The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-07-27
LABOR SHORTAGE
C0NFR0NTS STATE

greatest wheat crop since 1916 near
ing the harvest North Dakota is con-
fronted with labor shortage. APP
proximately one hundred million BUSH
els of wheat alone will be harvested
this season unless hail prevents.
To meet the extraordinary labor de-
mand railroads today announced from
St. Paul a $500 fare to any point in
North Dakota from Minneapolis, St..
Paul, Duluth, and Superior, effective
August l to Is. Parties of five or
more must apply in a group to secure
the rate.
The rate was secured thru the acti-
yities of Gov. R. A. Nestos, who call
ed a conference Of general passenger
agents and traffic managers OF the
Northern Pacific, Great Northern,
500. and Milwaukee railroads at st.
Paul last week.
Mobilizing to meet the emergency
are the state department of agricul-
ture, the farm bureau, the extension
department of the agricultural de-
partment, the farm agents, farmers,
business men and bankers.
The state department of agriculture
and labor will establish headquarters
It III Marquette avenue, Minneapolis,
to aid in directing the incoming labor
traffic.
In addition to the tremendous wheat
crop, prospects July were for yield
Of $4,000 900 bushels of rye; 10000
600 bushels of potatoes, and big crops
of oats and barley.
1t is estimated $4,000 laborers Will
be secured.
Wages are good: 50 per day for
shocking; 1925 for field pitchers in
threshing fields; $3.50 for transfers;
1915 for spike pitchers where two
are used on rig and $500 where
only one spike pitcher is used. R. G..
Catron, deputy commissioner OF agr-
culture will have charge Of the Mime
apolis offices.
$4,000 Laborers Needed
"An enormous amount of labor will
he needed to handle the 1922 CROP
declared Governor Nestos at the cap
ito] today. "The federal bureau of
crop estimates places our prospect on
July at 94,OOO,OOO bushels of wheat,
$4,000 900 bushels of rye, 2O,OO0,OOO
bushels of potatoes and also big crops
of oats and barley. Preliminary sur
views indicate that $4,000 laborers will
have t. be obtained from outside
sources to handle this crop.
"The state department of agrlcul-
ture and labor, in cooperation with
the North Dakota extension DIVISION,
has mapped out campaign to bring
the necessary number Of qualified la
tborers into the state and distribute
them where needed. The reduced rate
offered by the railways, the first for
ha-::ost hands since 1909, and the low
est rate for many years, should be
biz incentive for the young men OF
the farms in Iowa, Illinois, Mime
sofa and Wisconsin, to come to North
Dakota, see what the country pro-
.luces and at the same time make
stake.
minneapolis Headquarters
"We are carrying on an advertls-
ing campaign in newspapers IN the
district from which we are trying to
draw laborers, and the state depart
ment of agriculture and labor will
establish headquarters at lit Mar
uuette avenue, Minneapolis, where the
men will be directed to the points
where they are needed in this state
In this way we hope to attract labor
ers who will do an honest days work
at a reasonable wage. Even tho we
have bumper crop prospects, prices
of farm products at the present time
are so low that labor must be per-
formed efficiently and economically II
the farmers are to make profit on
what they produce
j. w. Haw, county agent leader al
the North Dakota agricultural COL
lege, will perfect organizations II
each county, working principally with
the county extension agents, to nan
die the demands for labor and senc
them to the state Office in Minneapo
lis.
County Agent Clearing House
"Under our plan the county agrl
cultural agent will act as a clearing
house for the demands from the coun
tv," declared Mr.. Haw today. Farm
ers will phone in to the county agent!
Office telling the number Of men the!
need and making arrangements to 40
vance the fares where necessary. IN
county agent will wire to the Mime
apolis office, where men will be as