The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-02-14
RELIEF MEASURES
FOR THE FARMER
(From Montana State ColIege)

posals presented at the present
l. session of congress for the relief
of the farmer. The plan known as
the export corporation plan" re-
ceived its chief impetus in Montana,
has been quite thoroughly discussed
throughout the state and was eX-
planned in these columns recently.
The second of these major proposals
is known as the Coulter Plan
which proposes a s50,0OO,000 gov
eminent loan for the farmers in the
wheat growing states for the pur-
pose of Fastening and speeding up
diversified farming. The plan con-
templates using the money as a re-
volving fund and that $1,000, 900
would be made available in 1924, a
like amount in 1925 and $40, 00O,0 900
in 1926. The money is to be loaned
to such farmers as do not have the
essentials for Investigation, which
include, poultry, hogs, dairy cows,
sheep and gardens and not more than
$1,000 is to be loaned to any one
farmer.
DR.. John Lee Coulter, president of
North Dakota Agricultural College,
the father of the plan, explaining his
attitude on the matter of diversifi-
cation stated:
''The farmer of this section has a
wonderful chance to raise much of
his W food. Fortunately we live
in the most temperate section of the
continent. West of us it is too dry;
east it is too wet; north it is too cold;
south it is too hot. Tens of thous-
ands of farmers in other sections
have to struggle with stumps OF
stones or drainage Or irrigation. We
are at the very center of the contin-
ent where most nearly average con-
ditions prevail. We can and should
produce: I'D all of our own vegeta-
bles, including potatoes; (2) our own
trees and bush fruits such as plumS
and cherries and berries and grapes;
go our own poultry and eggs; (4)
our own milk and cream and butter
and cheese; Cd and finally our own
meats, pork, beef and mutton. We
should also produce own honey.
In other words, the safest, most
profitable, soundest policy for us to
is not only to make the farm
our home but also produce as much
possible of our living from our
1t is the safest because no
matter what the state of war Or peace
or prosperity or depression exists we
at least have a home and a living;
it is most profitable because the con-
sumner, in general, pays about three
times what the farmer gets. In other
words, a city family of six would have
to pay $1,000 for food while the farm
can produce it for $3.50. The
farm family should produce this and
+ u nc norf7 Q Q 81 ofnd Of thn co m q firna |
save $720 otherwise paid out over
cost of production. This item alone
would pay the interest at 8 per cent
on a loan of S13,500.
GAS a rule the farm family can
supply this food at relatively no ex-
pense, for the labor is surplus labor
and done at odd times or by mem
bers of the family who are not en-
gagged in other employment. Often
the farm garden may be tended by
children; the land is not costing a
cent for rent, for the garden may
utilize any odd corner that could
not we'll be used to produce field
or for other purposes"
In answering a question as to whe-
her it was advisable for every farm |.
IT to produce each and every article
NhlCA COLL UO SlOWA IL OOd1LC1 1O-ll
,lied that he did not think this adj
disable as a little cooperation in the
community often would make it pos
ible for one or two individuals to
all of the needs of the COM
nunity in many products. The pref
of the individual should deter
nine what he may best supply and
hen there should be. sufficient COM
- .x~s%x s.%~-@- - 141D ~, -. fha
distribution. 1t is poor business, ex-
'lained DR.. Coulter, for a grower to
hip a beef to Chicago or st. Paul and
hen for the neighborhood butcher in
he same community where the beef
vas grown to buy back the meat from
eastern jobber to supply his trade,
With two freights and various prof
Is added to the producers price. The
roblem of supplying beef may be
as a community problem
yhile each individual should provide
imself with milk cows, poultry, hogs
nd a garden. This, he said, is not
My the safe and sound thing to do
ut it is the profitable thing to do.
In speaking of the number of
in his own state who would
g eligible to loans under provisions
f the plan, because of their lack of
essentials of Investigation, DR..
stated that a survey made in
$40 revealed that out of 1880
in North Dakota, $4,000 farms +
i'd not have a milk COW, 23,400 did
OF grow their own potatoes, 1880
i'd not have d pig and more than
5000 did not have a garden dur
lg the preceding summer.