Omaha daily bee., 1921-01-10
Financial Pinch
But Little Felt
By Dodge County
President of Nebraska Loan
Association Says Relief Be-
ing Felt as Farmers Sell
Part of Crops.

Part of Crops.
This Is the first of series OF articles
from Bee correspondents in all parts or
the state giving survey Of economic
condition., --
Fremont. Neb., Jan. Especial }
Dodge county and vicinity are
only slightly affected by the stirred
fnacial situation. The leading ques-
ton in the mind of the farmers and
business men seems to be the low
quotations on grain, which gives the
farmer loss if Sc sells. and keeps
trade from the business men if he
holds his products.
1t is the tendency in this territory
for the agricultural interests to
hoard crops and await an advance
in the market. Business in town. the
merchants complain. is slower than
in former years.
Relief is now being felt as farm
ers are selling part of their corn
crops.
Returning to Normal.
T. L. Mathews of Fremont, presi-
dent of the Nebraska Building and
Loan association, in close touch
with farmer, the home builder and
the merchant, says conditions are
slowly returning to normal.
"In regard to the present acute
situation, | would say in short. the
biggest relief would come in the
marketing of our crops and stock.
as far as Nebraska is concerned"
Mr.. Mathews said. "We are not
exporting now, and that has much
to do with present prices. An ac-
tive export demand would stimulate
an advance in wheat corn and cot
ton. i would say further that prices
are seeking. normal level and there
must be general realization on the
part of the manufacturer. merchant
and farmer that we must all stand
a share of the inevitable shrinkage,
This must be. sustained before prices
Can reach Normal and he stabil-
ized"
Banker is Optimistic.
Herman Beckman, vice president
of the First National bank of FIRE.
mont. one of the largest and richest
institutions OF its kind in Dodge
county, is inclined to be optimistic
and believes that the conditions are
now having an upward trend.
'"We feel that the bottom of the
present money situation has been
reached and things are about to GO
the other way, he says. The present
condition OF the country may be
compared to man who is i'll the
depths of huge forest. and as he
approaches the edge, he is able to
see a ray of light in the distance.
! think that the ray of light is
now. in sight
Z. J. Fouduet and liver Johnson,
both successful farmers in the vi.
cinity Of Fremont and authorities in
their line. state what they believe
to be the general feeling and opin-
ion among the farmers of this coun-
ty. Mr.. Fouquet said:
Farmers Hold Grain.
at is SEN evident that the farmers
in this part of the country are do
ing what we are all being forced
to do. We are holding our crops
and only selling what we must turn
into money for present use. AS the
expenses eat into the pockets of
the farmers, he must haul a load
of wheat or grain to market, to
help meet that expenditure. Other
wise the crops are staying on the
farms awaiting more reasonable
prices. The effect of the farmers
action is undoubtedly depressing
business in town because the man
on the farm with a big crop on
hand. and no income, is only spend
ing for just what he needs. AS to
the future we can say little and can
see no change, except raise in
the price of grain at sometime in
the future. The only relief that we
are able to suggest. is some means
of legislative action which will gov
ern the price of grain and not allow
the men higher up in the grain
world to fix prices"
The only portion of Dodge coun-
ty which is doing much grain busi-
ness is ccntered around Scribner.
About four cars of corn leave that
town daily. Although the market
price is still below the cost of pro-
>duction, the farmers in that vicinity
seem to view the situation more
broadly, and fall i'll line with the
merchants in town by taking>a loss.
Crop Moving Slowly.
Northwestern Trainmaster E. O.
Mount speaking of the corn move
ment said: "We have an order to
deliver four to seven cars daily at
Scribner and IS during the month"
Arthur H. Schultz, manager of
the Farmers Union COOPERATIVE
Co, at Scribner said that his COM
pany was receiving about 1900
bushels of corn a day, and that the
movement was so heavy it neces-
STATED someone at the scales most
of the time. Mr.. Schultz believes
that the farmers are able to sell
their corn for 50 cents and still have
a profit.
In the vicinity OF North Bend and
Nickerson. there is little action in
the grain business, mostly due to
the bad condition of the roads.
Ordered to Fort Crook.