By the spring of 1918 the labor shortage began to be a serious
menace, particularly to the farmers, upon whose efforts
depended our future food supply.
Both this year and the year before boys were released from
school to work on farms and given their full year's credits.
In March a Labor Committee consisting of W. H. Fleek, Ben
Roderick and Dr. A. N. Lawton, was appointed, whose
business it was to co-operate with the farmers and secure
help where needed. The farmers were urged to put in an increased
acreage of wheat, and townspeople to enlarge their gardens. The
Railroad Company gave permission to use the land along the tracks
for gardens and many extra acres were thus put into beans and
potatoes. Mr. E. C. Stewart had charge of gardens.
Throughout the summer, teams of business men, clerks and
all able-bodied men, were formed to go out in the country
and help the farmers in putting up hay and harvesting the
grain.