Show American Farmers Inheritance From World War far Has Been a Prolonged d Coaster Ride THE FARM ROLLER COASTER Shown by Buying Power of Farm PrOducts rr 1 r if f 80 i c. c 19 20 21 22 23 24 2425 25 26 Year by year the conviction has b been en growing in the mind of the American farmer that his inheritance inheritance inherit inherit- ance from the World war was financIally speaking a prolonged and not altogether pleasant rider rid on ona ona a giant roller coaster Up until the time when war became temporarily tem tem- the chief occupation of the leading nations of the world the buying power ot of the products which the farmer had to sell sen fluctuated but little from year to year Then came the orgy of war Under Under Un- Un der Its disrupting influence the buying power ot of farm products in terms of non agricultural commodities com com- pushed quickly upward to according to the department of agricultures agriculture's Index The figure was reached In 1918 This was a hilarious peak It meant that farm products were worth 7 per cent more in non agricultural markets than the average of their worth for forthe forthe the year five period of 1909 But the joyously high level of prosperity was short lived By 1919 the monthly average ot of the Index had dropped to Unfortunately for the farmer this drop of two points developed to be only a gentle warning ot of a disastrous decline which followed during the next year Down down went the ratio of the value of farm products In exchange for other commodities until by 1921 the dip had ca carried the index to the doleful level of 69 61 Land values made sympathetic declines de- de clines and mortgages grew on the theland theland land where good profits had grown only three short years previously Just as the future looked most discouraging an Improvement set setIn In During the early part of 1922 it looked as though the farmer were headed for decidedly better times But the prospect was only a mirage During August and September of 1922 prices were headed in the wrong direction By December of the same year the trend had again reversed itself and the AmerIcan farmer was again smiling as he herode herode rode upward The iThe improvement continued during 1923 and 1924 A favoring spurt carrIed the index figure to a peak of 93 in August Augustof of 1925 During the past year the buying power Ot of farm prices has agaIn declined Compared with an average average av- av for th the index of 85 during 1925 the average during the first ten months ot of 1926 1326 was 87 The question which Is just now worry worry- farmer most is much longer must he ride the roller coaster He does not like mee the dizzying ups and downs |