and criminally precipitated and that
wise and honest mana cement would
have obviatcd the suffering that the
whole country is now enduring" The
banks. headed by the federal reserve
board. undoubtedly precipi,ated the
era OF deGauo9 rut only when 1t
became evident that extravaganza
and speculation had the country by
the throat. that credit had become
overextcnded and bark reserves were
threatened. and the heroic measures
were necessary TO avert a crash. I'm
fortunately the full force OF defiation
sought the point Of least resistance.
viz. agricultural products. which had
not the protection OF strong organi-
cations bent on maintaining prices.
The farmer deserves special consid-
Grafton and measures OF relief in
correspondence with the degree Of
his unmerited punishment.
The census bureau has recently
published two sets OF figures OF in
terest 10 all persons that have con
Germ for rural welfare. Mortgage
debts Of American agriculture more
than doubled between 1910 and 1920.
This increase resulted from an in
crease in the number OF farms and
i'm the amount Of capital necessary TO
operate them. in large part, and was
nearly Offset by the increase IN the
value OF the farms. Mortgages in
1920 represented 29.1 per cent OF the
value OF the farms. while in 1910
they represented 27.s per cent. Mon
tana's debt increased 700 per cent
as the result of repeated crop fall
ures
The other set OF figures revealed
that 261. 600 women are operating or
American farms and that WON en-
own As per cent OF the total farm
area. There are 6.44S.OOO men farm
ers These statistics take no account
OF farmers wives. who are an ex-
/ ceedinEly important element in the
success Of present-day agriculture.