Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-18
FARMERS FACING
PROSPERITY YEAR
Optimism Being Flowed Into
Soil With Fertilizers
in Most Sections.
BY J. G. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch To The star.
NEW YORK, January 18--The farm
ers OF the United States will pillow opti-
mism into their fields along with their
fertilizer this Spring If the weather is
anywhere near propitious 1t ought TO
be a great crop. according to dispatches
received today from the main farming
centers
The small purchases made with &C
tual cash In the agricultural districts
are convincing testimony as to the
financial position and mental attitude
Of the tillers of the soil.
These purchases are small In size and
individually unimportant. They cannot
be accurately measured by the stores,
but they are shown accurately III tnt
movement of currency into and out ci
the banks. Demand for currency comes
either from those who have purchases
to make or pay rolls to meet. NO good
banker keeps more currency on hand
from week to week than the situation
requires. Consequently large volume
OF currency on hand such as is report
ed from the banks. means that pur-
ice payments high and prosperity and
optimism strong.
Individual Buying Power.
The demand for money fluctuates
with individual purchasing power. IN
the farm districts that buying power
is high. There are many individual
farmers who complain of conditions,
but these are not III the majority. Tho
others arc confident and nothing puts
more life into business than that at
tit,lde The Department OF Labor,
questioning 10000 persons who had
left the cities for the farms. found 3i.3
per cent said they made better living
on the farms than in the cities.
The old bugaboo OF the abandonment
of the farms has been banished from
the picture. Farm population has de-
creased, but those remaining were glad
TO see the excess go, since production
now is better adapted to consumptiVe
demand A canvass in South Dakota
showed rs per cent OF the farmers
would farm II they had TO start all over
again, while SO per cent want their sons
TO follow agriculture. Actually 70 per
cent of their children over 81 are farm
ing. while SO per cent OF the younger
children say they want 10 stay close
TO the soil.
The farmers arc not overlooking the
fact instancnd by the Department o.
Agriculture that each day adds 1000
mouths 10 the number 10 be fed in
this country. It must be remembered,
however, that this attitude OF optimism
is not universal. and there are ample
reasons in some localities why it is not.
Face Brighter Future.
The food producers. farmers and
manufacturers, none the less. are fac
ing brighter future through increase
OF population and reduction II costs
OF production and better credit fac!ll-
ties. Beef producers are ION top OF
the world" raiser OF steers can drive
two 10 market and come home with
enough cash 10 buy a good automobile
Steers have sold by the carload a. as
high as 1886 each, Hog prices have
dropped. but in the last year the ay-
erage price OF hogs was Si005 a head,
a figure exceeded In only six years on
record Moreover. the number Of soy
farrowing next Spring promises to
show a decrease. which viii tend again
TO advance prices.
The wool market has been advanc-
ing steadily and most of the 1928 and
most OF the Spring clip has already
been contracted for At fair prices. The
dairy industry is taking full advantage
OF modern methods and machinery
and Is broadening its margin Of profit
accoi dinghy There now are $4,000 600
milk cows III this country and this
number. II is estimated could DC made
10 supply 20oo0.0o0 more people a
year il properly bred. selected, fed and
handled
There promises 10 be another in
crease in the acreage Of cotton this
year but nobody now knows what tho
inroads OF The boil wecvll may be- or
what weather conditions Will bring
forth, 81 il is entirely too early IN pre-
diet higher yields or lower prices for
that staple