Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-05
Augusta, Maine
any way charging the market for
what he produces"

any way charging the market Tor
what he produces"
The various strikes that have oc-
Cured. this year are blamed for
many injuries to the farmer. Dur
ing the recent railroad strike, for
example," continues the Secretary,
many fruit and truck farmers were
unable to move their perishable pro-
ducts. and as a consequence suffered
very heavy losses. running into many
millions of dollars. Delays in trans
portation cause heavy shrinkage in
live stock moving to market, as well
as damage to many other farm pro-
ducts resulting from deterioration
because of delayed movement AS
result. consumers in the cities arc
compelled to pay unreasonably high
prices while producers on the farms
must take lower prices. The effect
Of the transportation strike will in
juriously affect the farmers long
after the men are back at work be-
cause of the impaired condition of
the equipment. SO also farmers suf-
fered severely from the coal strike.
In many sections thrashing was de-
layed at heavy loss through expos
ure of the grain to weather. Farmers
were compelled to pay eXorbitant
prices for such coal as they were
moving coal when finally the mines
and the railroads resumed opera
tions interfered materially with the
prompt movement of farm pro-
Ducts
High distribution costs, caused in
part by the multiplication of agen-,
cies, is given as another cause of
lower prices to producers and high
err costs to consumers.
Taxes are said to have become n
CALLING burden on the farmer They
have greatly increased while the
profits of farming have diminished.
An investigation of a large number
of farms in 1913 showed taxes were
9.S per cent of the farmers income.
Last year on the same farms they
amounted to nearly one-third of the
income.
But in spite Of all these adverse
conditions, the Secretary sees no
general breakdown of the agricul-
tural industry. He sees in the rec
ord of the past years production a
vivid illustration of the vitality Of
American agriculture and of the
courage and hopefulness of the
American farmer, although many
thousands of farmers have not been
able to weather the storm. Most or
them, however. hive succeeded in
maintaining themselves and their
hold upon the land by the exercise
of the most rigid economy-econ-
omy which has contributed to the
difficulties of manufacturers, dealers
and retailers.
There is a gradual improvement
in progress which has already bet
tered the farmers condition over
that Of year>Or Is months ago. The
aggregate value of the crops in the
country this year is about a billion
and quarter dollars more than last
year. The cotton country is broba-
bly, better off than in three years:
the sheep industry. especially in the
! ohSc Ic6lou, 10 getting out OF the
slough of despond: fattening hogs
and cattle has been fairly profitable.
as corn has been low in price. Cattle
raisers. however. have not done so
well. The report suggests the posi-.
bility that hog raising may be over
done.
Secretary Wallace regards the
movement to the city of farmers and
farmers sons as a hopeful sign.
since 1t means a more rapid read
Justment. 1t is estimated that dur
ing July. August and September
twice as many persons left the farms
for cities as normally. This shifting
VIII be normal again only when
there is "a proper adjustment of
prices. a change that is already TAX.
ing place.
Following his discussion of the
agricultural situation the Secretary
summarizes the good results that
have come from legislation enacted