Published once a week in B. lmer, ..leska* for the
iiatanuska Valley Farmers' Co-operating ..ssociation,
for the purpose of giving news of the .association's
work, problems L.nd ...ccomplishments.
xnmmG out of humtioii
Two .nd onc-half months of '51 have passed, ..nd still there is no spring.' The
weather nr.n reports th'.t the d-.ily tempcrc.turo is 25' belov; normal. Most people are
restless, and the bright sunny days aggravate the condition also. Snow .nd ice
still,remain in abundance. The usual spring thaws are conspicuous by their .absence,
-uiyonc who has the nerve to remark about tho clear skies, moonlight nights - nd beau
tiful sunsets,-can only get a good growl1out of the average, citizen.' ! :■
This is the period of unrest, and tempers fL.re at the slightest remark. ..gita
tors ..nd .ambitious politicians are. milling around trying to stampede the herd. The
war, and rumors of greater wars cause a feeling of insecurity, trices arc going up
ov^ry day, and most people know that v/w will soon face another period when cheap
substitutes.will replace most of the .rticles wo now buy, at still higher prices.
Workers hear of better jobs just ov^r the hill, and their feet are getting restless.
Many business men and small farmers wonder what is in store for them, ?/ith ropre
Sv-ntitivcs of big business directing the whole thing. ’Will the little man bo allow
ed to cash in on the big deal or will most of the profits of high wartime prices be
funnolcd into the big business profit jug? .Is General Motors made a net profit of
a little over $800,000,000 last year, many wondering what it well be this year
and next year. ..s usual war has made abnormal conditions that are almost unpredict
able*
Well, what to do? This is the question. One farmer, v.'ho has been a large and
steady producer, says that he is going to get a job and that he can make more that
way, th .n by working his farm. Perhaps this is true in some respects. No doubt,
everything the farmer has to buy will be much more expensive. Labor will be scarce
and short in supply, but higher in price. We could go on and enumerate lots of other
disadvantages that the farmer will have to face, but what's the use? ..s one Valley
Farmer remarked a few years ago when asked if he kept books on his farm, "No, I
don't want to know ho-./ much I am making, because it would only prove that I am broke
and working for nothing." However, he purchased a new car, tr .ctor, and farm im
plements that same ye..r; built a. dairy barn and started in Grade .. milk production,
and there was no special financial strain that he could not meet as a result of this.
lie suppose that nearly everyone has his or her troubles, and they seem 'worse when
w^ have time to think about them. In another month, farming oj^rr.tions will be in
full swing again, and many of our troubles will change form nd color. The things
we worried about during the winter will be forgotten and we ..ill devote out worrying
energy to something elso.
It appears from our years if observation and experience that old mother nature
will have an influence on the things that wo will.do. .Vh^n the grass and trees
begin to get green, most of us will get interested in getting plants and vegetables
to grow on the barren spots of land we usually cultivate.. ./c must-all remember,
that people have to be fed and clothed, and that the farmer has this responsibility
whether he likes it or not. . ' .
If adverse conditions prevent the farmer from-making a fair profit this year, he
will have to tighten his belt and.try another year. It is the long haul that counts
Farmers, bankers, business men and professional men have the same problem here.
Personally, wo can't see any reason to be pessimistic this year. It should be.an;
average year, or better. Thero is no special reason why we should worry so far.
Wait until old man trouble c tchcs up with us, before wc give way to Nr. Gloom.
GRANGE CARD PARTY :
MARCH 21 ST. •' AT 8 P.M..