Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-02-17

three periods. The first covers the
early years of the development of
our country when most of the peo-
pie were farmers and the chief am
bition of every farmer was to pro-
duce enough to feed his own family
and livestock and to clothe his fam
lily. The second period began with
the opening of the western states
after the Civil War. 1t was a period
of large production. The ambition
of every farmer seemed to be to pro-
duce as much as he could, with the
result that there was much to ex-
port and foreign prices ruled the
home markets.
The third period has been getting
under way for several years. 1t
presents changed conditions, such
as higher land values, higher taxes,
higher labor costs, higher costs of
materials, and higher standards of
living. 1t will be known as the
period of business farming. Many
farms already have entered into this
period of their history. Many have
not. This period is to be character
lied by business methods in connec-
ton with the production, grading,
storage and sale of agricultural
products. The growth of agricul-
tural cooperation shows the strength
of the movement. Reduction of
costs is an important phase of this
activity.
Rural identification may become
most important factor. If cleo
tricity will help to reduce the cost
of production and to increase the
satisfaction of farming and to raise
the standard of living of farmers,
then it is sure to become an i'm
portant factor. This new develop
ment may produce profound changes
in agriculture. No one can
prophesy how far it will go. Some
people think electricity will cause a
revolution in agricultural methods.
Those who are best informed are
not SO excited but they recognize
great possibilities.
Electricity has been used on
farms more or less for many years.
The use has greatly increased of
late; and this is undoubtedly due
largely to the efforts of the National
Committee on the Relation of Elec-
tricity to Agriculture. This Com
mittee is composed of representa-
tives of the American Farm Bureau
Federation, the National Electric
Light Association, the National
Grange, the Individual Plant Manu-
facturers, the American Society OF
Agricultural Engineers, the Ameri.
can Home Economies Association
the General Federation of Women's
Clubs, the National Association Of
Farm Equipment Manufacturers
the National Electrical Manufac.
turers Association, and the U. S
Departments of Agriculture, Com.
merce and Interior. DR.. E. A
White, who serves the Committee a.
Director, has just made his fourth
annual report. 1t tells what cleo
tricity is doing for agriculture anC
gives some idea of what it may do
1t reveals that organized commit
tees are working in connection will
the National Committee in 23 states
In these states Colleges of Agri
culture, Colleges of Engineering
and Experiment Stations are promi
nently connected with the work. TIL,
! object is to help determine the max
imum economic uses of electricit!
: in agriculture. Individual farmer.
and organized groups of farmers
have shown much interest. Powel
companies have made available -;
large amount of equipment for ex
: periments and demonstrations.
Farms Using Electricity.
1t is estimated that between
100000 and $4,000 farms in thi
country are now served by electro
light and power companies and tina
about 100000 farms have individual
lighting plants.
The prediction is made that within
four years the number of farms con
nected with distribution lines will
be as large as 100000. Electro
, light and power companies are or
ganizing to develop this service, AM
some companies are setting VI
special rural electric service de
I partments.
The increase in the number O.
farms using electricity is not sui
ficient index as to the increase o.
demand for current. We are toll,
that the use of 80 kw-hr. per farm
per month is common in non-irri
gated regions and that the potentia
electric load is 10 to 20 times larger
than this.
Power on Farms.
The United States Department OF
Agriculture estimates the total an
/. nual power requirements of farm.
in the United States rs Is billion
horsepower-h If we assume &
value of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour
the entire farm power requirement.
of the United States represent az
annual money value Of 100000, O0C
or about 5000 per farm. Even {
small fraction of this potential an,
nual revenue is well worth the at
tention of the power companies.
OF course, only a minor part Of
this enormous quantity of power
would be within the field of interes