Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-03-16

tremendous volume of surplus war
property as set out by the war prop
critics board seek to foster wide
distribution of surplus commodities
to consumers at fair prices; to
achieve prompt and full utilization of
the property with due regard for the
protection of free markets; to pre-
vent dislocation of prices from I'M
controlled dumping; to avoid dis
locations of the domestic economy;
to encourage and foster postwar en-
ployment opportunities; to assure
the sale of surplus property in such
Quantities and on such terms as
will discourage disposal to specula-
tors or for speculative purposes; to
prevent insofar as possible unusual
and excessive profits and to afford
returning veterans an opportunity to
establish themselves as proprietors
of agricultural businesses.
This last objective brings up the
regulations regarding the sale of
lands by the RFC. All government
owned land which is declared sur
plus will be offered for sale to the
original owner, from whom it was
purchased by the government at the
price paid. If sale is not then made,
it is offered to heirs or assigns.
Then the property is divided into
family sized plots and war veterans
are given preference as buyers.
Thus farmers will have an oppor-
tunity to buy back their land and if
they do not, war veterans are given
preference. Although much of this
land is farm land, hundreds of acres
are included in suburban plots near
or adjacent to cities and towns.
How Farmers Can Act.
Procedure for farmers to obtain
military vehicle, either truck or
automobile is as follows: Make ap-
plication to your local triple A Of
fee. The farm transportation COM
mittee, WPB, PAW, or ODT regional
offices are authorized to issue let
tiers of certifcation to essential
users. After the certificate of need
has been obtained sales must be
negotiated through a dealer who has
purchased the vehicles from pro-
curement. No trucks, autos or
other vehicles will be sold direct to
consumers. There has been some
complaint from farmers about the
indirect method of purchase, but the
procedure outline is about as direct
as possible under the regulations.
A trip through the sample room
of the treasury procurement divi-
sion in Washington is a revelation.
It's the most amazing collection of
commodities imaginable: overalls,
khaki shirts, heece-lined sleeping
tents and blankets, rubber lifeboats
for five people; rubber and leather
overshoes; nurses shoes; tarpau
Inns, all-steel tool boxes, table ware,
kitchen ware of all descriptions;
medical supplies; surgical and dem
tai instruments; snow shoes, jungle
knives, imitation rifles; hardware of
all descriptions, such as nuts, bolts,
chains, hooks, and metal gadgets;
saddles, signal lights, flashlights,
spotlights, al-steel boxes which
would be suitable for mailboxes or
for locking away valuable papers;
all-rubber suits; wooden mittenS,
leather gloves. photographers sup
plies, even cameras
Patiently, it is up to the deal
ers in the $1,000 small towns
of 5000 or under population
throughout the country. If farm
ers are to be able to buy this
surplus war property. The deal
er who is alert and watches
for the sales dates may be
able to lay in stock of COM
mOdities. Farm COoperatives
particularly, who deal in most
everything the farmer needs,
might well be able to stock up on
surplus commodities at prices
which would be favorable to
their customers or members.
In an effort to further inform
these dealers about prospective
sales and commodities for sales,
the procurement offices in each re-
gion notify newspapers of an i'm
pending sale through intermittent
releases.