Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-07

ent problem OF skin games of middle
men, and the serious handicap of too
expensive transportation, the present
depression in agriculture is natural
and Inevitable condition which benev
olent legislation can only partially and
slowly relieve. Secondly, 1t is much
better to have surplus of production
than a shortage. Third the handicap
OF fancy prices for labor, paid in 1920,
will not be repeated, at least not to
sch absurd extent. Fourth tariff
embargoes may affect retail prices and
even enhance values OF products
around the edges of the nation, but
cannot materially assist farm inter-
ests here in the far interior. Fifth.
the troubles OF the past year have
taught deep lesson in favor Of moro
diversified and more intensive farm
ing. They have also tended to jar the
farmer out of ruts OF routine pursuits
and induced him to think moro earn
estly-to think both on future indus
trial tendencies, and on farm manage
ment that will orer for sale not the
raw product tgrain and hay and live
stock). but partially manufactured
product-food ready for the grocery
shelves. Sixth. activities in sidel!nes,
such poultry. butter. fruit Juices
and fruit jams, brooms and cereals,
pay the farm people just now far bet
ter than the staple crops. Seventh,
there is powerful inducement here
in the far west for inventive skill
which can change hides into leather,
leather into harness and shoes; which
can spin and weave wool and cotton
into fabrics, fabrics into clothing and
rugs and blankets. This last, in some
respects. Is the most urgent OF all, and
almost nothing is being done.
These are some OF the conclusions
that may be drawn up in tho present
strange and unprecedented industrial
situstion as IT concerns farm interests,
That these conclusions are not mcrc
random offerings of this Farm Ragc
may be supported by parallel writings
from elsewhere. One OF the really good
agricultural journals is Farm Life. a
magazine from Spencer, Indiana. and
part OF recent article thercfrom is
here given:
We have been hearing from our
friends out IN the tabled corn-hurning
section. where old man Hard Times is
said to be making his general head
quarters. Tho reports are not uni
formly cheerful. but they do not indi-
cate anything desperate. Agriculture
IS ailing. In common with other bust,
ness. and even worse than most fn-s
dustries. {. is suffering from the world
wide epidemic OF dchauon. which
started in Europe year ago. and is
sweeping over the land and which our
best business doctors have not been
able to stop. But the attack Is not
fatal. whatever the quacks and the
professional mourners may say.
This is not n mere figure OF speech
Tho body -oiitic, including agriculture.
has been living too high, and too fast.
and now the reaction has come. 1t II.
we believe, healthy. a healing rcac-
fIon, however much the patient may
complain, and we might as well have
n now and have II over with.
we have recently heard so many
wild stories about the grain states OF
the west-storIcs Of deserted farms
and bankrupt farmers-eanks in dis
trcss and tradcless merchants-that
we set about to get reports from re-
liable men right on the ground.
We wrote to six men in every county
IN the seven western states where ca
larnity has been most widely adver-
tiscd by its loving fricnds-fowa. Min
ncsota. North and South Dakota, Ne
hrnska, Kansas and Oklahoma. The
letters were sent to bankers. county
agents, and esteemed subscribers. ask
inE for n report on actual conditions
from each one in his own immediate
neighborhood.
our correspondents have reported
from every neck and corner of these
states, giving us a definite and true
picture of conditions. With the eScep-
tion Of few counties here and there
which have had crop failures during
tho last two or three years, We ma
upon analyzing tho reports received
that there is a similar state OF affairs
in every locality. Without going into
the reports in detail from the different
sections. We may summarize to this
effect:
Failing prices have been severe
blow to farmers.
Much OF the 1920 output of both stock
and grain will have to be sold below
the cost OF production, unless prices
increase.
Crops are being generally held in the
hope that price increases will lessen
the loss.
some OF the tenants who have been
raying a too-high cash rent and some
OF the shoe-strinS buyers of four hun
drcd-d dollar acres are likely to be
pinched.
Banks are loaned up to the limit and
merchants are having slow trade.
Above. you have in brief the dark