The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-01-09
PREDICTS BETTER DAYS
FOR AMERICAN FARMERS
SECRETARY WALLACE SAYS
1923 WILL BE IMPROVEMENT
OVER YEAR JUST ENDED.
ARE STILL SOME DARK SPOTS

Thinks Freight Rates and Taxes Are
Too High Expects Some Benef-
cal Legislation. Help Has Been
Given by the Administration.
Better times for the farmers of the
country are foreseen for 1928 by Sec
retarv Wallace, of the federal depart
ment of agriculture, who in state
mept recently issued, reviews agricul-
tnral conditions of 1922 and sets forth
the prospects for the new year. In his
statement Mr.. Wallace said:
Twelve months-ago most of the
.;x million farmers of the United
States were starting on the long, hard
Climb out of the valley of economic
denression. They have not yet attain
Cd the heights which are bathed in the
grateful sunshine of prosperity. Some,
indeed. have fallen by the way. 9th
crs are still in the valley. Neverthe-
less as we stop a bit and look back
ward we can see that very consider
sbIe ground has been gained by the
GREAT majority, and we can enter the
New Year with renewed hope and
With that courage which comes from
the realization that we are really max
ing progress.
Better Than Year Ago,
"A wear ago, when speaking OF the
PROSPECTS for farming in 1922, said
that while there was no reason to ex-
npct boom times for the farmer in the
near future, there was promise OF bet
ter times, both for the farmer and
lar hose whose business is largely
dqneodent upon him. The year has
brought fulfllment OF that promise.
Speaking generally, times are better,
much better, than year ago, both Tor
agriculture and for industry.
Crops have been good, on the
whole. Prices of the major crops are
mostly considerably higher. While
there has been a corresponding adj
yance in the prices of the things the
farmers must buy, the total sum
which farmers will receive Tor the
crops of this year is greater by bill
lion and a half dollars or more than
that which they received for the crops
al last wear. This will certainly mean
better times on the farm, and farm
folks will be able to ease up little
on the grinding economy they we're
forced to practice the preceding year.
Helpful Legislation.
The labor cost of producing the
crops of 1922 was still further reduc-
ed. There were some substantial re-
ductons in freight rates. Much help,
ful legislation has been enacted ana
more will be this winter. Interest
rates are lower and the cerdit strain
has been eased. This has made 1t pos
,ible for many farmers who were
rather heavily involved to refund their
Obligations and get themselves IN con-
dition to win through.
There are still some dark spots In
some sections weather conditions were
unfavorable and crops were short and
farmers in these section are having
yerv hard time of it. Freight rates
are still too high, especially Tor those
who must pay for long haul 10
market
Taxes are high, but this is largely
due to the increase in local taxes, over
which farmers themselves must eXer-
else control. =,
There has been gratifying growth
in farmers cooperative marketing as
sociations and more of them are be-
ing organized on sound basis
Economic Forces at Work.
Aside from the help which has
been given by legislation and by ad'
mnistration activities strong econom-
ic forces are at work to restore more
normal relation between agriculture
and other industries,
The peril in the agricultural DC
preston is more keenly realized by
other groups than ever before and ; on
every hand sincere desire IS Dehls
safeIy to htlp the farmer better his
condition.
Everything considered, we have
GOOD reason to expect still better
things for agriculture in the year
1928"