Milford chronicle., 1956-09-21

is no crisis IN agricultural as whole. In
productivity, prosperity, assets over liabil-
tiles, and dynamic progress. American ag-
riculture, as whole, leads the world" AS
evidence, she cites the fact that the going
value of good farm land has not only been
maintained but has increased
All chronological revolutions cause dislo-
cations. But all, in the long run, benefi. ev-
eIyone. And that is true in agriculture.
SSoT&
DOING A JOB FOR YOU
main Street is not 81 far from main
stream-the rolling acres of Iowa are closer
than you think to the rolling waves of the
ocean," said the head of steamship associ-
alton a short time ago.
He was not, of course, referring to mere
physical distance He was pointing up the
fact that the economy of Iowa, like that of
all the other states, is closely tied to the huge
stream of commercial traffic that crosses
and criss-crosses the seas.
Last year, for instance, corn exports
brought S34 million to Iowa farmers; lard
exports about $19 million, and tallow exports
S11.5 million. Nor were Iowa'S 100000 en-
ployeeS in manufacturing industry left out
of the picture Iowa-produced farm equip
ment, pumps, furnaces, and other wares
travelled by ship to the four corners of the
world. And the money brought in helped
materially to provide employment at good
wages in the states factories.
You can substitute the name of any other
state for that of Iowa-Ohio, Missouri, Cal
ifOrnia Texas whatever. The amounts of
money involved will vary, but III every case
foreign trade has big bearing on our ma
terial welfare. The figures for the country
as a whole are enormously impressive-last
year our exports were valued at $143 bill
lion and our imports at S11.4 billion, and
together they accounted for 1.5 million jobs
within our borders.
Remember that next time you see pie
ture of U. S. merchant ship. It's doing a
job for you instead of leaving you dependent
on foreign ships. That's why you are inter-
ested in an American merchant marine.
&se<&>
AT A DISADVANTAGE
One railroad in one New Jersey county
pays taxes of S935,000 per mile per year.
A turnpike which parallels the line pays no
taxes at ALL
This situation is duplicated, in varying
degree, throughout the country. The rail
roads must build and pay for every foot of
track they use and then pay heavy taxes on
it. But public funds create and maintain the
highways which are used by the railroads
principal competitor in carrying on their
business.
1t is true of, course, that these highways
are open to all, and are used daily by mil
lions of individual citizens. But it is also
true that the cost of the kind of highways
which the enormously heavy commercial
trucks require is many times what it would
be if the only traffic consisted of passenger
cars and smaller trucks.
Another railroad competitor, the COM
mercial airlines, get all kinds of essential
aids and services at the taxpayers expense
such as airports, terminals and traffic con-
troll. They pay fees for the use of some of
these facilities, but they don't have to build
them. The railroads must go into their own
pockets for everything they need.
This is not an attack ON commercial
trucking or airlines. Both are needed, both
are here to stay. But it is an example of
the unfair competitive disadvantage faced
by our basic, most essential means of trans
portaton, the iron horse
Syo&Sy
SCHOOL PROGRESS
The news isn't all bad on the school front
The problems brought on by too many chill
dren for available classroomS and teachers
are not going to go away for a long time
but at least the school systems of the coun-
try, taken together, are gaining in the
struggle.
About $1,000 classrooms were scheduled
for construction in the year ending this
September, and the increased enrolment this
fall will fill only 81 400, according to Samuel
Brownell, commissioner of education.
The shortage of teachers is estimated at
120,700, but the figure for last year, 141 300
was much worse.
All over the country, school boards
school administrations and taxpayers have
been straining to get the new buildings up
the old ones remodelled and teachers salar-
les improved. Some of the big cities, where
the population is nearly stable, have the sit
uation almost in hand by now. Some of the
suburban areas, with wildly booming pop
ulation, currently seem to be slipping back
wards on the treadmill, in spite of valiant
efforts.
But the efforts are being made. The pub
lie has new awareness of the Importance
and cost of public schools and the good re-