The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-07
EASIER CREDITS ID
 HELP FARMER FOR
 THE PRESENT TIME
Filler of the Soil Has Many Obstacles to Overcome and Cooperative Market Is
 Only Permanent Help
By RALPH BURTON Special Correspondent of The Age Herald Copyright. 1921. by Tho Age-Herald)

NCOpyrlRnts lBEls Dy lbo ABe-bett1ul
 Washington, August e-Easier credit for farmers, provided by the bill which passed the Senate Thurs day will provide some relief for .he present disorganized condition cf lagriculture, according to representa- lives of the farmers in Washington, but transportation, perhaps the most serious problem of all from the agri- culturalist's point of view, is Lift untouched.
 For months now the farm press has iindustrially and consistently been collecting data to show that the cost of railroad transportation of farm products is unduly great. Instances have been brought to light which show that producer has some times been unable to market farm goods at price sufficient to pay the cost of hauling them to market.
 Ocean Rates
 Ocean freight rates have declined somewhat, but only the department of agriculture announces. in about the same proportion that the value of the farm products has declined There Is then no net gain for the farmer and
 
 his goods abroad. Railroad rates in the United States, on the other hand. have remained as high as ever To illustrate what the American farmer is up against in trying to reach the union market, the depart ment of agriculture shows that the average farmer in the Argentine can get his wheat to England for 35 cents a bushel, as against 42 cents for the American farmer, assuming that the latter has his weat laid down free of charge In Kansas City. The haul from Kansas City to the gulf ports is, of course, considerably longer than the average haul in the Argentine, because of the configuration of the two countries, but the ocean rate Is of course considerably higher from Argentine. and only because of this fact are American farmers able to compete at all.
 Cooperative Markets
 The idea of cooperative marketing la dvanced by many farmers organiza- tions, presented in the Senate by sev- eral senators from farm states and indorsed in some degree by the de- partment of agriculture, has made many converts among the agricultur- al department, but perhaps of equal moment tut movement to supply lO- cal markets first in order that long hauls may be eliminated wherever possible. In the south. for example, there is of late marked tendency to get away from the exclusive growing of tobacco and corn-two crops in which the southern states have a1- most a monopoly--and to grow in- stead. as a first consideration, crops that will make the south self-sutain- ing.
 Thus far it has been necessary for the south to import many products from all parts of the country, and it's dependence in this respect has forced it to market topacco and cotton at figures fixed by the purchaser. Agri- culture college experts in the south now contend that if the south will develop general farming to the point where it will no longer be depend ent on other sections of the country. raising cotton and tobacco on sur plus ground, farm mortgages there can be paid off within 10 years, and tenant farming almost eliminated. This resolution is in line with the new policy of the department of agri-