Evening star., 1927-10-20
FARMERS POSITION
GOOD FINANCIALLY
viii Get More for His Dollars
Than for IL Years, and
Have More of Them.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, October 2o.-The farm
er's dollar today is worth as much
as any other mans dollar and at last
he can swap dollars or products or
services with any other line of industry
on a basis of equality. Farm experts
today declared it was this fact which
was unquestionably behind the opti-
mistic announcements on business and
industry made by President Coolidge
and by various eminent flnanciers this
week.
On the basis of 1918 prices taken at
100, the Department of Labor figures
show that prices for farm products
and forf commodities in general are
each between 146 and 147. The farm
ers buying power has been restored,
and farm authorities declare indica-
tions point to the permanency of such
conditions.
Prosperity Wasn't Recognized.
The mystery which has seemed to
surround the optimistic statements
has been due to the fact that agri-
cultural prosperity has come back
without being recognized. In fact,
1t has been absent SO long that some
farmers have not yet recognized the
returned prodigal. OF course, the in
habitants of those scattered sections
which have been hampered this year
by adverse weather conditions will
deny vigorously that prosperity has
returned. So will those who have at
tempted to take advantage of farm
distress for their own ends in one
way or another. The farmers who
were so heavily mortgaged as not
yet to have been able to get their
financial feet under them feel like
wise.
A man who is in the closest possible
touch with the situation in farm
products throughout the Middle West
declared today that farm production
was well adjusted to consumption in
the important lines and that in those
sections where the weather had been
favorable 1t was on a basis which
promised fair returns for some time
to come.
The outstanding feature of the farm
situation continues to be the livestock
markets. Cattle are selling at higher
prices than at any time except during
the war period. Not only is this aiding
the farmer. but there Is fine demand
for beef from the packers which has
been aided by the policy adopted by
the larger units in the industry Of
branding their beef products.
Hog prices have fallen lately, but
the damage done to corn by frost
would seem to indicate that it might
be reflected in later hog prices. More
over. indications do not point to any
excessive supply of hogs throughout
the country. There should be a fur
ther reduction in the stocks of pork
products by November l.
Corn Crop Is Small.
The bulk of the lamb crop has been
marketed at prices ranging from $13
to $14 hundred. Wool is in a strong
position statistically and breeding
herds seemingly have not been unduly
increased. The prices for butter, milk
and cheese in Midwestern market cen
ters are taken to reflect most satisfac.
tory conditions in the dairy industry.
The corn crop, according to Govern.
fnent estimates, will be the smallest in
several years. being placed at 2,603,-
100000 bushels. This is taken Dy
many to indicate higher corn prices,
but there are many who take an or-
posite view. declaring that in some
sections the crops has been fine and
hat less corn will be needed for feeding
purposes since herds have declined in
volume.
The wheat crop both here and in
Canada was large and prices have
fallen from their high point, but none.
thelesS farmers In most cases were
able to market their wheat at local
stations at price which meant profit.
These facts all mean that the far.
n1ers Of the country proba bly, will have
more than $4,000. 100000 to spend.
They will get more for their money
than they have in the last IL years and
consequently will spend more freely.
This demand will work its way back
through the veins Of trade to the heart
Of commerce and industry, which will
beat faster to supply the added calls
upon 1t.