Smyrna times., 1925-12-09
BRIGHT FUTURE IS PREDICTED
FOR DELAWARE STATE FARMERS
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING NEW
CASTLE COUNTY FARM BUREAU U
DIR. c. L. Benner Sees Greatly I'm
proved Condition in Delaware
Industries Are Poor

to 20 years were predicted by Dr.
Charles L. Bemer, head of the De-
partment of Business Education, in an
address at the annual meeting of the
New Castle County Farm Bureau at
Stanton, Wednesday afternoon His
subject was "Future of Agriculture in
Delaware" DR.. Benner was formerly
connected with the government at
Washington and has done much re-
search work in recent years which
makes him practically an expert along
these lines.
The meeting which was held in
Grange Hall was presided over by
Frank F. Yearsley, of Marshallton,
president of the County Bureau and
was attended by about so representa-
tive farmers and farm women. There
were several short talks.
Dr. Benner in his address stated
that there are several pertinent ex-
listing economic conditions which in
dictate better times for Delaware
farmers. Foremost among these, he
said, is the fact that land values in
Iowa and other middle western states
are inflated to the extent that most of
the farms in that area return only
small rate Of interest on investment.
Owners of land in that area are will
ing to accept a low rate of interest
on investment becuse they hope to get
their returns in the increase in the
value of the land. In Delaware, he
said, the price of farm land is on
sound economic basis. The price of
farm land in Delaware is such that
owners may reasonably expect a fair
return on investment from the earn
ings of the farm.
DR.. Benner stated further that Del
aware is accessible to eastern mark
cts, the standpoint Of markets for her
farm products. The fact that Della
ware is accessible to eastern markets,
places her in strong position in com
petlng with other states. Apparent
ly, he said, the increasing population
in eastern urban centers is creating an
increasing demand and consequently
increasing prices for green and canned
foods. This condition, the speaker
said will probably stimulate the grow
ing in eastern sections of more of the
intensive types of crops and less of
the extensive types of crops, espec-
tally wheat.
DR.. Benner explained that high
freight rates are not a condition which
eastern farmers have to combat. High
freight rates, Of course, increase the
cost Of marketing farm products
grown in the east but they increase
many times over the cost of market
ING farm products grown in the west.
This condition creates more or less of
q natural tariff against western-grown
farm products in eastern markets.
The Delaware farmer, therefore. as a
result Of high freight rates suffers
less competition from the western
farmer
The speakers explanation of the
reasons for the disparity of prices of
agricultural commodities and Of in
dustrial commodities during thep asst
few years was logical. He said that
during the war every country in the
world encouraged an increase in the
production of agricultural commodi-
ties. The result, following the war,
was a great over production of agri-
cultural products and a consequent
severe break in agricultural prices.
An increase in the production Of in
duStrial products was likewise en-
cOuraged by most countries of the
world but these products were largely
munitions Of war and were consumed
during the war The result was, he
said, that following the World War
there was dearth of industrial pro-
ducts and industry enjoyed a period
of prosperity and high prices.
The question now, DR.. Benner said,
is what will be the situation during
the next Is or 20 years. Because of
the agricultural depression over zoo
banks have failed in the middle west.
Furthermore the rural population of
the United States has decreased at
the rate of million persons annually
| NiA4AC OiiC VI Ddil pOpuLoJAOli Ids COil-
tinued to increase during this period
This means fewer hands to feed more
mouths. Fewer farmers are feeding
an increasing city population. Ap.
parently, this situation said DR.. Ben
ner will stimulate a steady increase
in the prices of farm products tht
next several years.
The industrial status is not so en-
couraging, the speaker said. Foreigr
debts due the United States, he said
amounts to about IL billion dollars
These debts DIR. Benner stated will no
= be paid in currency but will be paiC
( in manufactured commodities. Thi
enormous influx of foreign manufac
, tured commodities into the Unite,
States during the next several year
| will unmleStiOnablV creatp a s1IT-n11I