Milford chronicle., 1945-07-06

"Thundering Thirties" are beginning to fear an
other disastrous land boom
A Department OF Agriculture survey showed farm
values have risen ~ per cent above the average
in 1935-l939. Prices paid by city dwelers and war
workers for that place in the country are far
out OF line with what the ground can produce. And
these two classes of buyers account for about
one-thrd of farm purchases
Land values increased - per cent during 1914.
This increase higher than any on record eX
cep for 19l9-192o. And it is sad history that farm
who bought during that period Went into debt
in the years of low product prices Many lost their
farm became tenant croppers. reduced
living standards they wouldn't keep the livestock
on.
The Secretary of Agriculture says "the fever of
rural land initiation has reached the danger point
in many areas
OF course. the bait is increased farm income
According the Federal Reserve Bulletin, both
total cash income and net income to farm operators
in 1912 higher than any prior year Com
pared with war year 1917. cash income up
30 per cent, operators 30 per cent.
Even assuming commodity prices will be higher
after the Jap joins the Nazi in dust it is
business income to determine the prices
of land which will have to be farmed in peace time.
The red light of imitation is glowing. We hope
il shines in the eyes of those war workers who are
planning to get living from farm if times are
hard. And hope it is seen by the men on
the business end of the plow for after ALL it's
the farmer who has live with and cope with
farm conditions
ONE THING Is CERTAIN these days of unccr-
tainy if the prosperity factors of American
economy allowed to function under the free
competitive enterprise system. shall have jobs
an.
them.
These "prosperity factors" at hand: w,
have the greatest supply of skilled labor in oul
history. We have the greatest productive machin,
the world has -eXplanded for victory anC
for shining peacetime future. We have the forces
to put both that machine, and the men to man it, il
action. with the greatest pent-up demand for civilian
goods created.
And we have the money with which 10 buy.
Competent authorities estimate pent-up purchas
ing power and savings at figures ranging from 81
million to 125 billions Of dollars. That means tina
the pipelines of production will have TO be filled
and filled quickly.
If production is hampered Jobs are automatical
ly cut.
If production is crippled for any cause the dol
lars of savings will lose value as people bid 10
scarce articles. and shall have disastrous inta
ton.
If production is curailed then shall not b
able to discharge obligations toward rehabiltat
ing foreign lands, and thus endanger permanen
peace.
If production is hurt for any reason. sha
not be able to return fighting men to thei
rghtful productive niche within economy.
THE OTHER DAY WE SAW woman buy
can OF unrationed something other, and sl
and her small left the store | heard the litt
boy say incredulously, With no points,"
We thought about that. and wished coul
get hold of that child. and all the other yOungstel
who were born into warning world We wishe
could say. Look. Ration points only fC
able to buy meat and butter and canned peacht
and everything without points at all, only money
1t is terribly important for children to gro
up understanding that ration points and other wa
time restrictions normal part of the
lives.
When anything begins to be taken for granite
it begins to take root, and don't want any wa
time regulations to put down roots in America
WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT of the fact tn
have but half victory The maniacs
Buchenwald and the 1000-year Reich crush
in the accomplishing dust of Europe.
But the Jap fights froth-mouthed from cave
cave in the islands and digs deeper into his hom