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I have just read TIME, Feb. 14, and hasten to correct what might be taken as the wrong impression of our attitude toward farming. I do not believe that farming is "obsolescent foolishness," neither do I think, nor have ever said that the farmer "ought to be put in a museum along with the dodo and the cobbler and the individual candlestick maker."
We much appreciate your reference to our farming job and it pleases us to get recognition in such a popular magazine as TIME. We have the very highest regard for the farmers and farming and we are making every effort to give farming the dignity and prestige to which it is entitled. We maintain there are two types of farming under the present economical conditions in the United States, namely the small farm, operated by the farmer and his family, without any payroll, and the large farm operated on an industrial basis with high priced skilled mechanics, improved machinery and industrial management. We will always have the small farm in the United States, but the western country, known as the Great Plains Area, where the rainfall is limited to 15 inches, can only be successfully farmed on the large production basis with low cost of operation per acre. . . .
We are trying to prove that farming can be made a success and that it is entitled to the same consideration from capital and businessmen as any other industry. It presents the greatest opportunity today for the mechanical engineer. It is rather hard to increase the selling price of a commodity which competes with foreign markets and does not have tariff protection. The alternative is to reduce the cost of production or get tariff protection. . . .
It would please us very much if a representative of TIME could visit our job during the harvest and thrashing season, as we feel certain it would be even more interesting than a visit to some of our large industrial plants.
With a great deal of respect and the highest esteem for TIME.
(signed) CAMPBELL* Campbell Farming Corp. Hardin, Mont.
TIME did not quote Subscriber Campbell directly, but erred in giving too broad a meaning to his industrial-farm idea.—ED.
One of the States
Sirs:
Your recent description of New Mexico states: "New Mexico is one of the 48 states of the Union." Thanks, when did you find it out? You know, there are thousands of tourists, citizens of the U. S., who in passing through this state each year, believe they are touring Old Mexico. Your article should be enlightening to a great many that have never traveled "West Broadway."
IRVIN MOORE
Hagan, New Mex.
In West Virginia
Sirs :
I am another one of those plain West Virginia folks who have a bit of fun, especially reading those ignorant comic letters which some folk from Ohio are always writing about our state, "The Switzerland of America."
We have wonders here which I doubt can be equaled anywhere. For instance, we have wells here in Calhoun County, W. Va. that produce pure gasoline, that is pumped by machinery from the deep wells. Can Ohio match this? (They've 'flowed' for a while.)