I 25G 
The Senator From Vermont 
The II. N.-Y. has suggested Elbert S. Brigham of 
Si. Albans as a suitable man to represent the state 
,»f Vermont in the United States Senate. We did 
this on our own responsibility, without consulting 
Mr. Brigham in any way. He is not working for 
the position, hut is quietly attending to his man- 
sized job of Commissioner of Agriculture. We will 
confess that our object, in starting this matter was 
partly to try an experiment in democracy. Vermont 
is an agricultural State and always will be. Her 
farmers are independent, and for the most part 
thrifty—but they are often forced to work under 
hard conditions. It will be generally admitted that 
in the past a small group of politicians have selected 
their candidates for them. The plain farmers have 
had little to say about it. Now we would like to 
znd out whether the farmers of Vermont reahy ci/re 
to he represented by a man fully in sympathy with 
their business and with a full understanding of their 
problems. It is worth while to find out about such 
things. Among other letters regarding Mr. Brigham 
wt have the following: 
I do not know just what strength Mr. Brigham has 
over the State of Vermont with the farmers or the Ver¬ 
mont people as a whole. I believe that he would make 
a good man for the Senate, and is without doubt the 
ablest man among tin- farmers of the State to fill this 
position and. among the leading agriculturists, he would 
be considered very favorably. The work he has done for 
the farmers here in the State has been of the best along 
all lines of agricultural, improvement. He is conserva¬ 
tive, and for that reason is not a very strong promoter 
of large farmers’ co-operative organizations. AA hat I 
mean is, he believes there is a limit to which the co¬ 
operative movement can bo carried. He believes that in 
the marketing of products there is bound to be 
competition, and that the man who produces the quality 
farm produets is the man that should get the most out 
of his products and will always have the best market. 
That will bo generally regarded as a fair state¬ 
ment. Vermont lias always been a solid, conserva¬ 
tive 'State, and that is why we would like to try 
this experiment in democracy. It is not a sugges¬ 
tion for any radical movement, but the proposition 
is about like this: Vermont is an agricultural State. 
It lias no future except along dairying and similar 
lines. It has a larger proportion of rural popula¬ 
tion and rural wealth than any other New England 
State. At Washington the State is more interested 
in agricultural, marketing and farm financial prob¬ 
lems than in anything else. Now. these things^ being 
so. do the Vermont people want to be represented by 
a man of their own type and of their own business? 
The great outstanding national figure for Vermont 
at Washington is Justin S. Mbrrill, father of our 
present agricultural system. We think Mr. Brigham 
would develop into the same type of man as Senator 
Morrill. Do Vermont people want such a man to 
represent them? If so. they can get past the news¬ 
papers and the politicians and elect their own candi¬ 
date. Nothing they could do would give greater help 
to public life in Vermont than the carrying through 
of this experiment in democracy. Do the A ermont 
farmers care to do it? 
Those Wool Blankets 
There was apparently some error in the report 
fjom Indiana regarding those wool blankets. r lhe 
Indiana Federation of Farmers' Associations tell us 
they have no arrangements for supplying blankets 
at $5 per pair. It will therefore be useless to write 
them for supplies at that price. The New York 
Wool Growers are selling blankets, auto robes, horse 
blankets and suitings—all made direct from virgin 
wool produced on New York farms. AA e have one 
of the blankets, and find it of good quality—an 
excellent bargain. AVe save nearly 30 per cent of 
the usual retail price in buying direct. Some of our 
readers seem to expect too much from this plan of 
direct buying. The object is not entirely to cut down 
the retail price, 'but to make a valuation that will 
save the consumer at least 25 per cent and give the 
producer a better price for his wool. In a plan of 
tliis sort neither producer nor consumer can properly 
expect to get all the advantage. There must be a 
fair adjustment and some gain for both sides; other¬ 
wise there would be no use trying to develop this 
plan of direct dealing. If the consumer can save 25 
] er cent by purchasing these goods direct he surely 
should be satisfied. 
Trouble with Road Drains 
Quite a number of our New York readers are 
.having trouble with culverts or road drains on 
the road in front of their property. These culverts 
often come at the approach to a private road. AAhen 
the public road is repaired the culvert is taken out 
and a larger one is often required. In several cases 
the road overseer has refused to put in a new one. 
In one case, where a county road was being re- 
<Iht RURAL NEW-YORKER 
paired, the superintendent declared that the town 
was under no obligation to put in such drains or 
sluices. AVe referred the case to Albany and receive 
tlie following: 
Section 71 of’the highway law states that such ex- 
],( use is to he paid by the owner or occupant, unless a 
resolution is passed by the town board directing the 
town superintendent to perform the work at the town’s 
expense. It is the general practice throughout the State 
for town officials to permit persons to use old sluices 
which are taken up along the road for sluice construc¬ 
tion on private driveways. If the conditions were ex¬ 
traordinary as to cost the property owner a large ex¬ 
pense to construct a sluice or culvert for the purpose of 
carrying off surface water, then it is the practice of the 
town board to pass a resolution directing the town su¬ 
perintendent to do the work at the town’s expense. 
’ w. it. REED, Third Deputy. 
State Commission of Highways. 
have been abandoned by the mail carriers by reason 
of bad condition. The facts are that the postotlico 
authorities do not abandon service on such highways 
until complaint has been made to the State Highway 
Department. 
Congressman Gould States His Case 
Having already printed some of the statements 
regarding Congressman N. .T. Gould of Now York 
and his controversy with the Farm Bureau, it. is no 
more than fair for us to print his last explanation, 
lie says that his resolution in Congress called for 
an investigation of the use'of Federal funds in con¬ 
nection with agricultural organizations. He says it 
was reported: 
“That in some sections of our country the franked 
envelopes of the United States Government were being 
used by agricultural organizations to promote their 
sales of agricultural commodities in competition with 
private concerns. Also that the paid agents of the 
United States Government, were spending their time 
and the money of the Government in purely commercial 
enterprises.” 
Ilis position, as stated, is as follows: 
“I want it positively understood that I favor the 
organization of farmers and the scope and purpose of 
the Farm Bureau movement as intended under the 
Smith-Lever Act. The agricultural information which 
they gather and distribute has been of utmost value, 
and the discontinuance or damaging of their efforts 
would be a national loss. I realize perfectly well that 
the organization of farmers may be necessary in a 
semi-financial way; that agricultural products should 
be properly prepared and graded for market; that in a 
national way markets must be stimulated, and that new 
ones be found. It must be borne in mind that the com¬ 
mercial and political activities growing out of co-opera- 
live organizations should be absolutely independent of 
Government financial aid. 
“The position which I have taken in this whole mat¬ 
ter is designed to protect farm organizations from 
future criticism which might result in adverse legisla¬ 
tion, and to bring about a clearer understanding of the 
real aim and scope of the Farm Bureau and other 
agricultural organizations in this country, and their 
undoubted right to a fair profit on their products. The 
nation should strive for fair treatment of all its people, 
and the producer and consumer are mutually dependent 
on each other.” 
“The Henry Wolohon Defense Fund” 
Since making our last report on page 1211. the 
following named persons have contributed to the 
fund for defending Air. Henry Wolohon of Magnolia, 
N. .T., who shot and killed a chicken thief and who 
was indicted for manslaughter. The total fund is 
now $07. 
Geo. AI. Barnett. Allegany County, N. Y. $1-00 
James Aladdren. Suffolk County, N. Y. 1.00 
A. II. Walker, Plymouth County. Alass. 2.00 
Sam Stusse, Bergen County. N. .T. 1.00 
Mrs. Viola L. Williams, Worcester County, Alass. 1.00 
E. Lyons, Hudson County, N. ,T. 1.00 
E D. Putnev, De Soto County. Fla. 1.00 
11'enry It. Si'll, Yates County, N. Y...... . ... .. . 1.00 
John J. Goffeny. Central Park West. New York. 2.00 
It. B. Caslick. Tompkins County, N. Y . 1.00 
Alfred Ivoon, Itensselaer County, N. A. on! 
Alex. AA r . Aiann, Dutchess County, N. Y. 2.00 
F. .T. Lovell, Steuben County, N. Y. 1.00 
,T. II. Barton, Saratoga County, N. Y. W.OO 
J. S. Phillip, Jefferson County, W. Yu . 2.00 
Miss AI. C. Guthrie, Aladison County, N. Y. 1.00 
Marvin Fellows, Saratoga County, N. Y... 2.00 
J. S. Langford, Washington County, N. A. o.OO 
John U. Griffiths, Windham County, Conn. 1.00 
E. Sehrodt Itensselaer County, N. Y. 1.00 
John Jennings, Saratoga County, N. A r . 5.00 
II. F. Millard, Hampden County. Mass. 1.00 
('has. F. Leach. Jefferson County, Fla. 2.00 
John P. Gage, Cumberland Co., N. J. ... • 
Air. and Airs. .T. B. DeVos. Alercer County, N. J. 1 .00 
G. It. AVhite, Norfolk County, Alass. . . . . .. l-0 » 
Alarcus IT. Allies, Baltimore County, Aid. 1.00 
Harry It. Dimorier. Broome County, N. Y. --oo 
E F. Dickinson, Middlesex County, Alass. LOO 
J. H. Baird, Erie County, N. Y.... D0 () 
Chester Moore, Albany County, N. Y. i.vju 
Volunteer Work on Roads 
Several of our readers have written asking 
about volunteer work on highways. In some 
cases they say that they live on a road which is 
neglected. The overseer does not call them out to 
work it, so they think they are justified in doing the 
work without orders and then charging for it. We 
find that this idea is quite prevalent. A letter from 
the State Highway Commissioner says: 
Payment for volunteer labor upon the highways can¬ 
not be collected legally. It would seem that this ques¬ 
tion should answer itself, as- it. is not hard to imagine 
what a chaotic condition of affairs would exist were any¬ 
one at liberty to work on the highways in such way as 
his taste or fancy might suggest, and Mien legally col¬ 
lect payment therefor. 
Tt is often reported to us that certain highways 
Empire State Co-operative Association 
The Empire State Potato Growers’ Co-operative As¬ 
sociation has established i.s central office at 419 Cutler 
Building, Rochester, N. A'., and is now moving cabbage 
and potatoes for its member associations. The office 
was located in Rochester because this city is a center of 
the produce business. Alany of the big brokers and 
dealers make headquarters there, which makes famil¬ 
iarity with prices and market conditions easy and less 
expensive. 
L. J. Steele, a graduate of the New York State Col¬ 
lege uf Agriculture and for four years manager of tho 
Orleans County Farm Bureau, is the general manager. 
The J. S. Neill Company is sales agent. The plan of 
operation is similar to tho Michigan Potato Exchange, 
which has operated successfully for three years, hand¬ 
ling the business of 130 local association members. Tim 
local will grade and load all produce, under the direc¬ 
tion of the central. Tho centra’ will furnish daily 
market quotations and information and will make all 
sales and collections for the locals. Potatoes will he 
shipped as U. S. Grade No. 1 in 150-lb. bags, bearing 
the name of the central and the local. The policy of 
the organization is to put out a superior article of uni¬ 
form quality, trying to build up a reputation for hon¬ 
esty and square dealing. 
The support of all farmers in the State who believe 
in the co-operative idea as well as the producing of 
potatoes and cabbage, is earnestly solicited by this 
newly formed State wide farmers’ organization. 
Changes in Retail Prices of Food 
The United States Department of Labor, through the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics, has completed tho compila¬ 
tions showing changes in the retail cost of food in Sep¬ 
tember in 14 principal cities of the United States. 
During the month from August 15 to September 15, 
1021, there was a decrease in all but two of these 
cities. In San Francisco there was an increase of 2 per 
cent, and in Dallas an increase of four-tenths of 1 per 
cent. In Alilwaukee, Alinneapolis and Portland, Ale., 
there was a decrease of 2 per cent. In Atlanta. Bir¬ 
mingham, Cincinnati, T.ittle Rock, Louisville, Norfolk, 
Philadelphia and Salt Lake City there was a decrease 
of 1 per cent. In New Haven there was a decrease of 
one-tenth of 1 per cent. 
For the year period. September 15, 1920, to Septem¬ 
ber 15, 1921, there was a decrease of 28 per cent in 
Louisville, 27 per cent in Atlanta, Birmingham, Alin¬ 
neapolis and Salt Lake City ; 26 per cent in Little Roek 
and New Haven, 25 per cent in Cincinnati, Alilwaukee, 
Norfolk, Philadelphia and Portland, Ale. ; 24 per cent 
in Dallas and 26 per cent in San Francisco. 
As compared with the average cost in the year 1913, 
the retail cost of food on September 15, 1921, showed an 
increase of 56 per cent in Alilwaukee, 55 per cent in 
Birmingham, 54 per cent in Cincinnati, 53 per cent in 
New Haven, 51 per cent in Philadelphia, 49 per cent 
in Atlanta, 48 per cent in Dallas and Alinneapolis, 47 
per cent in San Francisco, 43 per cent in T.ittle Rock, 
41. per cent in Louisville and 33 per cent in Salt Lake 
City. 
A Few Price Notes 
This is mostly a milk producing section in which I 
am located. AA^e raise but little produce for market. 
Potatoes are being car red at the nearest station, eight 
miles awav (Afton) for from 90c to $1 per bn ‘’ah- 
l.age, $20 to $25 per ton. Hay, $10 to $12. in 1 ■am. 
Card honey, 20c. Buckwheat. $1.75 to $1.90 per 100 
lbs. Butter, 50c; eggs, 50 to 55c per doz. Poultry. 2.> 
t> 28c per lb., alive. No fruit grew in this section. 
AT ilk, co-operation prices. Large, first-class grade cows, 
$85 to $100. Hides. 2 to 4c per lb. AVe are feeling very 
much better this October than we were last October. 
Just to illustrate, from October 1. 1919. to April 1, 
1920, I sold $1,250 of milk ; from October, 1920 to April 
1 1921, I received $162.09. Now my neighbors were 
hit just aa hard as I, and some worse. I had the same 
herd of cows both years. If the things that we have to 
buy would come down somewhere in proportion to the 
price for which we have to sell our products, we would 
feel that we were on the road which leads to something 
better. ' hope we are, anyway. w. c. M. 
Nor*’ Sanford, N. Y. 
The leading products in this county are milk, eggs 
and potatoes, although there is lots of corn and other 
vegetables raised in this county. The price of eggs at 
present is 50c per doz.; butter is 50c per lb.; milk m 
$2“>3 per 100 lbs. Potatoes, $1 per bn.; oats. 50c per 
bu.~ corn, 75c per bn.: cabbage, 3c per lb.; onions, 
per bn.; tomatoes. $1 per bu. l! - 
North Clymer, N. Y. 
The following prices are being paid for produce in 
this place: Wheat for feeding. $1.10 per bn.■: wheat 
for grinding. $1.25 ; buckwheat, $1.60 per 100 lbs. : new 
oats, 40c per bu.; old oats, 50c; potatoes, 90c per bu.; 
hay No. 2, $10 and $12 nt barn; white eggs. oft- per 
doz.; mixed. 45c; butter. 45e per lb. The farmers are 
not satisfied with the outlook. It has been a harder 
year than last. They can see nothing ahead that looks 
anv brighter. Some of the dairy farmers who have 
pooled—and most of them have—are looking for better 
times in the milk business, but the general condition of 
all branches of farming is certainly not very promising 
in this locality. F - w - L - 
Tioga Co., N. Y. 
