Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-10

The average man will. on the slightest provo
cation. declare his ability TO run farm as no
farm was ever run before and will imagine
himself Insulted should there be any intimation
as 10 the possibility Of his becoming agri-
cultural failure. and yet it is true beyond con-
troversy that the great need of this country is a
suf6cisncy Of good farmers We have more
than enough of that horny-handed class that
sows while loafng around the blacksmith shop
and grocery store and reaps either in the poor
house or the legislature, but there is lack Of
those Who know how to apply business princi-
Piles 70 what Xenophon said ''for honorable
and high minded man is the best of all occupa-
tons or arts BY which men procure the means
Of living" With this situation confront
ing Us, and with the complications necessar-
ily consequent upon immigrative growth more
than little interest is being taken in ex-Secre-
tary Rusks contribution to the March num-
Der OF the North American Rerie,c on "Amer-
lean Farming Hundred Years Hence" Start
ing out with the proposition that the age of
steam and electricity. of speculation and mo-
nopolies, with opportunities for the accumula-
ton Of wealth never before dreamed of. has
drawn much Of the brsiry among young Ameri-
can manhood from the farms to the cities, and that
Secretary proceeds to argue that conditions will
not become aggravated, sta.isticians to the con-
trary notwithstanding 1t has been figured out
that within a hundred years this country will
have a population Of not less than four hundred
Millions Gen. Rusk SAYS that the chances are
against any such increase because there will be
but few inducements 10 offer immigrants. while
at the same time the liberal tendencies of
other governments will lessen the number Of
those who leave the older countries for the sake
Of greater political freedom. The farming OF
the future thinks the Secretary, will be directed
BY superior intellect 1.-The exigencies of farm
HE SAYS he. will tax all the brain power and
business qualifications of a man whose life work
will demand . better education, in the scientific
branches at least than that OF the merchant or
the banker, or even the lawyer. The man who
farms q large farm successfully in 1898 must be
such a man as would be successful in any career.
whether professional or mercantile, and who,
like the merchant manufacturer, must COM
mand some capital. and be capable of utilizing
probably the labor Of his fellows" The intel
lectuAlly poor farmers will own their homes
and a few acres of land, but must depend
principally for support upon wages earned
by laboring for others. The average size Of
farms will be considerably less than now and as
a result the rural population will concentrate.
Good roads are TO succeed the miserable high
ways Of today, rapid electric transit will be
within easy reach. every farm house will have
its telephone, and mail will be delivered daily.
The residents in the country VIII be cultured
"a those in the cities and city men will labor to
become rich only that they may spend their
latter DAYS in the more healthful country at
mosphere- Perhaps Gen. Rusk's spectacles are
a tribe rose-tinted, but his prophecies are rea-
sonable. 1t is unfortunate that he will not then
be Secretary Of Agriculture, for the reward
would be q fitting one.