The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-18

turn trip we took the North Central
highway, making stops at Quincy, Soap
Lake, Odessa, and EdwaH.
At each place we inquired about
crops and economic conditions. In the
country west of SPOKANE, on both
routes, we saw thousands of acres of
grain that had not been cut because
there was not enough growth to JUS
! tify the expense. This condition pre-
vailed along the entire journey from
/ Spokane to Wenatchee, and we found
conditions the same on the return trip.
The best wheat did not exceed 10
bushels Not only did we observe
light crops, but we saw many thou
sands of acres of land that had been
abandoned for several years on ac-
count of insufficient production.
All along the line we were told that
there had not been any rain since
February. When Nezpsrce had an inch
of rain fall, the country between Spo-
kane and Wenatchce had scarcely
enough to settle the dust.
At Odessa we spent the night visit
ting old-time friends Here we made
trip out into the country which we
had seen produce great crops in former
years. Now we saw large areas that
had not been cut.
Our host, a thrifty German Russian
farmer, told us that he had some
money loaned out, but he doubted
whether he would ever get back the
principal. The borrower, until recent
ly worth 100000, was now worse than
broke. Neither of these men, let It
be remembered, had specialized in
high priced land. They were simply
the victims of the general deflation
in production and prices.
All along the journey we were told
that the people were worse than broke.
They were hanging on only because
there was nothing else to turn to.
Their creditors did not dare close
them out, for they could not use the
land. The farmers are holding on,
hoping against hope that there may be
a turn in the road somewhere ahead
God knows where.
After hearing what we heard, and
seeing what we saw, we returned to
Nezperce with a feeling that we were
fortunate in living in a land where
milk and honey flowed.
Should any of our neighbors on the i
Nezperce prairie become disgruntled
and become obsessed with the wan
ierlust" we respectfully recommend
hat they make a journey over the
country west of Spokane. Having done
10, we feel reasonably certain that
hey will return to Nezperce with a
leep conviction that they are leaving
Tod 8 country to enter Sahara. 1t
eems to be an incurable habit among
PEOPLE to assume that the grass is
,reener just over the fence. Christ
vas man without honor among his
and it seems that people
arbor the same feeling toward the
and they occupy. Whatever others
lay think of the Nezperce country,
70 are content to believe that God has
lest us layishly with his great bounty.
lad as conditions may seem here, they
re unspeakably worse in every wheat
sction of the Northwest.
What is true of the wheat section
equally true of the irrigated sec
on. The superintendent of the Yak
ma district, in his annual report to
lie conference, stated that many or
lardists had not received enough for
leir fruit to pay the freight on their
lipments. The only bright spot
emed to be the dairy industry. No
sses are reported from that source
Let us who live in the beautiful
ezperce prairie country not be weary
well doing, for in due season we
all reap if we faint not.
John A. Hoffman.