The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-03-09
MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURE
by Mr. Robert Spence Farm Demonstration and Special
Investigator

The following is letter calling
upon our local l.. & n. Agent to use
his influence to bring down freight
rates on limestone for the benefit Of
farmers in this section:
Berea. Ky,
March /, 1922
Mr.. II. NJ James,
Agent l.. g. N. r. Il. Co.,
Bcrca, Ky
My Dear Mr.. James:
After having more than a score Of
farmers TO call at my Office in the
last month inquring about the
freight rate on ground limestone from
Mt Vernon to Bcrea, | am convinced
that il would be a business PROPOSE
tion for the l.. & n r. K. Company
TO reduce the rate on our ground
limestone for agricultural purposes.
When tell the farmers that the
freight rate is 81 per ton, they say,
well can't pay that" There have
been many farmers this winter who
have said to me, "If the freight rate
were cut TO 50 cents per ton on
ground limestone, | would use a
couple Of cars this year, but as it is
| won't use any"
My annual report shows that there
were ; carloads Of ground limestone
shipped to Berca in 1914 for agricul-
tural purposes. 1t also shows that
there were cars shipped to Berea in
1921 for agricultural purposes. You
see from these figures that last year
fell below 1914
The year | started as County
Agent, 1914, there were few farmers
using lime. II was a hard matter to
convince them that lime was good
for their land. After a few years Of
experimental work the L. e. n. r. r.
Company was shipping to Berea any
where from so to so carloads of
ground limestone from Mt. Vernon.
The highest number of cars for agri-
cultural purposes reached So This
was at a time when the farmers had
more money than they have now and
when the freight rate was much
lower
When our farmers use lime and
,,haurho+n x.-h,aL La,JI,l H., H.,
L. & ~ r. r. Company. they raise
bigger crops which, in return, feeds
more animals, and animals and sur
plus production are handled again by
the L. e. n. R. R. Company. When
our farmers do rot use lime and
phosphorus, they raise less crops and
produce less live stock, which means
that the l.. & N. R. r. Company will
get less business.
The L. e. N. r. R. Company en-
ploys an agriculturist to travel along
its lines and promote agricultural
and live stock interests. If the L. &
N. would deliver ground limestone in
to the poor, thin sections at cheap
er rate to be used for agricultural
purposes, this agriculturist employed
by the Company would find it easier
to promote the Company's business.
Cooperation is needed along this line
in order to make bigger and better
business for the Company and for
the farmer.
| have number of farmers now
ready to order ground limestone if
the freight rate is made low enough
to justify their buying and having it
shipped. II the rate doesn't go down
on this material for agricultural pur-
poses, they won't buy | believe
there would be something like 20 to
25 cars used this year if the rate
was made around so to 60 cents per
ton. am also sure that if the rate
were so to 60 cents per ton that there
would be rs to 100 cars unloaded
along the X. c. Division every year !
that is, from Livingston to Rich
mond, to say nothing about the sup
ply that would go beyond Richmond
and up the l.. & A. branch. There