The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-04-06


:" vie enterprises. The
products Of the
farm are thrown upon the mar
ket In large quantities. Our
farmers do not attempt to sup
ply their own needs from what
they produce but rely on purchasing
what they need from the sale of the
product or products that they are
able to produce best and most eco
nomically.
Land, labor and capital are the
three factors involved In production.
A rise in any one OF these factors In
creases the cost Of production. Land
values have been rising rapidly. This
means that many of our farmers have
become wealthy not SO much from
the farm products sold from the farm
but from the rise in value of land
They are enjoying what is commonly
spoken of as the "unearned incre-
ment." Some day somebody will have
to pay for this. II we do not then It
will be our children or our children's
children.
Something 70 Think About
1t is said that only from to IL
per cent Of the farms Of the United
States are inherited. The rest must
be paid for in whole or in part once
with each generation. Can this be
done? With increasing land values
this becomes increasingly more diff
cult. A reasonable rate Of interest
on land worth $4,000 will involve
An interest or rental charge of $500
to $500 per acre. On land worth
$4,000 this will be from $4,000 to
$24.00 per acre. This IL a heavy fixed
charge for the farmer who attempts
to pay for his farm in the course Of =
life time. Unless this can be done II
means that we are to be cursed with
a permanent tenant system.
The census shows that our farm
acreage has not increased near In pro-
portion to the increase in population.
1t is true that we have regions Of I'M
developed or only partially developed
land, but the unused land 10 the least
or IL poorly located or
needs development, or the rainfall is
Our labor costs are great.
Or than In European countries and AZ
Increased yields per acre usually in
volve more labor the increase in pro-
duction from more intensive culture /
Or from developing less desirable land
.akes place slowly. Improvements in
our country which increases labor or
utilization Of less desirable land in.
golve higher prices for food unless
he farmer is willing to take less
profits.
The greatest problem of our nation
8 to have men on farms that can
produce food at prices that the con-
umer can afford to pay. The farnsr
las the job Of feeding the world. He
.snnot loaf on the job. He must do
lis best to select crops, livestock,
cod, bread and conduct his business
SO ~ to furnish food at
ow cost and At the same time he
hould have Z reasonable return II
srioulturs IL to be made permanent,
and comfortable.
Civilization Needs the Farmer
The solution Of our food problem II
irsctly connected with the land prob
I'm. II there II q proper adjustment {
etween the value of land and the
Their factors Of production and the
rices Of farm products then 1t will
g possible for the farmers to attack
his problem with the hope of arriy-
lg at q satisfactory solution. II land
alues are run up beyond their value =
,r production purposes in order that =
10 speculator, be he farmer or real I
state dealer, may make money then n
10 real farmer will find farming I'M e
roftable. Tho brighter and more e
mbitious young men will be at
acted away from the farm and the n
.rmers as a class will deteriorate. j
bis In turn will mean that our civil
alton will 20 backward instead Of d
rward. d
Every citizen is therefore interested q
tho land problem and should use Il
s influence to see that spectators 8
, not run the selling value beyond
value. Fictitious land u
Iluss spell higher csst Of living and a
lever class q o1ussls ~ q
Ymsrs- 81
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