Evening star., 1926-08-21
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

Wanted-A farmer who will accept
the use of 500 acres of fine land. near
q large CITY. together with necessary
buildings, farm machinery ana I'VE
stock, all without rent or share or the
cropS. but with the sole condition that
he shall make il pay a proht ana the
farmer will keep the profit. For fur-
ther details ask the man. Ills name
is James CouzenS and his address Is
the United States Senate.
Here is a challenge which comes III
good faith to modern agriculture. 'an
farming he made profitable? senator
CouZens frankly says that his mag
nificent farm of 900 acres, located
near Pontiac and Detroit, Mich. does
not pay interest on the investment
and never has. but. being busy with
matters of state he has never serious
lv tried to make farming pay. He will
now reserve from the 900 acres
front yard" of 400 acres surrounding
his residence. but the farmer will nave
the use of his stable-a modest shed
which cost SIPS, 900 to erect. He has
sold his herd of thoroughbred cattle
and does not need the barn, but If the
farmer will agree to demonstrate prof
it's, the Senator will stock him with
sheep or hogs or cattle -- not on
shares. but as a capital loan. The
man must take the initiative and
make it pay. MAKE 1T PAY!
"Back to the land" used to be the
favorite appeal of political orators.
but it is unique to find a statesman
with developed land itself as free bait
to emphasize his interest in rejuve-
mating country life.
When this offer was brought to the
attention of experts of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. their first ques-
ton was as to the basis of ascertain
ing the profits Will they be based on
the 81 500 interest on a barn costing
S125 900 and with other construction
equally extravagant from the stand
point of practical farming. or will the
basis be an appraisal by disintereSted
Judges of the farming value of the
acres and of buildings such as are ac-
tually needed for practical farming?
This is taken as typical of one Of
the greatest problems Of agriculture
the overcap pitaliZatiOn of many
farms. with buildings unjustified and
with surplus investment in equipment
Of all kinds. The criticism is not aim
ed especially at the CouZenS farm, for
the authorities quoted had no knowl-
edge of that property-at least, none
beyond the $125 900 barn. 1t is based
upon too general conditions in many
localities, especially among what are
known as gentlemen farmers" That
is no more agriculture than was n
sham battle, which Napoleon wit
messed, real war, however "magnifi-
cent"
x x * X
1t Is we'll known that farming is
in the dumps. but it is not always
recognized that it's depression has not
been of postwar experience only.
Farming is more complicated than
it used to be, and the old-time notion
that anybody could go to farming,
right out of a bank or clerical serv
ice, or out of the industrial shop.
without experience or training, is ex
ploded.
Thousands of city toilers are like
the banker with his eternal dream
cycle. He had been born in the coun-
try, where he used to dream Of a
future when he could go to town
and be d merchant. then dreamed Of
becoming a director of a bank, then
president. then promoter of a trust.
and in his old age dreamed again Of
W
tire to the country. sit under the old
oak and enjoy life-or he might
raise chickens and have no more
worries.
Life is just one dream after an
other-just like that-but, after all.
banks which lent money TO merchants
who trusted farmers have failed, and
even chickens have the pip. Some
of the most complicated conditions
which make or unmake statesmen
spring from the farm problems. Mere
expansion Of credits from a 500, 900 900
bankers fund will not assure profits;
loans must be repaid from net gains.
The Investigations by the Depart
ment of Agriculture and other au-
thorities agree in warning against
hope of profits upon farms either too
small or too large. Nearly all the
great bonanza farms of the North
west of so or 80 years ago proved
improbable. The bonanza" has
been cut into small units for more
intensive agriculture. Yet there is
one genius in Montana who, last year,
farmed 10000 acres of wheat and
go, 900 acres of fax. and is planning
to expand next year.
On the other hand. here is a sum-
ming up as to general farming, as
expressed in Bulletins 920 of the de-
partment:
For the farms studied below show: