The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-03-28

| PtoueSsS are uoW oiiSiAS very
low. At this writing wheat is
selling at $1.35 to $1.40 a bushel;
Corn 65 cents a bushel; oats az
cents; rye $1.10; hay $40 to $25
a ton; hogs liz cents; fat lambs,
15h cents, and other farm pro-
ducts and livestock in proportion.
These prices are not only higher
by from so to 100 per cent than
six months ago but they are higher
than they were in the fall and
winter of 1918 and the spring of
1914. That period is taken for
comparison because the only crop
harvested and sold during peace
times under the Wilson admins
tration was the crop harvested in
the fall of 1913. The 1914 crop was
not harvested when the European
war broke out and at no subsequent
time during the Wilson administra-
ton were conditions and prices
normal.
At the prices the farmer is re-
ceiving today he is better off
than he was during the peak of
prices in war times because the
purchasing power of his money is
| greater today than it was then. In
other words, wheat at $1.35 today
will buy more of almost any COM
modify than wheat at 1920 during
the war. Farm implements have
been radically reduced in price.
Farm wages are approaching the
pre-war basis. The farmer will be
able to buy binder Irvine this
year for less than 10 cents.
This years crop will be produced
at less cost to the farmer than
any crop raised since 1928. That
the farmer himself believes this
is evidenced by the fact that he
is preparing to put in a tremend-
Gus acreage of cereals this year.
Moreover, farmers are spending
a lot of money and paying high
prices in order to stock their farms,
which makes livestock in great de-
mand at splendid prices. During
the crisis of last year and the
year before thousands of farmers
sacrificed their breeding stock in
order to get ready money. They
are now in the market to re-
plenish their stock.
Banks have plenty of money and
between them and the War Finance
Corporation the farmer is not ex-
perienceing much difficulty in get
ting all the money or credit he
needs to carry him through the
year until harvest.
With a reasonably fair year, in
so far as climatic conditions are
concerned, the farmer will be in
better shape after his next har-
vest than he has been in many
years. There is no pessimism exist
ing in agricultural states. Everyone
feels the worst is over and that
from now on improvement in ag-
ricultural circles will not only be
steady but rapid.
Further evidence of this fact
is furnished by a QUESTIONABLE
which was circulated among the
farmers of the Pacific Northwest
by trio of farm publication. This
QUESTIONABLE asked the farmers not
only regarding their prospects but re-
garding what they intended to do
in the way of improvements, if
anything. The answers showed that
one-third of the farmers of that
section will be in the market this
year for fencing, paint and other
construction materials. Perhaps
one-fifth of them are going to be
in the market for all sorts of farm
machinery such as tractors, plows,
gas engines, motors, drills, etc.
The housewives are also reflect
ing better conditions, as a fourth
of the replies indicate purchases
this year of such household equip
ment as washing machines, new
canning equipment, and other
household equipment. This is the
natural reaction following a period
of strictest economy and self-de-
NAL.
What is true in the northwest is
true throughout the United States,
according to well posted observers.
The farmer has permitted his
equipment to run down and has
neglected needed repairs and paint
ing. Every bit of money he has
been able to get hold of has been
applied to paying off debts. With
prices of commodities declining and
a good crop this year, the agri-
cultural states will be in the market