The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-07-30
EASTERN FARMER
IS HARDEST HIT
HECKATHORN FINDS FACTORIES
BUSY AND FARMERS BROKE
WESTERN CONDITIONS BETTER

The condition of the eastern farmer
is more serious than that of the far
mer in the northwest, according to j..
S. Heckathorn, cashier of the First
National bank, who, with Mrs. Hecka-
thorn, arrived at home Sunday from
a months trip through the east and
south. In parts of Ohio and Indiana,
Mr.. Heckathorn states, the farmers
are unable to carry on operations un-
der present conditions and not few
well improved farms are growing up
to weeds this year.
Mr.. and Mrs. Heckathorn first went
to Bluffton, Indiana, Mr.. Heckathorn's
former home, after which he went
to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the
grand lodge of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, as repre-
sentative from Moscow lodge No. 249,
and Mrs. Heckathorn visited with re-
latives in Ohio. After Mr.. Hecka-
thorn's return from Atlanta, some two
weeks or more was spent visiting with
relatives in Indiana and Ohio.
Mr. Heckathorn reports 81 interest
ing and enthusiastic meeting of the
grand lodge, with the city thronged
with delegates, those from the north,
while enjoying the meeting, eager to
get away from the intense heat.
Farmers Are Discouraged
Indiana farmers, Mr.. Heckathorn
states, are discouraged. They are
farming land which two or three years
ago was valued at from $3.50 to S450
an acre, and much Of which was pur-
chased at that price, while now there
is absolutely no sale for it and the
crops which have usually been grown
will not bring enough revenue to meet
expenses and pay taxes. Bankers and
business men are unable to forecast
what the result of the conditions will
be- but it is certain that the farmers
are being driven from the farms. At
Bluffton there are large factories in
operation and scores of farmers are
driving in from their farms each
morning to work in the factCfies at
good wages.
Corn is the principal crop, and it is
impossible to get any profit out OF
the crop, even by feeding it to beef
cattle and hogs, the price of both OF
which is extremely low. The man
who is prospering, Mr.. Heckathorn
states, is the man who has some dairy
COWS and who is not trying to farm
extensively. Wages there, as here, |
are high and the farmer cannot afford |
to pay them. There are many con-
densaries and creameries and the man /
with some good COWS is doing well. |
Trucks drive through the country and |
pick up each days milk supply.
Building Costs High
yul.;1o +J,oro ic comp hui1djpg in
progress in the cities, it is being
curtailed greatly now because OF the
cost of building material and labor.
dimension stuff, cut from
yellow pine, the cheapest lumber
available, is selling at $50 thous-
and. The factories are all running at
full capacity and everyone who wants
to work can get on at good wages.
This is drawing hundreds OF famllles
away from the farms. In some sec
tions, where land was heavily mort
gagged, it is being turned over to the
banks, the farmers not thinking 1t
worth while to try to work out. Ihe
farm problem, he says, is the prln'
cipai subject of conversation, ana Is
the bankers and business
men Just as much as it is the farmer.
Real estate men say that it is impos-
sible to sell farm property and are
not making any effort along that line.
Conditions on the farm in the Inland
Empire are infinitely better than they
are in the middle states, Mr.. EIecka-
horn believes.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Heckathorn en- I
foyed their trip but are more than ]
glad to get back to Moscow. The trip
vest was made over the Canadian {
Pacific, which is a scenic route, in
he west, and is the coolest route at
his time of year.