GENERAL ECONOMIC SITUATION
By Rcy S. Beck, Extension I'arkoting
Specialist.
General economic conditions indicate that
farm, prices rill continue near presont
levels at least for the first half of
1948, The outlook for the latter part of
19A8 is loss clear. Some important un
certainties arc crop prospects, rages,
and our government’s programs dealing
. rith prices and foreign aid. ?--rm costs
in 1948 rill bo slightly higher than for
the last year, 'fret farm incomes are ox
• pectcd to be moderately lorer than in
1947.
In looking ahead ttg need to give serious
thought to the folloring important fac
tors rrhich affect the farm outlook:
1. Farr, and industrial production ar e
high,
2. ployraent and consumer incomes-are
at a record poacoti' o level,
3. Prices are at a high level.
4. hove a large public debt. (About
“55:58,000,000 ,000. )
5. Our total oxcarts to foreign countries
have been more than double cur total
imports for the last six years.
In the short-terra outlook, it seeras reas
onable to boliove that recent trends
rill continue, I" the longer-term out
look ansrers to sorao of the folloring
questions are iurortant: • ,
1. T- \rhat extent rill re continue our
foreign aid urogram?
2. "'-ct rill oo;our government's tax and
raonoy management policy?
3. 'r" at is crop production likely, to be
in 194.8 in this country and in other
parts of the world?
4. '"ill further inflationary pressures
develop? or
5. ’"ill the general price level decline
from the present high levels'5
Hor those questions are ansrered rill
have an important bearing on the farm
-outlook in 1943 and years ahead. 3asod
on experiences after provieus major
rars, it rould seem like good business
for farmers t; be more conservative In
their form expenditure.-' than during the
last seven years of rising prices,
MASONIC TEMPLF. PLANNED
Mr, "Heinie" Snider entertained the >
Masonic and Eastern '..tax' Clubs at their
regular meeting in the Grange Hall last
Monday. It was reported cnat he kept
then all•in stitches A very good crowd
attended, and the refreshments wore par
excellence.
There will be a Special Meeting of all
the Master Masons a!,-the home of C. L.
Felton, in the depot, Thur.’iay, fanua.ry
T9, for th.s purpose of Terming a r.-grr^ar >
xciga in PuLTur. ?.lar.j for the arrange- •
meets bi.ilo ngr, etc, for Mac-onic !
Temple rjili be made. This' is vital to
all I!asons, so make this meeting a
"MUST" on your list-.
HEALTH PROGRAM fOK
ALASKA
(R: leased from Territorial Dt -.t. of Er.olth)
BCG vaccination for Alaska, ambulatory
treatment of syphilis, emarged programs of
nutrition and child-boalbn. and. the assur
ance of continued finyic.I-.il support, for
hospitalization of Crippled Children are
a fen of the projects to be developed fur
ther as a result of a recent trip to the
states by Dr, C, Earl Albrecht, Territorial
Commissioner of Health*
Although the principal reason for his trip
nas attendance at tne annual meeting of
State and Territorial Health Officers, the
Commissioner nas able to attend many con
ferences and meetings in nhich aid for
.Alaska's health nas among-the chief topics
of diticusoior..
An inter-departmental committee has been
formed recently v/hich nill develop* a pro
gram for the territory. The recommendations
of this coirmittee should have great neight
in obtaining additional funds and person
nel for an enlarged health program.
Plans were discussed with Dr Ralph Snavely,
medical director of the Office of Indian
ACiairjs, and with officials of the U. S.
Public’ Hearth Service by which Alaska will
now have BCC- vaccine available for vaccin
ation against tuberculosis.
Very far-reaching recommendations were made
by the State and Territorial Health Offi
cers Association, three of which affect
Alaska beneficially:
1. that the procedure be reviewed of alot
ting grant-in-aid funds on the basis of
population. The present nrocedure penal
izes small states and territories.
2. that the Hosp.it.al Survey and Construc
tion' Act should be amended by Congress so
' 1
that tdie minimum allotment to every state
and, territory; regardless of size and pop
ulation, would be $350,000. This is of
great importance to Alaska since its allot
ment up to present is $41,000.00 per year.
Delegate Bartlett has already introduced
a bill into Congress to amend that Actj
3. A special resolution recognizing Alaska’s
health problem was wassea,
TOURIST - SETTLER PHUSFECTS IMS
Mr, Maze Stated at the C.of C. Heeting on
Wednesday that he had had information out
of Edmonton/-anPda; that 220.00C permits
to travel over'the Highway to Alaska here
beer, request.d,aud air offices roport oe
luosts Terjx, at about 40,0^0.
If cr.e tenth of tnose should come and one
+hiri stay, we wi.V. really have a problem
or our hards r Hr laze call.