, 1921-12-12

IneTe seems 10 De ROOQ TeaSOl
is over and that we may rea
provement from now on" He
Of the conditions as they exist should
help US TO realize this hope"
In large part ths troubles Of tho
farmer today arc due to worldwide
conditions and the inevitable result
OF the world war. the secretary Ct
agriculture says. adding that Il Is not
to be expected that by s1ne "miracu-
lous transformation" the per.od Of ad-
versity may be turned over night into
a period OF prosperity.
High freight rates. big crops pro-
duced In the faeo Of high costs. unem-
.pioyment IN other Industries in the
country with attendant ~iessening in
buying of foodstuffs. and the iack VI
foreign markets for the farm surplus
are given by the secretary as the
moro immediate causes for present
conditions in agriculture. He lays par
tirular stress upon the lack OF for
eign markets and high freight rates.
1T Is a terrible Indictment OF mod.
ern civilization no asserts, that
with such abundance here there are
millions of people overseas suffering
for the bsre necessities n other mil
lions starving to death. And surely
we are sadly lacking in under.
standing OF economic laws OF In our
adjustment to them when the pro-
duction OF bounteous crops grown by
the hard labor OF 13.o0o.000 farmers
and farm workers and their families
is permitted TO play such a large part
in paralyzing our Industries and bust
ness at home"
Large advances in freight rates,
while bearabie in time of high prices.
Mr.. Wallace says. II continued are
bound to involve a remalung OF the
American agricultural map.
The simple process OF marking up
the transportation cost a few cents u
hundred pounds" the secretary writes
has the same effect on the surplus
producing state as picking It up and
setting it down 100 to 500 miles farth
err from the market. Agriculture f.
depressed until the rates are lowered
or until population and industry shift
% meet this new condition"
With the heavy consuming popula-
Ion OF h country massed near the
eastern coast long distances from the
reducing areas. Mr.. Wallace says.
iubstanttnl advances in the transper
alton costs hnve the effect OF impo5
ng a differential against American
roducers n favor OF the r councillors
81 foreign lands. particularly those tc
Q south of this country, who have
re advantage OF cheap water rams
ortaticn.
the agriculture secretary thinks
.fat when the corntry finally
lnerses from the present condition
{ will find itself at the beginning of
4 new agricultural era. pointing TO
the large increase in the country's
population and the fact that most OF
the easily cultivated land hss been
taken up. he says the time Is not far
listant when home needs will require
practically all tlnt American farms
produce in the average years.
This means" he adds. "a more
intensive agriculture, With larger pro
auction per acre and lessened cost; II
We are to meet foreign competition
md still maintain our standard of liv-
.ng.'
The department is planning to meet
these new condition. Mr.. Wallace con
tinues, by strengthening certain
phases of its work, mere especially
the scientific research, the applica.
tons OF the result of research to farm
practice. more extended studies of
marketing farm crops with a view
to reducing crsts. investigation of
both production and consumption nj
home and abroad for the purpose Of
better adjusting American production
to market needs. and studies looking
toward making available to the farm.
err those devices of modern business
| which provide needed credit on easy
terms and which may help to distrib.
| ute production risks more equitably.
The amounts asked for this work
in the coming fiscal year have been
reduced to the minimum" the sec
rotary says. adding that IN the future
the appropriations should be increas.
ed just as rapidly as needed.
In this connection, Mr.. Wallace
| draws attention to the advisabIlity
1