The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-04-22
Let's Save FSA

blow to the Farm Security Administration
and unless the Senate comes to the rescue,
it appears to be doomed. We have long
been sold on the FSA because we have had
an opportunity to observe some tangible
results achieved through it, which, in most
cases could not have been accomplished
otherwise. ..,........ ..... ...,~-.......
It is true that in all new experiments
there are usually some blunders made and
it is certainly true that there are those
cynics ever ready to blast forth criticism
if they have any grounds at all and the
FSA has not been spared. But even those
who have been against it from the begin
ming cannot dispute the facts showing what
has definitely been accomplished. 1t has
always appeared to me to be sound idea
to help people to help themselves and that
is what FSA is doing. In fact it has done
such good job in this line, that those
whom it serves are not only helping them
selves but helping to supply the nations
food demands To cut it off now would be
stopping a vital part of the war effort.
And as far as an expense goes, Farm
Security is not handout, but rather
loaning system and the borrowers, as
whole, are good pay. About the only diff
ference in them and the big farmers is that
the big successful farmers can go to bank
when they need loan, while the less sue
cessful having fewer financial resources,
turns to his Uncle Sam And in turn he
is producing foods his uncle wants now.
FSA has accomplished much, as a mat
ter of fact, it has accomplished so much
that we can only touch on it here. Through
out the United States more than 10000
tenant families have purchased, improved
and equipped their farms through FSA.
And not only have they improved their
status from a material standpoint, but have
raised their general standards of living,
improved health conditions and those of
their family life. Since this is true, isn't
it the Christian, the democratic, and the
American way to help people help them
selves?
Over 1900 of these farms, which have
been purchased are in North Carolina In
Ashe county alone, II families have been
assisted in buying farms. All of these
Ashe farmers are prompt in their pay
ments, too. Last year, 4643,941 families
were assisted through FSA loans and were
given necessary help in making their plans
and in supervision. Around 1900 of these
were in North Carolina and over $50 in
Ashe county. Payments over these loans
exceeded maturities in this state and in
this county, Maturities on these loans in
Ashe county, for 1912 totalled $26,67496
and payments were $31 067.22 showing a
large number of borrowers are paying
ahead of time.
The most impressive facts about the
group, however, is the increase in food
production and this is what the govern
ment is asking for Throughout the ma
ton the FSA borrowers representing only
7.6 of the farmers, showed last year, an in
crease of $3.50 in milk. Ashe county's FSA
families did their share. In 1910, there
were only 81 FSA families in this county
who were patrons of the local milk mar
kets In the fall of 1912, records show that
in this county there were 246 FSA fani-
lies selling milk for commercial use. From
October l through October Is, records
show that 1874 of these families sold Sc, 948
pounds of milk to one receiving plant,
alone. This could not have been done
without the RR loans through FSA.
This is only one example. Proportion
ate increases were made in poultry and
other vital foods And what is significant,
this increase was made by group, as a
whole, that was not even able to supply
their own needs, at one time.
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