Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-12-08


the development of our inland water
ways. The Mississippi river system
carries a commerce of over $4,000, 900
tons at a saving of nearly $1S,000,0 900
annually. The Inland Waterways
corporation operates boats on $500
miles of navigable streams and
through it's relation with 165 rail-
roads carries freight into and out
of As states of the Union. During
the past six months it has handled
over 100000 bushels of grain month
ly and by it slower freight rates has
raised the price of such grain to
half to three cents a bushel. Ths
the farmer probably two and one
highway system on which the federal
government expends about $S5, ,0OO, 900
a year is of vital Importance to the
rural regions.
The advantages to be derived from
a more comprehensive and less ex-
pensive system of transportatio for
agriculture ought to be supplemented
by provision for an adequate supply
of fertilizer at lower cost than
it is at present obtainable. The ad-
vantage we are attempting to secure
by the proposed development at
Muscle Shoals, and there are promis-
ing experiments being made in syn
thetic chemistry for the production
or nitrates.
A survey should be made of the
relation of government grazing lands
to the livestock industry. Additional
legislation is desirable more definitely
to establish the place of grazing in
the administration of the national
forests, properly subordinating to
their functions of producing timber
and conserving the water supply.
Over 18O,OO0,00O acres of grazing
lands are still pastured as commons
in the public domain with little or
no regulation. This has made their
use so uncertain that it has con-
trlouted greatly to the instability
OF the livestock industry. Very little
OF this land is suited to settlement
or private ownership Some plan
ought to be adopted for its use in
grazing, corresponding broadly to thar
already successfully applied to the
national forests. 4at.
me development of sound and
strong cooperative associations is of
fundamental Importance to our apri
culture. 1t is encouraging to note.
eHereIore, that vigorous and healthy
growth In the cooperative moveman,
is continuing. Cooperative associa-
tlons reporting. to the department. or
agriculture at the end Of 1925 had
on thelr membership rolls total of
100000 producers Their total hnsi-
ness IN 1925 amounted to approxi-
mately $2,4O0,O00,OO0, compared with
$635,SO0,OOO IN 1915. Legislative action
TO assist cooperative associations ana
supplement- their efforts was passad
at the last session of congress. I'm
portant credit measures were also
provided by congress in 1923 which
nave been of inestimable value to the
CO. cooperative associations. Although
the federal credit agencies have
served agriculture well, 1 think III
may be possible to broaden and
strengthen the service of these in
stitutions
Attention is again directed to the
surplus problem of agriculture by the
present cotton situation. surpluses
often affect prices of various farm
commodities in disastrous manner,
i'd the problem urgently demal
solution. Discussions both in and out
of congress during the past few years
have given us a better understanding
of the subject, and it is my hope that
out of the various proposals made the
basis will be found for a sound ana
effective solution upon which agree
ment can be reached In my opinion
cooperative marketing associations
VIII be important aids to the ultimate
solution of the problem. 1t may
we'll be, however, that additional
measures will be needed to supple
agree that such measures should not
conflict with the best interests of the
co-operatives, but rather assist and
strengthen them. In working out
this problem to any sound conclusion
it is necessary to avoid putting the
government into the business of pro-
duction or marketing or attempting
to enact legislation for the purpose
of price fixing. The farmer does not
favor any attempted remedies that
partake of these elements. He has a
sincere and candid desire for assist
ance. If matched by an equally SIN
cere and candid consideration of the
different remedies proposed, a sound
measure of relief ought to result. 1t
is unfortunate that no general agree
ment has been reached by the various
agricultural interests upon any of the
proposed remedies. Out of the dis
cussion of various proposals which
can be had before the committees