The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-07
Public Utilities Chairman In
Sweeping Suggestion.
Would Have Kansas Operate
Wheat Elevators.
FARMERS ARE LOSING MONEY
Unable to Market Their Crop
at the Proper Times.
State Built Elevators In Six
Towns in Kansas.

Clyde NJ. Reed, chairman of the
public utilities commission, today
swung into line in support of state
ownership of private industry. In a
lengthy statement he urged state own
ership of centrally located grain ele-
vators 1t is reported that he will
urge members of the next legislature
to provide for submission of a consti-
tutional amendment permitting Kan
sas to engage in work of internal i'm
provement beyond scope of the pres
ent highway and land tenantry amend
ments.
The Reed course is somewhat SINH
lar to a part of the Nonpartisan
league program in North Dakota and
would call for an amendment in Kan
SaS such as was missing when an ef-
. fort was ! ade some years ago to pro-
vide for a state owned oil refinery.
Under the plan which Chairman Reed
outlined the state would provide the
money for construction and operation
of at least a half dozen large grain
elevators in central points in the
wheat belt.
1t is likely that opening of the pro-
gram for state ownership in Kansas
will develop q. big war before the next
legislature. Many private business in
terests have feared a program whicn
would permit the state to enter vari-
Gus lines of business endeavor. One
plan which would doubtless. be urged
on the heels of the Reed program
would be establishment of a state
bank. Another organization in Kan
sas has for several years advocated
| state factories for production of GER
/ tain commodities. Should the Reed
statement pave the way for a state
ownership fight the program may he
made one of the big features before
4 the new legislature.
1f
cations like the Farmers Union, the
United States Grain Growers, the Kans
| sas Wheat Growers, the State Farm
| Bureau, the Farmers National Co
| operative Grain Dealers association
| and others, to solve the problem of
adequately handling Kansas wheat
yield have been watched with "deep
, sympathy and approval" Mr. Reed
| declared. 'These organizations have
| made progress but it is slight. The
problem is too large for any individual
| or group of individuals to solve. Years
| of observation and study of wheat
marketing conditions have strength
ened sthe belief that the initial step
| in helping the wheat grower is to pro-
vide place of storage where he may
retain interest in and control of his
| product"
| Mr.. Reed contends that to follow
the suggestion that increased storage
| should be provided on the farm would
| be uneconomical and, therefore, un-
wise.
Cost Farmers More.
| 'It would cost 1000 farmers more
to build granaries on 1 900 farms, each
with a capacity of 1000 bushels, than
it would for 1000 farmers to build a
| central warehouse where 1,e00. .00p
| bushels could be stored. In addition.
] the little farm granary is not as safe
for storage as the central warehouse;
the hazard of fire and damage from
weather, insects and rodents is greater
| on the farm; nor can grain be so
quickly and economically handled as
| in the great central elevator. nor can
it be so well classified. graded and
| treated, when necessary. Then Il is
more available for quick and timely
| marketing in the central storage
place" the statement continued.
/ Great Bend. Salina, wichita. Hutch
| inson, Wellington and Mcpherson, or
places similarly situated, would be
/ suitable locations for these elevators,
Mr.. Reed said. How much ca apacity
they should have 'can only be deter
mined by experience" he added
] ''They can be built in units and added
| to as found necessary
! wheat is the staple food Of the
world. America is the great producer
of this staple. Kansas produces more
/ wheat than any other state-more
wheat, in fact. than any similar area.
i on the world. Our crops for the last
five years. including the present crop.
aggregates 659. 100000 bushels. Wheat
| is the principal cash crop of Kansas.
This week it is selling from Kansas
| (Conrinued on Page Two.I
!