Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1919 — Will Require 200,000 Men To Harvest, Kansas Wheat, Says Labor Service Chief [ARTICLE]

Will Require 200,000 Men To Harvest, Kansas Wheat, Says Labor Service Chief

An army of more than 200,000 men will be required to harvest the wheat crop In Kansas this year, according to A. L. Barkman, director of harvest work, United States employment service. Sixty thousand of this number must come from outside the state. In making the estimate, he referred to the report of the Kansas board of agriculture, which said that “with a general average condition of 99.32 per cent on an estimated total of 10,759,000 acres of growing winter wheat, Kansas never had a more flattering prospect for a record-smashing crop?’ The" harvest, labor problem In Kansas Is more difficult than in any other state, and 47,000 posters have been distributed among government buildings throughout the nation. While 500 letters a day are received from prospective workers, Barkman said most careful distribution will be necessary to prevent a labor shortage. Wheat cutting usually starts In the south central countie? of Kansas about June 15 to 20, reaching the central part of the state ten days later. The demand for men Increases as the harvest district broadens. “Men should, if possible, provide themselves with sufficient funds to tide them over for a few days in case of rains or unavoidable delays in securing work.” said Barkman. “The harvest fields do not offer light work, and the sun is often exceedingly hot. Therefore, boys and men who are unused to heavy work are handicapped In employment In competition with able-bodied, experienced men.” Missouri can care for its big wheat crop with local labor, Barkman said. Nebraska and states north will be supplied with harvest labor by the drift of men from Kansas, if that state, the center of the wheat belt, has sufficient supply.