The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-06-01
FARM NEWS FROM
STATE UNIVERSITY
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatoh.l

st. Paul, Mimi, May 25.-Why
lumber prices are high probably can
be answered by the speed with which
the northern Minnesota forests are
being cut down, according 10 T. S.
Hansen Of the forestry division, de-
partment OF agriculture, University
OF Minnesota.
The soft woods of the northern
part Of the state are going at start
ling rate, Mr.. Hansen declared. VINO
insists on the necessity OF compre-
hensive reforestation policy.
In 1905, Mr.. Hansen says, the pro-
portion Of northern softwoods hand
led in retail lumber yards in Mimi
esota was 81 per cent of the whole.
In other words, Minnesota lumber
yards imported only 16 per cent soft
woods in which they dealt. In 1913
these same lumber yards were get
ting only Is per cent OF their soft
woods from Minnesota forests; they
were importing 81 per cent.
This probably accounts for the in
crease Of 104 per cent in the price Of
lumber In the IA years between 1905
and 1919, he said. In 1905 the farmer
paid S26 per thousand feet for SOFT
wood, while in 1919 it cost him SIS.
Another interesting item is the
freight charges on lumber. In 1905
SO. ga of the $26 paid for 1000 feet of
lumber was for freight charges, or IA
per cent of the cost. In 1919 the
freight tariff was $ll.55 per thou
IF the Tho
lumber had to be hauled much tarth-
err, he said.
OF the $50 cooperative organiza-
lions handling agricultural products
on a large scale in the United States.
some are known as commodity" CO.
operatives and some federated"
The latter predominant in Minnesota,
according to DR.. H. B. Price Of the
division of agricultural economics,
University of Minnesota, who made
clear the distinctions between them.
The commodity organizations seek
to control supply as well as distribu-
ton. In other words, through direct
contact with producers they attempt
to check over production, while they
direct the flow to particularly ad-
vantageous markets, DR.. Price said.
Z OISd-u1ZdLlSAo IAi1Ab
selves more largely to Distribution.
The commodity organizations con-
tract directly with producers, make
long term contracts, and exercise
control over the quality of products
and their preparation for market
The federated groups of products on
ly contract with local bodies, make
no contracts at all and is of the type
of a cooperative stock corporation.
Whether the cmmodity type is ad-
apted to Minnesota products Is
question which has not been def1n-
itely settled, though there is strong
tendency, toward a trial OF 1t IN this
territory, DR.. Price added.
Friday. June 20, has been named
Cattle Feeders Day at the University
Farm. The third annual program OF
the university's division of animal
husbandry will be presented in the
livestock pavilion beginning at 1880
a. m. on that day.
Sixty shorthorn steen calves have
been fed experimentally in six lots OF
ten calves each on six different ra-
lions, the purpose being to fatten the
calves for baby beef. Results of this
experiment will be announced and
discussed by Profs. w. H. Peters and
A. L. Harvey, Of the division OF anil
NAL husbandry, under whose direc-
ton the work was done. Visitors will
have an opportunity to inspect the
cattle and study the effect upon them
of the various rations used. A f1nan-
cial statement will show all costs
and profits resulting from the differ
ent lots.
Forty five well drillers OF the state
met at the University farm here re-
Gently and organized the Minnesota
Well Drillers' association, the second
of it's kind in the United States,
North Dakota blazed the way with
the first.
ted president; L. A. Forsberg OF
Braham, vice president; B. B. Decker
of Minneapolis. secretary; F. A.
Brown. of Fairmont: treasurer;
Frank Long Of st. Cloud, R. |. Doud
of Chatfeld, and B. E. Dickey OF
Minneapolis, directors.
The object Of the association Is to
work together for the mutual benett,
but not to the extent of forming any
combination to effect prices and wag-
es. The drillers hope through the or
ganization to improve methods, learn
more of drilling subjects and make
of It an educational group.