South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-21

decade IL has been steadily and ever
more rapidly falling No won
der that when the secretary OF agri-
culture stated that The United States
produced Is percent OF the wheat,
so percent OF the cotton. and IS per-
cent Of the corn o. the world. with
only one-sixth OF its population. the
nation should feel it was on a firm
foundation and its future prosI Gritty
assured"
Balance Lacking
In the meantime. standing Still as
an agricultural producing nation for
Ia decade, our population has IN
creased 100000 DR. Ball further
says
What does this mean 70 The ma
ton II means a reorea nization OF
our entire national life II means
that the farmers interest in foreign
markets will have isappeared II
means that the price OF wheat in
Chicago viii be the price OF wheat
in Liverpool, plus the cost OF NOV
ing 10 from Liverpool 70 Chicago.
where now the price IN Chicago Is
the Price In Liverpool less the cost
Of moving it there"
What little opposition one hears
seems 10 be centralized in what IS
known as the corn belt This corn
belt section IL standing IN us own
light Much OF the country's stock
Is finished with corn II the West did
not produce feeder stock. Iowa. MI
nois. Missouri. and the other corn
belt states would find a greatly re-
duced market for the crop. The crop
In the irri gated section most reepon-
sible for the development OF live
stock and the production Of finish
ed market in the central states il al
falfa We feed. but do not ship, al
falfa In quantities. The United States
IS a big importer Of wool. Alfalfa Is
raised In irrigated sections 20 feed
the sheep in winter IN summer they
are fed on the forest reserves Mil
lions Of acres Of forest reserve
would be useless as a wealth pro-
Queer If we did not have alfalfa 20
feed in winter We raise sugar. The
country IS a big sugar importer.
There Is not a single crop but wheat
which could even remotely be con-
sidered competition Let the stats
tician inform you that the produc-
ton IS so inhnitesmal IN the worlds
supply as TO make no impression.
We are fast. indeed, coming to spec
ial crops. because our remoteness
from market eats Ut the profits in
staples and will not bear the cost
OF production. In one irrigated sec
ton OF the West. they are raising
long staple cotton produced no
where else IN the United States. The
ing comfort and pleasure 10 the less
fortunate sections of the country.
What Might Be.
Today We have but 10 percent OF
the possible territory irrigable by
the government in cultivation. Yet
If we had all Of il We would not add
az much as the farm area of the
state OF Indiana to the total agricul-
tural area Of the United States. At
the same time. practically every dol
lar or production in this highly pro-
ductive country would go back TO
the East for cash purchases. making
the world. While we would add no
more than the agricultural area Of
indiana 10 the farm stretches Of the
Union, yet there would be three
times as great population support
ed az within the state Of Indiana
We claim this development will
ring the cash register Of the East
Better say-we know it. Fifteen
years ago where Twin Falls Idaho,
is was a barren sage brush desert.
The site of the town was 50 miles
from a railroad. Last year the Twin
Falls section sent So million dollars
out OF Idaho TO purchase goods r
know personally hundreds OF farm
ers in Idaho who had a hand in
Spending that 36 millions. and I do
not know one who had as much to
spend in his old environment.
Periodicals are flooded with sug-
gestions which would open up for
eign trade. We hear much of South
America. Our political officers are
deeply interested in this foreign
trade. and most big businesses have
departments with many employees
working on trade extension. Yet the
irrigated states OF the West last year
bought more than all South America
purchased from our manufacturers
and jobbers No other country with
the possible exception Of Great Brit
ain. begins 20 form the market the
irrigated West does. If I ran a big
business. I would Consider the re-
clamation Of the West as important
a division OF my sales development
as foreign trade.
If we do not develop our lands to
produce food and continually drop
20 n lower scale as a food producing
nation. every one of our cities. in the
East viii lose in population in com
parison with what they might be If
we would produce more farm pro-
ducts
Copyright. 1922. by Community
News COTp)
Memorial Planned for
DOcfOr u bO Care Life