Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-07

furnishes the following exclusive
statement to The Atlanta Journal
on conditions in the farming sections
OF the middle west.
There is no use Disgusting the fact
that conditions are pretty bad out
here. The expected fall rise in bust
ness was apparent N all sections of
the country except in these western
states bordered by the Mississippi
on the east and the Rocky mountains
On the west. Throughout 1920 the
farmers tended to hold their crops
pending higher prices, but as Stats
tics clearly Indicated would be the
case, prices declined throughout the
year. Hence farmers reached the
end of the year with pressing obliga-
TORS and no funds. All classes Of
farmers were hit but 1 find those de-
pending primarily upon corn are the
worse off. Of all the states in this
belt, I find Iowa most depressed,
and Minnesota the hest off.
Those engaged in stocl<-raising or
more properly speaking in the feed
ing of StOck-haVe the greatest
monetary loss. Many a farmer 1
have met, who year ago purchased
stock, has been feeding it twelve
Tnonths and cannot today get for his
tat cattle what he paid a year ago.
Others have cattle which they pur-
chased eighteen months or two years
ago, and these, of course, are in a
much worse fix. The same applies
to sheep and hogs. Hence the banks
in the cattle and sheep sections arc
in weak condition, although l be-
iieve IS per cent of them will come
through all right.
II find a great interest in this sec
ton for heavy protective tariffs,
especially on wool, hides and other
products entering into industry. The
farmers are panic stricken, grasping
at straws here and there for tem-
porary help. They are the real Boil
shevists today and are actually favor
ing some of the uneconomic doctrines
that Russia has already tried and
found to be useless. Only greater
efficiency and wider markets will
help the farmer in the long run.
Higher tariffs tend only to reduce
efficiency and narrow our markets.
Besides, the farmer will never get
q tariff on his raw materials without
SIf1IlS lllC llSCIuISlS a ICIl4Il Oll
manufactured products and the dou-
BILE tariff will so increase the cost
of living that no one will be better
Off
"Generally spea king, the wheat
grC WerS of the northwest are not
complaining like the corn and cot
ton growers. Minneapolis l find to
b. the most optimistic city Of the
MO e,fn -
neapolis and st. Paul, seemed to be
il good condition, and the stores OF
these cities are doing a fair business.
Perhaps it may be said that Mime
sofa has turned the corner; but this
is not true of any other state in this
belt. Nineteen hundred and twenty
two is destined TO be a bad year for
t1iS section.
This means that the western
states will buy very little during
1922, even although they bought
almost nothing during 1921. The
purchasing power of the farmer has
been cut from so per cent to rs per
cent. Moreover, his hope rests not
in higher prices but in reducing his
operating expenses. Manufacturers
and merchants desiring to dispose of
goods in these states during 1922
must feature smashing price re
ductions." Farmers will not be at
tracted by the quality of the goods.
Price will be the only consideration.
Labor saving devices and other
necessities may be sold but very
few pianos, Photographs or luXuries
of any kind will be shipped into
these states during the current year
'StatiStics have strongly indicated
that even during average years very
few farmers have made money Oper-
ating their farms. [ mean that if
farmers were obliged to keep books
the same as manufacturers and
charge up wages for themselves and
families and interest on their invest
ment, most farms would show a loss
on average years. The farmer has
really made his money through the
natural increase in the value of his
land. The farmer is technically a
great SpeCulatOr. He speCulates not
only in his products but in his real
estate holdings. There are far more
spectators in Nebraska than in
New York.
Farmers complain about the
Watered stock of the industrial cor
porations of the east, but there is
far more water in their farms than
in the average industrial corporation
of New England, New York or
Pennsylvania. However, there won't
be much specializing in farm lands
during 1922. The tendency will be
constantly downward. Farm land
prices are bound to go through a
period of REIMBURSEMENT and the lands
of these western states will suffer
the most. The greatest decline will
come in farms which are rented.
The real farmer who both owns and
operates has nothing to fear from
temporary decline in values. Like
the seasoned manufacturers who
have weathered many depressions,
by not expanding during the pre-
ceding periods of prosperity, the
honest dirt farmer has nothing to
| fear.
what is the hope for this section
| is the question which everybody
asks The answer is that old and
| familiar one diversified farming.
Once in q while [ find a prosperous
! farmer even during this trip. Upon
! inquiry l learn that ne almost al
ways is a general all around farmer
and does not rely upon any one OF
| two crops. One farmer in particu
lar who seemed happy had raised q
| large amount of potatoes, while
| another was specializing in cabbage
cauliflower and other market garden
| products. The dairy farmers are
also in a fairly good condition. I'm
like the raiser of grains they have
a constant income from week tC
week and can adjust their operating