The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-12-30

| GETTING
! Freely and frankly discussing the
present plight of the American farm
er. Secretary Wallace tells the presi-
dent In his first annual report that
there seems to be good reasons for
believing that the worst is over and
that we may reasonably hope for a
gradual Improvement from now on. J"
He adds that "a clear recognition of
the conditions as they exist should
help us to realize this hope"
In large part the troubles of the
farmer today are due to worldwide
conditions and the inevitable result of
the world war, the secretary of agri-
culture says, adding that it is not to
be expected that by some "miracul-
GUS Transformation" the period of
adversely may be turned over night
into period Of prosperity.
Causes of Depression
High freight rates, big crops pro-
duced in the face of high costs. I'M
employment in other industries in
the country with attendant lessening
in buying of foodstuffs. and the lack
OF foreign markets for the farm sur
plus are given by the secretary as the
more immediate causes for present
conditions in agriculture. He lays
particular stress upon the lack of
foreign markets and high freight
rates.
1T is terrible indictment of mod
ern Civilizations he asserts. that
with such abundance here there are
millions of people overseas suffering
for the bare necessities and other
millions starving to death. And sure
~ we are sadly lacking in our under
standing of economic laws or in our
| adjustment to them when the pro-
duction of bOunteous crops grown by
the hard labor of 100000 farmers
and farm workers and their families
is permitted to play such large part
in paralyzing our industries and bust
ness at home"
Large advances in freight rates,
while bearable in time Of high prices.
Wallace says, if continued. are bound
to involve a re-making OF the Ameri-
can agricultural map.
the transportation cost a few cents
a 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 farther from the market. Ag-
riculture is depressed until the rates
are lowered or until population and
industry shift to meet this new con-
dition."
Producers Handicapped
With the heavy consuming popula-
ton of the country massed near the
eastern coast long distances from the
producing areas, Wallace says, SUBJ
stantial advances in the transporta-
ton costs have the effect of impos-
ing a differential against American
producers in favor of their COMPETE
tors in foreign lands, particularly
those to the south of this country,
who have the advantage of cheap
water transportation.
The agriculture secretary thinks
that when the country finally emerg-
es from the present condition it will
find itself at the beginning of new
agricultural era. Pointing to the
large increase in the country's popu-
lation and the fact that most Of the
easily cultivated land has been taken
up, he said the time Is not far distant
when home needs will require prac-
tically all that American farms pro-
duce in the average years.
"This MEANS" he adds. "a more in
tenslve agriculture. with larger pro-
duction per acre and lessened cost, If
we are to meet foreign competition
and still maintain our standard of
living"
The department is planning to
meet these new conditions, Wallace
continues. by Strengthening certain
phases of its work. more especially
the scientific research, the applica-
ton of the result of research to farm
practice, more extended studies of |
marketing farm crops with a view to |
reducing costs, investigation of both |
production and consumption at home |
and abroad for the purpose of better
adjusting American production to |
market needs, and studies looking to-
ward making available to the farmer
those devices of modern business
which provide needed credit on easy
terms and which may help to distri- !
butte production risks more equitably.
Minimum Amounts Asked
The amounts asked for this work
In the coming fiscal year have been !
reduced to the minimum" the secre- !
tary says, adding that in the future
the appropriations should be increas-
ed just as rapidly as needed.
In this connection Wallace draws
attention to the advisability of con-
gress granting permission for the
combining of the bureaus of markets
and crop estimates and the office of
farm management, into which would
be merged all the forces OF the de-
partment that are engaged in agri-
cultural economic work.
In his discussion of present con-
ditions, Wallace declares that the dif-
ficulties of the farmers are a matter
of national concern and one that
should be given attention by every
I h 0u phffu1 oifi1on