Evening star., 1944-03-04
Need for Materials
For Farm Maintenance
Is Called Urgent

tenance and replacement of essen.
tial farm structures must be pro.
vided in greater quantity in the
immediate future if maximum pro.
duction OF food and other Vita
agricultural products needed in the
war program is to be assured, ac-
cording to a statement issued today
by James W. Follin, managing direc-
tor of the Producers Council, ma
tional organization of manufac-
turers of building materials and
equipment.
Representatives of council men,
Der associations locally include j.
B. Blackburn, manager of the In
sulation Board Institute; Laurence
kiefer, secretary of the trade sales
division of the National Paint,
Varnish and Lacquer Association,
and G. T. Bridgman of the agri-
cultural engineering department of
the Structural Clay Products In
stitute.
Reports from many sections of the
country indicate that farm buildings
are deteriorating rapidly, owing to
difficulties in obtaining materials
with which to make repairs, while
the construction of new barns,
poultry houses and other needed
farm buildings has been held at a
low level for two years es a result
OF limitations placed on nonmili-
tary construction by the Federal
Government, Mr.. Follin said.
Committee Appointed.
ITO assist in making plans for
meeting current farm building needs
and to aid in establishing a sound
postwar building program for the
Nations farmers, the council has
appointed a Farm Buildings Com
mittee," he stated. THE chairman
Is Chris L. Christensen, vice presi-
dent of the Celotex Corp. and for
merly dean of agriculture at the
University of Wisconsin. The new
committee will meet soon to formu-
late a definite program.
THE seriousness of the farm
problem is shown by the fact that
the total expenditure for farm
building maintenance and construc-
tion last year was only about $780,
100000, an average of only $50 per
farm. The total was IS per cent
less than the average for the five
year period, 1937-1941 This decline
is especially serious in view of the
fact that, because of low farm in
come, preWar farm construction was
by no means great enough to meet
total requirements.
THE councils Market Analysis
Committee has estimated that the
volume of farm building mainte-
nance and construction will be only
about $3.50 100000 during 1914,
barring a sudden end to the war,
while an average of $1,365 900 900
is forecast for the five-year period
starting IL months after the war
is terminated. This latter figure re-
fleets the real farm need, which is |
not being met because Of the Short
age of materials he added.
Raising of Curbs Asked.
In view of the immediate farm
construction needs, it is imperative
that restrictions on farm construc-
ton be removed as soon as the
progress of the war permits and
ahead of those on most other types
of civilian construction, Mr.. Follin
said, pointing out that new building
and repair work done on farms will
divert less manpower than any
other type of construction, mas
much as most farm construction is
done by the farmer himself and by
his regular farm labor.
I'm addition, some method must
be worked out for making certain
that materials allotted for farms
actually get to the farms where
they are most needed" he said.
There are indications that much
of the reduced supply of building
material intended for farm use in
the last two years has been diverted
to other rural purposes or used on
farms needing it less urgently than
others. This is one problem which
will be studied carefully by the
councils new Farm committee