The Redwood gazette., 1923-01-03

ing, regrowing and utilizing our for
ests.' He declared forest legislation
should be enacted extending Federal
cooperation to the states in the pro-
lection of forests, co-ordinating state
and Federal service in the growing
and distribution of forest-planting
material, extending purchase of tim
berland sas rapidly as the condition
of the treasury will permit" and con-
verting into national forests some
areas now comprised in Indian reser-
vations.
Normal Prices to Restore Prosperity
This year would be a prosperous
year for agriculture, and consequent
ly prosperous year for the nation,
if the relationship of prices now was
such as existed before the war, Secre-
tary Wallace said There has been
some increase in prices of farm prod
ucts, but there has not been much
improvement in the general relation
ship between the prices of the things
the farmer produces and the things
he buys.
Among the causes which contribute
to the abnormal relationship of farm
prices to the prices of other things
Secretary Wallace mentioned these.
Overproduction of many farm crops
Continued high freight rates.
Maintenance Of industrial wages al
ne"r wartime levels.
Economic depression and depreci-
ated currency In European countries
Interference with the efficient func-
tioning of necessary industries.
Unreasonably high costs of distri-
button of some farm products.
Farmers Are Overproducing.
"Some contend there is no such
thing as overproduction of farm
products and can not be so long as
there are people in the world who
suffer for food and clothing" said
Secretary Wallace. "On the same
line of reasoning it can be argued
that the production of automobiles
will be inadequate until every man
and woman and every boy and girl
of high school age owns one. There
is overproduction, as far as the pro-
ducer is concerned, whenever the
quantity produced cannot be mar
keted at price which will cover all
costs and leave the producer enough
to tempt him to continue production
And whenever there is such over
production the output will be reduced
either by conscious effort on the part
of the producers or by the operation
of economic laws which drive the less
efficient producers of business. The
fact is that for three years in
succession the farmers of the United
States have produced more of some
crops than could be sold at prices
high enough to cover producing costs
Taxes Source of Complaint.
In relation to the price of farm
products at the farms and prices
charged for farm products in the cit
les, Secretary Wallace said the cost
of distribution remains high, notwith-
standing frequent violent denuncia.
tions of profteers in the cities. In
part, this high cost Of distribution
he declared, is caused by the multi
plication of distributing agencies dur
ing the last six years, in part by the
increase in rent, and supplies, but in
larger part by the higher wages
which employees in the distributing
business have been able to maintain
Taxes on farms in most farming
states have more than doubled and
is proving to be one of the most
frequent subjects of complaint by the
farmers and during the next few
years the whole question of taxation
Mr.. Wallace said, will evidently re.
ceive considerable attention by
thoughtful farmers.