The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1939-06-15
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Market Solution
CONTINUED From Page IL

MARKET SOluClOn
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from 1900 to 5000 miles from the
great consuming centers. Our per-
ishable crops, with the exception OF
cherries, cannot pay the freight over
such distances. There is no in-be-
tween market of consequence. Hence
we are limited to the Pacific North
west as market for all perishable
crops, except cherries, and occa-
sionally potatoes. The commune
! ties now producing these crops in
this state are capable of Quitting
the entire Pacific Northwest mar
I kets. and yet we are confronted with
immediate expansion upon a large
scale of the production of these
very crops with no expansion of any
character in market outlet. For
results of expansion witness what
is happening from the increase in
production of asparagus. Within
two years the Roza project will be-
gin production. Can it ship its
products to the eastern market and
sell at a profit? Where will the
Roza farmer sell his crops? In the
same market as that in which we
sell our crops Undoubtedly the first
land to be reclaimed in the Col
umbia Basin will be along the Co
lumbia and Snake rivers, where
both soil and climatic conditions
are similar to ours. Do. you think
they will raise different crops than
we are now raising? Never will there
be a market for perishable crops
from the irrigated lands of WASH
ington elsewhere than in the Pa
cific Northwest, except perhaps for
processed crops. An adequate Pa
cific Northwest market can come
only as the result of vast indus
trial growth. Such growth, if it
comes at all, must follow agricul-
tural expansion. It cannot pre-
cede. In the meantime our farm
ers and our business men are DOOM
ed unless we, in the closest Coop
Grafton between farmer and busi-
ness man, are able to find a way
out. I believe way exists, but even
so it must be discovered. Any COM
mittee undertaking such task will
soon discover not only the vastness
of. the undertaking, but what is
more important, the vital necessity
Of its performance.
These ideas have been accumu-
lated with me during many years. |
This letter, however, is hastily writ
ten. I have put my thoughts in
written form in order that errors
might be more easily discovered and |
corrected. Nothing can be accom-
plished that viii be Of the slight |
ast value to the farmers and busi-
1esS men Of the community which
S not based upon full recognition
md comprehension Of the problems
confronting us, and the importance
" their p roper solution. II the
Undertaking is too big for us let us
tdmit 1t. II SO, then let us also quit
Mourning over the subject at our
uncheons. I do not believe It Is
90 big. The problem is to insure
] reasonable net farm income in
ur community, not this year alone
nut in the years to come. The solu-
ion will be the result Of earnest,
'ainstaking, continuous and und-
effort and study. The
development Of a spirit of cooper
ton between town and country
must be the first step. The second
aust be the gathering Of informa-
ion 1.-THE acquisition Of knowledge)
he third, which will naturally fol-
w, will be careful planning and
xecution. Both the undertaking
nd the result, If successful, will
any effort made at any
me by this Chamber of Commerce
+ the business men Of Kennewick
lone. The State Planning Council,
ne Department Of Agriculture and
ne State College will be called upon
ooner or later for help. The prob
m in its entirety involves the en-
re Pacific Northwest. We may
iscover local but temporary means
improvement. We may possibly
iscover small industries affording
,asonal employment. We may
nd special methods of production,
rocessing and marketing which
i'll give us an advantage over 9TH
: communities. Such, however,
i'll not alone bring permanent net
lcome to our farmers. That is our
robem and any effort made for
ny other purpose than its solu-
on is doomed to failure.
Very truly yours,
MARK M. MOULTON