Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-02
Middle West VIII Garry
on Until Next Harvest
Lou Prices, High Freights and Tight Money
Handicap Farmer

KANSAS CITY, No. Jan. As the
Middle West looks back on the irregular
track business conditions have followed
during the past twelve months, It realizes
that despite the serious problems faced
it has come through with a sound basis
for hopefulness and courage.
The agricultural West entered the year
with its basic industry determined to
force higher prices for products through
Withholding grain from the market.
Along with it went a revolt against buy
ing commodities because in the opinion
Of the producers the retail prices had
not been Debated in accordance with the
output Of the fields Likewise there was
an attitude that burdened the banks with
frozen loans" and made the extension
of credit difficult, even where abundant
need existed
FARMERS WILL
CARRY ON.
The year ends with that impetus large
ly spent and a general acknowledgment
of the necessity of carrying on until
another harvest Millions of bushels of
corn cannot be marketed to give the
producer a fair return for his labor. One
county is burning corn in its public
buildings as cheaper than coal, and in
dividuals find that a profitable procedure.
Landlords, are, however, meeting the
tenants and cutting rents, which are
generally for cash. Many cases are re
ported where rents have been cut $500 to
800.
On the whole, the banks have their
affairs better In hand than a year ago.
Their chief problem today is to rid their
note cases of overdue paper and swing
back on a regular schedule. This can
not be done until there is an actual re-
turn from the farm that will give the
farmer a profit
STRONG MONEY
MARKET RESULT.
Naturally, this condition tends to a
strong money market. The West has
not vet felt the effect of lower rates as
has the East, since its resources depend
on other influences. The farm mortgage
field is suffering from a scarcity Of
loanable funds Taxes are becoming a
burden as State and local levies increase.
Sharing with taxes as a cause of com
plant are the rail charges on freight
and passenger traffic, particularly the
former.
FARMERS FIX
OLD MACHINERY.
Practically half the cost Of a farm inn
plement is, first and last, freight by the
time il has reached the user. AS q result
the farm implement trade is at its low
est ebb in this generation, with the
farmer continuing to repair his old ma
chinery.
To some extent the same condition an
plies to retail trade generally. Purchasers
complain that prices have not been re>
duced fairly; that too many merchants
are trying to obtain the figures to which
goods were marked up during the war
period The merchants reply that when
they have paid overhead expense, freight
or express and the manufacturers cost,
they are making only fair profit, il any.
Index figures for the interior show
decrease in trade volume over last year,
though in some lines the quantitative
sales have been equal to 1920.
SOUP HOUSES
IN OPERATION.
Unemployment is at the end Of the
year becoming noticeable. In this city
soup houses have been in operation dur
ing the month. Farm work is calling
for very little help. Many of the unem-
ployed of the East have drifted West
Indications are that next years crops
will be gathered at less cost than any
for a half decade.
On the whole, the Middle West is TAX
ing a broader view of affairs. 1t has
vast resources that are untouched Its
millions Of Liberty bonds laid away in
"omfr~ hams Deposit h"v"s Hnd in hi