Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-04-10
SANBORN TO MADSEN.
another Thoughtful and Interesting
Letter 10 the "Farm" Series
The Professor Doubts the wisdom OF
Economic small Holding. OF Lana
rs Conducive 20 nigh social "n"
civil Development.
Editor Deseret NewE

Editor Desert NcWE
In your issue OF February 2olh, APP
peared over my signature letter
originally written as hurried private
answer to m apparently private letter
from Christian A. Madson, In answer
however. to courteous request that
permit It's publication In connection
with his own letter to me.
In your issue Of the llth OF March
IL an open letter from Mr. Madsen'
couched, 40 far as II relates to myself
I'm the most courteous terms, and Is IN
discussion Of n question Of much mo-
mont TO the public, and properly
demands consideration.
My impression ia tina. Bishop Mad
sen attaches more Importance to my
opinion than the public does, and
preferring to follow the elaboration OF
his philosophy Of farming In It's reia'
tion To social and civil life, shall at
least at the present communicate
little more than my thanks to Bishop
Madsen for the consideration that he
has given me In connection with the
question he had raised.
AsI understand him, three views
stand ,ut prominently In the two letters
that he has written. Firai, he expresses
tho belief that deplorabie inequalities
exist In society, aud that these Unequal
tiles reat upon Causes that deserve cen.
nntuNnntZn
past results and present tendencies OF
economic conditions 10 minute sub
division OF land, thereby secur'
ing that equality OF condition
which the eminent French economist
Lavelleye deems so essential to the
perpetuity OF republics and the ropose
OF mau; third, that this subdivision OF
land would result not only Ia greater
contei tment In society and stability o.
governments but that 1t Ia conducive
10 the incrense OF wealth.
Upon the proposition that fnnda-
mental wrongs grow out OF the presenl
economic conditions II would be I'M
possible TO say little and not be- mis-.
understood. II raises broad questions
In political economy and its allied
soiences. That land ownership by the
masses in small holdings tends TO
stability OF governments aud restiul
condition Of public mind Is no longer
regarded, ~ Mr.. Madsen states, as mn
aphorism by statesmen alone but by
most students OF sociology. France
nctel upon this view In subdlviding,
after the revolution, its lands among
the millions, until the great bulk OF iis
landowners hold estates under six
acres. The homestead act OF our own
Congress Ia an embodiment OF the
wisest stntcsmanship In our country
upon the agrarian question. There are
those who hold, however, that the size
Of farms should be determined, not by
arbitrary acts, but by economic condi'
lions, that under such conditions
estates ADJUST themselves ~ such con-
uitionH to better advantage than
paternAl legislation can secure. Eng.
iund, with Its immense estates. grows
about thirty bushels OF wheat per acre,
wniie France averages but eighteen
with TIA ANAL farms. decentralization
Of w,a,,n, mschiusfy, and The uss
economic forces that large estates MAKE
available give greater product per man
In England than In France with liz
semi.spnde husbandry. Whether soci-
.ty IA better oil with greater increase
of wealth nnder extensive farming
maue Intensive than by Intensive
farming within narrow bounde, ami
equality and conteniment that follows,
irone lipop which political economist,
and soclologists differ and VIII continue
10 differ. II the increase OF wealth
that the genius OF one commanding
machinery ami the many gives pei
cnpita OF population IL distributed viii
noine degree Of equity, the majority Of
socip,y on the whole IL ben, nted B.,
these conditions. 30 many believe.
IN, ,,lscupsiou OF this question raise
iss,i,s that differ 10 much from thu
ulr.ly economic problems that l pas
II Inv. and trust that Mt. Madsen vii
tak. opportuuity TO express quite deii
,ti.lv aud fully his ADVICE upon tn
matter.
On Inc third proposition, which II
to uuote his own Language, "ths mon
nrnhuctIye an acre OF land can DO mad
In tbs came proportion the Increase o
nopulation Ii made possible,"l mus
bny 10 differ somew hat from the writer
Political economists are agreed upol
on, law more fully than upon mos
propcsitions that beo me accepted al
conclusive, to wit. The law OF 'dimin
lshing returns" This law Justly holds
/ believe, that after having passed
certain yield, which may for con
venIence now term normal yield OF tn
soil under average condition, NJ
Increase il and must he a
an Increased ratio o. expendi
n,. of human force. This law ha
been u partly neutralIzod ny tn
Increased application OF machinor
nnd the processes Of science, Yet IN
der normal conditions 1t is tue evel
now that /. would take more OF hnmH
labor after au acre OF gtound mas pro
.t.g.t,, lnuhaIa Of wheat