The Caldwell tribune., 1922-12-26
IDAHO FARMING
FACES NEW ERA
BARBER THINKS
Smaller Farms and More
Condemned Prod u cts
Urged by immigration
Commissioners in report


of her development, o. H. Barber
state commissioner of immigration.
points out in his biennial report, just
off the press. While progress has
been halted, the report points out
Idaho is undergoing change in
the trend Of development that will
densed and more valuable products.
Excerpts from Mr.. Barber's sum-
mary follow:
There has not been a time in Ida
no in many years when we'll i'm
proved, highly productive farms could
be purchased for so little nor on such
liberal terms as now. Nor has there
been a time when they provided a
safer or more profitable investment
for idle capital.
Long months of trying conditions
both here and elsewhere, have dis
heartened many. Values of land
and most other forms of property
have greatly declined. Producers
have been the heaviest losers, but
few have entirely escaped the blight
ing effects Of world wide upheaval.
Decreased incomes and falling prop
erty values, contrasted with those pre-
valing during a considerable Pc
riod of initiation, have caused quite
general dissatisfaction and unrest Not
all is gloom and despair, however
While other classes of farm operat-
ors have been sorely pressed, the
dairyman has not been much dis
turbed. Crops and live stock have
shown an average decline of about
so per cent. Dairy products have de-
clined only about rs per cent and the
decline has cen largely offset by
lowered costs of production, Dairy
men have a steady income Their
bank account is active. They are
paying their way and adding to their
wealth. They are able to purchase
lands we have for sale and have the
experience we most need. A rapid
return to prosperity depends much
upon our ability to impress them with
our dairying opportunities.
Development Changed
While progress has been halted
Idaho is not at the end of her de-
velopment. We may have to awai,
better financial conditions before new
large projects will be undertaken but
we are now undergoing change ir
the trend of development which will
cut up our large farms and stimulate
the production of condensed and
more valuable products. Increased
transportation costs and demoralizee
world markets both outgrowths o.
the war, have brought this chang
about. If we would prosper, trans
portation costs must be reduced ant
we must get more for the product
we turn off. A rapid growth of ou
dairying, Seed poultry and other in
dustries which send condensed pro
ducts to market is bringing partia
relief. Eventually these industrie
will 60 far toward permanently sol
wing our freight problem, which
one Of our greatest handicaps. Th
regular freight charge from Idaho L
the central west on the hay require
to produce a carload of butter ap
proximates $1,000 while the freigh
on car Of butter is only about $4sl
If we can market our hay in a torr
to save this freight charge il alon
means to large number of ou
farmers the difference between sus
cess and failure and to our busines
institutions greater prosperity. Th
freight to Chicago on alfalfa or Gle
yer seeds grown on an acre is froi
SIS to So, compared to about 500 fe
potatoes yielding $50 sacks per acr
These facts point the way to the pla'
ing OF our agriculture on sound'
basis, a partial solution of our freigl
problem and car shortage and r.
turn of general prosperity.
Progress In Dairying
"One of the most potential acts
development that has taken place
Idaho for years was the bringir
here last August of recognized ds
rying experts, representatives OF da
ry breed associations and writers f
dairy journals. 1t has given Idaho
new and higher rating as a promi