Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-08-04
FARMER PAYING HIS DEBTS


The farmers problem Is now one
Of markets and transportation rather
than production, the federal reserve
bank report declares m its end-of-
the month review.
Agricultural production In the
seventh federal reserve district, ev-
en- with wheat and oakss crops falling
somewhat short Of early predictions,
Is regarded az sufficient to enable
the farmer to liqufdate o consider
able portion OF his current and bank
II he ID able to market
hfs product" declares the report:
His problem now IL becoming
one Of markets and transportation
instead OF one OF production and, to-
gether with the manufacturer. he is
beginning Ito realize more and more
the vital Importance jof the resunnp-
ton OF purchases BY the European
consumer in the American market
and the clearing up of the foreign
exchange situation"
s As to the manufacturer and the
merchantile business. In this district
the report declares chat theses lines
are feeling the disposition on the
part OF the domestic consumer to
buy only what is absolutely neces-
'sary and not TO look so much at the
intrinsic value. as at the price-mark
to determine whether the particular
article sought IL being offered at q
substantial reduction from the peak
Of year ago. This disposition is
particularly true in the agricultural
regions the report points out.
There is q decrease In cattle feed
ing but hog feeding appears to be
ON the Increase Better demand for
pork and pork products. due largely
TO the using up of stocks on hand
not only here but, abroad, is encour-
aging hog feeding.
Consumption Of meat, however,
has fallen Off and exports have drop
ped off. The report declares with
treeaTd to cattle feeding that there
IL q disposition ON this part Of the
big cattle feeders because Of the diff
ficulty in financing their operation.
and of the uncertainty regarding
profits, 10 curtail their activities and
to send stock to the market unfin-
ished.
The report points out that there is
q decided tendency among farmers
all through the seventh district to
market their wheat as fast as 1t IL
threshed, resulting in some conges-
ton at grain terminals and q short
age Of grain-carrying cars.
4 1.-THE railroads have not been In
a financial position to increase their
equipment or TO repair a sufficient
number of cars to care for the re-
quirements should the grain move
ment become unusually heavy" 1t
continues. Cars arriving at Chicago
and other terminals are not being
unloaded and released promptly.
partly. due to the sSrike Of elevator
employees and partly due to market
conditions. This together with the
ngestion at ports, is proving a SER
ious handicap to the railroads. In
providing for the grain movement.
The traffic men admit they cannot
handle the movement II all the grain
is offered for shipment as soon as
threshed. u
Western elevators are pretty well
filled UP with last years crop which
is another factor to -lbe 5reckoned
with. Some railroads report Is high
as 10 per cent of their grain cars In
repair shops. The car shortage 30 TAR
tis not serious but the heayy move
ment Of grain to market has not yet
begun. Eastern railroads are loan
ing cars for grain loading 70 the
Western lines"