Omaha daily bee., 1893-09-17

49, 'ho oNott kiONS OlltE anu lHIluS nC
come more valuable. The returns fror
pasturage are more certain than fror
harvested crops"
Contrary TO the general belief as ar,
The statements of Secretary Garrard
they are in complete accord with tn,
snowlngs OF the census and with condi
lions known to exist in all the states o
the iake group where the arabic lands M,
fully occupied, and where grain field,
are, as further east. giving place t.
orchard meadow, pasture and garden
with every probability of the c|ontinu
ancc ana increase ~ such necessary con.
versions until the towns of this prosper.
GUS sectlon shall cease to grow.
The Midwest.
The Missouri valley tatcs Iowa. Mis-.
souri,. Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota and
the Dakotas), have beer the thcator of
the most wonderful agricultural develop
ment of all time, the Increase under
staple crops having been |unprcccntedly
rapid from 1865 to 1889, during which
t~wenty-four years the cultivated area Of
the group increased from $500, 900 acres
to 81 800, 900, an addition of nearly 60.
600, GOO.
Since 1889 the increase has been much
less rapid, and, with tho aid of Arkan.
sas, Texas and the far western regions,
IL has been sufficient only to Offset losses
east OF the Mississippi and to add 2,00O,-
OOO acres in four years to the nations
productive farm lands. Some additions
to the area under staples may be ex-
pected in this group, but it is very qucs-
tionablc if additions to the grain-bear-
ing areas in Kansas, Nebraska and the
Dakotas will hereafter exceed the diver
slons of grain lands to other products in
Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota.
Inc completeness with which the
arabic lands of the Missouri valley
states have been occupied is shown by
the greatly varying rates at which the
cultivated area has increased in differ
ont periods. In the five years ending
with 1879 the cultivated land of this
group increased from 81, POO, 600 acres to
4l,lOO,OOO; the additions of the five wears
nearly equaling all brought under the
pillow in the eleven North Atlantic states
during the 250 years following the land
ing at Plymouth.
While the additions in the Missouri
valley averaged about 1000, 600 acres n
year from 1874 to 1879, yet the additions
OF the group during the last four years
average but 425, 600 acres u wear, indi-
eating that it has become difficult to find
desirable material from which to
create new farms: and the founding of
new homes upon farms promises to be as
here at an early day Us it
now Is in eastern regions.
AS grouped in the table the southern
states include Arkansas. Texas and all
the states south of the Potomac and
Ohio rivers.
Not until after 1874 did the planters
and laborers of the south adapt them
selves fully to new conditions: but from
about that time southern fields were
rapidly restored to production and
material additions We're made to the
cultivated area, notably west of the
Mississippi.
Increase in the South.
Between 1879 and 1889 the southern
states east of the Mississippi added but
:, 100000 acres to the area under cult
walton, although they made additions of
!, 100000 acres to the cotton fields, the
grain-bearing area having been reduced
50o;O0O acres in order to add to that
employed in growing cotton. During
the same period the cereal area Of
and Texas increased ], 300, 600,
and that under cotton 2,400. 900 acres,
the additions to the cultivated area of
the two states aggregating 3,70O, 600
acres and exceeding those of all tho
other southern states by 1000, 900
acres.
Only in the transmississippi portion
this group is there probability of any
considerable increase in the number of
farms; and, taken as a whole. the south
will do remarkably we'll if its fields ex-
pand as rapidly as the worlds require
nents for American cotton are aug
In the eight mountain states and ter
'itorles the ratio of increase has been
great, but, after all, the additions
% the cultivated area in this vast arid
have been insignificant, and the
'ntlre productive area here is still but
little more thar the area added in the
lissouri valley in any six months be-
ween 1874 and 1879. So adverse are the
and other conditions surround
ng agricultural development In the arid
'elt, that no material addition to the
!umbcr Of farms can be mace in one de-
AIDE in this group. AS similar condi-
ions extend over much of the eastern
Of the three Pacific states. and
IS the western parts of Oregon and
Washington, even where not too precip-
tous Tor cultivation, are covered with
immense forest growths, development
Ill necessarily be slow, although the
'acitic states are likely to furnish more
farms, during the rest of this CEN
ury, than all the remainder of the
ountry after Hon. Hoke Smith shall
ave permitted the weary homeseekers
D parcel out the 10000 farms which can
e made from the Cherokee Outlet and
ther lands soon to be available in
indian Territory.
Production and Consumption.
When brought fully into use these
1000 possible farms will add something
ess than | per cent to the cultivated
OF he United States, and will
ave II productive power ~equaling the
equirements of about live months addi-
to the population. The whole of
indian Territory will, when made fruit
al, add about 1 per cent to the cOuntry's
Productive power, and nearly equal tho
.quirements OF two years addition to .
ne population. ]
From the unimproved portions of en-
sting farms, from railway lands, and
'om the lands held BY non-residents, ]
ossibly q per cent may ultimately be ,
dded to the food and fiber bearing
rcas; and an additional 8 per cent NAV,
lthin two or three decades, result from |
drainage of swanps, the irrigation !
arid tracts, and the opening of a new
here and there, principally west of :
ne Mississippi. /
All told, the additions to the Guilt A.,
lted area, which are likely to be made /
thin thirty years, would possibly aug |
.ent h area now under staples by 10 |
cent-although we must not forget !