The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-01-06
Shipped Lambs
VS.. ShOrn Lambs

NJ. B. McCarty and J. r. Waller,
two of the foremost citizens Of the
Hazel Run neighborhood, and who are
also among the most responsible and
worthy citizens Of st. Francois coun-
ty, have recently been brought into
forcefal contact with q few PROPOSE
tions, las have also you and II fer
which they have been unable to find
any adequate solution, (the same as
you and
They were in Pennington the last
Of the week, and in pursuance Of a
reasonable solution of the problem
that is sorely depressing them; they
stated their case to several intimate
friends, in the hope that some one
could tell them where they are "at",
and possibly show them q way out of
their difficulties in which they have
apparently become involved, certainly
through no fault Of their own, as
they are ordinarily level-headed bus
mess men, and have heretofore been
considered successful farmers.
Some of the problems they submit
ted, but for which they could get no
adequate solution, were these: In
DCptEIuDCItl AVGVy ftiGhG kGllbAIhhSAA
shipped 80 lambs to the St. Louis
market, for which they received ST.
610. Last September they shipped ex-
actly the same number Of lambs, TO
the same market, the shipment vary
ing in weight 38 pounds. On their
last shipment they received the sum
of $406-exactly $1206 less than the
previous years shipment of a similar
number of lambs. While they failed
to get any solution to this problem,
they did receive very apt title for
this tragedy, 1t was "The Shearing
of the Lambs"
But that is only the first chapter in
their grave portrayal. Last Novem-
Der Mr.. McCarty shipped seven steers
to the same market--not runts or can
ners-but big, fat, sleek beef cattle,
averaging 900 pounds each, for which
he received check in full settlement
of $134.38, a fraction more than $40
a head, or a trife over 2 cents q
pound. How long ago was it that one
of these steers would have brought
that sum J?
But the final, and perhaps the
most important thing for which
Messrs. McCarty and Waller were
searching for solution, was how and
why taxes should be even above all
past high water marks. while the
best they had to sell was far below
the cost of production. And these
gentlemen were both earnest and zeal
Gus in seeking solution to their prob
lens. But they ware finally COM
PEELED to AfsgnAs Al thdlr quest In dis
gust, as f6 one tSlllA give them the
information they desireds !. ~.
Were these gentlemen wrong in
thus attempting to solve their diff
culties? Would you not desire to do
the same thing, under like circum-
If the problem could be
solved it would perhaps bridge the
chasm between comfort and want.
Have you tried to solve the problem,
Or does it not interest you? If your
curiosity Is not aroused over this
question, then surely your taxes
amount to little or nothing. 1t is up
TO every taxpayer to be interested in
that will thus increase their
taxes, in times of peace and plenty.
Mr.. McCarty stated that he had
been compelled to pay $1700 more
taxes this year than he. did last year,
on his small farm near Hazel Run.
Surely these questions have an alb
sorbing interest to every taxpayer, as
what is true in his case is likewise
true, at least in part, to every tax
payer. 1t appears to be of utmost
Importance that every taxpayer should
now be doing some thinking for them
selves, since all who are able to do so
are now, perhaps, in possession Of
their tax receipt for the past year.
And especially to every farmer should
Messrs. McCarty and Walters exper-
fences be of interest, as such condi-
tions are similar to the experiences of
all others who handle live stock. And
the fact now seems quite evident that
the people are thinking more deeply
than ever before along these lines.