100 years ago in The Saratogian

Tuesday, May 1, 1917

Saratoga County farms plan to produce larger staple crops than last year to meet wartime food demand, but have fewer laborers to do it with, The Saratogian reports.

“After ten days of rush work by the Farm Bureau and the school superintendents, the teachers and scholars of the rural schools,” New York State food commission agent Charles S. Phelps releases the results of the county agricultural census today.

Farmers are planting on ground previously used, in many cases, as grazing land for dairy cows. They’re cutting back on both cows and poultry after taking a financial beating last year.

“The decrease in the number of dairy cows and in the number of poultry being raised is without doubt due to the high prices being paid for meat products and the increased cost of keeping farm livestock, owing to the very high price of all purchased feeds,” a reporter explains. Consumers have been protesting against high egg and milk prices for months, but farmers claim that they can’t raise prices fast enough to keep up with their own feed expenses.

Now that the U.S. is at war with Germany, many seasonal farm laborers are joining the military, while more will be drafted later this year. In the face of a local manpower shortage, “active work has already been started by the commission to supply the needs of labor on farms.”

A group of New York businessmen have created a Farmers’ Patriotic Fund to allow cash-strapped farmers to purchase seed. Saratoga National Bank will loan up to $150 to farmers at low interest in order to maximize local food production.

$24.30 per person

“Few persons in Saratoga County, perhaps, realize that every man, woman and child in the county pays $24.30 each year for official government,” The Saratogian reports on today’s front page.

The paper’s calculation, based on tax statistics from the county treasurer’s office, is equivalent to just over $500 in 2017 money.

K of C billiards banquet

Grand Knight J. Edward Roohan introduces “a note of solemnity” at tonight’s banquet ending the Saratoga Knights of Columbus’ pocket billiards league season.

“Our Congress has passed a measure which says that certain of our young men shall be called to the colors,” Roohan says, “I have wondered as I sat here tonight who among the young men here present will go. There will be some, undoubtedly.

“If we are called, let us endeavor to go about our duty in a manner befitting sons of America and sons of Columbus, and perform that duty like men, even though it entail the supreme sacrifice of our lives.”