Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-02-16
Packer Official Says
Boom Has Reached
The Country
DEMAND IMPROVES
Ropntiful Production Of
Crops and Herds Of
Last Season Has Much
Effect.

Chicago, Feb. l6.--lhe BUSINESS
boom sweeping through industrial
America has at last reached The
farmer.
The farmer is in q far better
position today than he has been at
any time during the past two
years" Frank W. Waddell, vice
president Of Armour < CO., told
the United Press.
THE recovery of the farmer is
due to two economic facts" Wad-
dell said. First he has read
justod his operations to domestic
demands and second the large and
bcuntifpl production Of last year.
''rhe livestock farmer has been
particularly prosperous but this
does not apply to the ranchman
Of the far west who has not been
50 successful in the readjustmen,
of operations governing tine mark
citing Of grass fed cattle.
'But the farmer who goes in
for agriculture generally and ~
es live stock as a means of marx
etilg his grain, has been eminent-
" successful.
prices for the best hogs and
beef cattle have been high. The
ferners Of the middle west are
elasSed as feeders and buy what
is called unfinished cattle from
the breeder, feed them intensive
" and then market them. Feeder
made from two TO five cents u
pound on this transaction last
fall.
"A year ago corn growers were
begging someone TO take their
crop and it was even suggested
that corn be used for fuel. At
that time the hog market strength
ened and the demand was large.
This established an immediate
market for corn which netted the
farmer twice as much in the form
of pork rs he would have obtain
cd for the grain. The same con-
dition held in the better grades
of beef.
"As corn rose-and it was due
entirely to the increased demand
for kogs-wheat advanced in SYM
pathy. This condition held thru
oct the year.
The ranehman's financial dill
fcuIties were largely due to eli
matte conditions and the super
abundance of medium cattle on
Inc market. The increased de
mand Tor coru-fed beef also cut
largely into the desEand for grass
fed cattle.
"Sheep have been unusually
higa and extremely profitable to
producers,
From every point Of view it
may be safely said that the live
stock producers has led the far
erS' march back toward prosper
ity.
"The cotton planter OF the
south has done almost as well, be-
cause of the steadily advancing
prices asked for his prodCct.
"Of all farmers probably the
truck and fruit grower near =
big city has suffered most. There
has been sharp curtaiiment IN
the demand for canned fruits and
vegetables. Over production in
some instances was so great that
il did not pay the trucker to
nick his fruit. Labor and diStri-
hutton costs were high and were
largely RESPONSIBLE for the slug
rishness of the market for this
type of product.
The agencies which marke;
the farmers's product, quite
aware of the deplorable financial
condition of Europe, were a ma
Tor influence in the farmers re-
adjustment to domestic market
basis. Under ordinary ciream'
stances Europe takes up the SLACK
in domestic consumption created
bv excess production. Since th(
armistice that possibility has beer
lacking and the near future ap'
parently holds 10 prospect 1o'
betterment. Therefore, any mark
ct operations predicted on any
thing except . domestic conSGmp-
lion are conducted on m unSUb'
stantial basis.
"Of course the European market
will reopen but it is impossible
TO guess when.
One of the most treasured pos