Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-19
SELLING PRODUCTS
IS GREAT PROBLEM
Of j. s. FARMERS
BY RALPH BARTON
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal, }
Copyright, 1921

WASHINGTON, April 16.--Mar-
keting of their products is the great
problem now confronting the farmers
of the nation. A few months ago
the cry was still produce, produce"
but now, faced with the difficult job
of disposing Of q large surplus of
almost every variety of. crop, the
farmer is wondering, first, how he
can finance his operations for the
present year, and second, assuming
the matter of financing to be salts
factorily provided for, how far he'
dares commit himself to production
in the current season.
Figures issued by James J. Davis,
secretary of labor, indicating that
the nliddlemen Of the country get Fl
cents out of every dollar paid by the
consumer for his household and
other expenses, have revealed to the
farmer one reason for the trouble
he is experiencing in marketing his
goods. High transportation rates
present another. AS an example of
this it may be mentioned that ton
of farm produce can be shipped more
cheaply from Texas to Holland than
from Texas to Kansas. The influx
Argentina, Australia and elsewhere,
in anticipation Of tariff restrictions
in this country, offers a third.
Henry c. Wallace, the new secre-
tary Of agriculture, a man who.
Through long experience in farm farm
journalism, is closely in touch with
the problems affecting agriculture.
sounded this week a warning that
the continued arrival, without re-
striction, of foreign products would
seriously endanger farming in the
United States. A glance at the census
ehN o. fn1,y inc G hest
in none too healthy a situation. In
New Hampshire. which is perhaps an
extreme example, yet nevertheless
fairly typical Of the condition exist
ing throughout the country, the num-
Der of farms, acreage cultivated,
culture, amount Of principal crops,
number Of cattle and draft animals,
all decreased during the decade from
1910 to 1920; in fact, about the only
recorded increases in the entire feld
Of farming were in the number and
ton of farm population in all parts
Of the country is another symptom Of
the prospective, if not actual, un-
healthy state of industry.
Mr.. Wallace did not refer specih-
cally to these conditions but he made
deserving of special assistance at
this time. On Thursday he went
with q group OF men interested. nj
the good roads noYement-ot vital
Importance to farmers-to take up
their cause directly with President
Facilities is essential, If relief can
not come through lowered railroad
rates.
Possibly a large development Of
motor trucking between farm and
city, such as was advocated by Benz
ton MacKaye following q long stQay
of the farm market situation for the
postoffice department and the depart
ment Of labor, may result if the agri-
cultural sections are made more ac-
cessible. It is. of course. highly I'M
portant that there be no repetition OF
the experience of Arkansas, Wnefe
excessive bond issues entered INTO
for road construction are now ap"
parently going to necessitate practi-
cally a capital levy of all farm prop
erty in certain sections OF the state.
In one respect the farmers LOT IS
improving, The labor problem IS no
longer serious, for unemployment IN
the cities had driven large numbers
of men back to the rural regions and
labor can now be obtained in ample
quantity and cheaply enough. STA
tistics gathered by the bureau or
crop estimates indicate that, Where-
as only u per cent OF the req4ltS;o
supply of farm labor was avallabie
in ISIS. SO per cent in 1919 and 50
per cent last year, the supply, now
considerably exceeds the demand the
ratio being 1888 per cent.
Reports from almost. every state
are to the effect that the supply, Of
farm labor is abundant and that
wages have been greatly reduced.
There is apparently recrudescence
of negro migration from certain
southern states because OF lack OIL
employment there.