The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-09-02

Since the adjournment or Con-
gress, members are giving more real
attention to studies of the farm pro-
blem than perhaps any other phase
of pending legislation. The word
pending can be used because the
farm problem will be the first order
of business at the next session, or
at a special session should one be
called by the President.
Such studies disclose some cheer
full factors with reference to the
general improvement of agriculture
since 1892. Farm cash income has
moved upward eighty-five per cent
farm prices are up seventy-five per
cent forced farm sales have been
cut in half - farm wages have in
creased seventy-five per cent, and
farm real estate values have gained
sixteen per cent.
Thus there is reason for the
statement that agricultural progress
has been during the first four years
of the administration of President
Roosevelt and it strengthens the de-
termination of all concerned to
maintain those gains.
In agriculture, as in industry,
greater strides in some sections have
been offsent by less favorable trends
in others, but the general improve
ment has undoubtedly been felt
throughout the country. In 1892,
tobacco was selling on the average
of ten and a half cents per pound,
and on July 5, 1887, it was bringing
nearer twenty seven cents per
pound. In 1892, cotton was down to
six and a half cents per pound and
on July Is, 1887, was at 12.4 cents
per pound. Corresponding improve
ment is noted in a wide variety of
agricultural. commodities.
Cash income available for farm
family living, after deductions for
wages, operating expenses, taxes,
and interest, increased even more
rapidly during the four-year span
from 1892 to1936, than did cash in
come as a whole. Cash income
available to the agricultural popula-
ton for living from 1882 production
was SLATE, 100000. From 1886 pro-
duction it was $4,475,O 100000. This
was 2O4 per cent above the 1882 de-
preston low and within eight per
cent of it's 1929 level.
Of course, the gain in income dur
ing this period was somewhat off
set by an increase in the price of
things the farmers buy. But allow
ing for an increase of sixteen per
cent in prices farmers pay for COM
moditieS and services used in living
and production, the purchasing
power of cash income from farm
production was sixty per cent great
er in 1896 than in 1882. Allowing
for an increase of thirteen per cent
in the prices that farmers pay for
things used in living, which did not
advance quite as rapidly as the price
of commodities used in production,
the increase in purchasing power be-
tween 1882 and 1896 was even great
er.
In other words, the disparity be-
tween the prices the farmers get for
their commodities and the prices at
which they buy has been greatly
lessened, although not entirely at
the goal that is sought.
The improvement in farm real es-
tate values is also significant and
along with a reduction in forced
sales, is certain to bring new hope
to those who live on the farm. There
are many other evidences of wide
spread improvement since the dark
days of 1882, when the farmer faced
an almost hopeless situation.
The condition of the farm popu-
lation in this country has come to
be an index to conditions generally.
Agriculture prices are usually found
to be barometer of the purchasing
power of the great cross-section of
Americans. And the improvement
today indicates strongly that gains
have been made and is most encou-
raging to members of Congress who
are primarily interested in using the
legislative machinery of the Govern
ment to preserve those gains and
further improve the status of rural
America.