The Dawson news., 1925-09-22
Agricultural Recovery.


The condition of crops in the import
ant farming regions throughout the coun-
trv. except in limited areas where drouth has
been disastrous. is such as jutifes predictions
Of good Yields both as to quality and guam
titv. The outlook is described as bright, not
onlv as to what the farmer actually will pro-
duce but as to what the products will bring
in the market Here in south Georgia good
Yields have already matured, and the harvest
is now in progress. This MEANS Of course,
that agricultural recovery will be carried far
ther this year than anyone dared to hope
few months ago.
This is, by all odds, the best piece of news
in an economic sense the country has had Tor
years. Agricultural recovery, though slow 1t
has been. now seems assured. The import
ance OF this forward movement OF agriculture
is due to many considerations. In the first
place agriculture is the leading industry in
the country. Farms represent greater ag-
gregate value and heavier investment than
does any classified industry. The investment
is greater and so is the value of the products
from year to year in normal times when eco
nomc balances have been maintained among
all businesses. Next, there is recognition of
the fact that agriculture is the business OF
an enormous percentage Of the population.
Living on the farms and deriving their in
come from agriculture, it is estimated, are
about 100000 people. The non success OF
an element of the national life so large and in
fuential cannot fail to work a change in the
whole economic scheme, and, of course, to its
detriment
Agriculture affects every other human &C
tivity directly indirectly. Transportation,
manufacturing, shipping, merchandising, the
professions all are dependent upon agricul-
ture either for sustenance or materials, or
both Low prices for agricultural products
may mean reduced costs on raw materials, a
lowered living expense and "a general cheap
ening of goods found in the markets, but
the effect does not end there. 1t must be
remembered that the millions who live on the
farms represent a buying element of tre-
mendous powers. When that power is re-
duced by low prices general business suffers
losses The manufacturer the merchant and
the banker may have their production and
living costs lowered, but they do not have
the volume Of business necessary to their
success.
Farm products three years ago. according
to the National Bank of Commerce, of ST.
Louis, had an exchange value worth only
68 per cent of the 1913 figure. They now are
worth when exchanged for industrial goods
81 per cent of the 1918 figure That means
that the farmers dollar is just cents below
anybody elses dollar A few years ago he
had to give too many bushels of grain for
pair of shoes, too many head of cattle Or
hogs for suit of clothes, too great a vol
ume of raw materials for the manufactured
articles that came back to him in different
form. Today closer approach to balance
has been made. The farmers will not worry
about the narrow margin of cents, especial
ly when they are encouraged to hope that it
also will be wiped out and that their dollar
will be worth as much as anyone else's
incidentally, what agricultural recovery has
been made resulted almost wholly from eco
nomic adjustments. Legislation had little to
do with the changes that came about The
farmers are beginning to realize that they are
the most important business men in the coun-
try and to appreciate the fact that they have
got to apply efficiency in producing trans
porting and marketing their goods. The
farmers ought to make up their minds now
when they do get back solidly their feet
they will stand thereafter on a firm ground
of common sense business and thus protect
themselves against a recurrence of the hate
full oppression they have suffered. That can
be done.