The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-04

but A2S,oOo acres q year. indicating that II
has become difficult to find desirable ma
terlal from which to create new farms: and
the founding OF new homes upon farms
promises to DO as uncommon here ut an
early day as 1t now Is In eastern regions,
| AS grouped in tho 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 themselves
| fully to new conditions: but from about
that time Southern fields were rapidly re-
| stored to production and material additions
were made to tho cultivated area, notably
west OF the Mississippi.
Between 1879 and 1889 the Southern States
east Of the Mississippi added but 2.7oo. 900
acres to the area under cultivation. al
| though they made additions OF Q, 200 900 acres
| to the cotton fields the grain bearing area
having been reduced 100000 acres in order
to add to that employed In growing cotton.
During the same period the cereal area OF
| Arkansas and Texas increased 1.3Oo. 200, and
that under cotton 100000 acres; the addl-
tions to the cultivated area OF the two
States aggregating 100000 acres. and ex-
ceeding those of all the other Southern
States by 100000 acres.
Only in the trans Mississippi portion Of
this group is there probability Of any con-
siderable increase In the number Of farms;
and. taken as whole. tho South will do re-
markably we'll II its fields expand as rapidly
as the worlds requirements for American
cotton are augmented.
In the eight mountain States and Terri
tories the ratio OF increase has been very
great; but. after all. the additions to the
cultivated area in this vast arid region have
been insignificant. and the entire produc-
tive area here Is still but little more than
the area added In the Missouri Valley In
any six months between 1874 and 1879.
So adverse are the climatic and other con-
ditions surrounding agricultural develop
ment in the arid belt. that no material addi-
ton to the number Of farms can be made
in one decade in this group. AS similar con-
ditions extend over much OF the eastern por-
tions Of the three Pacific States. and as the
western parts of Oregon and Washington,
even where not too preclpitous for cult
walton. are covered with immense forest
growths. development will necessarily be
slow, although tho Pacific States are likely
to furnish more new farms, during the
rest Of this century. than all the re-
mainder OF the country after the Hon. HoKE
SMITH shall have permitted the weary
homo seekers to parcel out the $4,000 farms
which can be made from the Cherokee Out
let and other lands soon to be available In
the Indian Territory.
When brought fully into use these $4,000
possible farms will add something less than
one per cent. to the cultivated lands OF the
United States. and will have a productive
power equalling the requirements Of about
five months addition to the population.
The whole Of the Indian Territory will,
when made fruitful, add about four per
cent. to the countrys productive power and
nearly equal the requirements Of two years
additions to the population.
From the unimproved portions Of existing
farms. from railway lands. and from the
lands held by non-residents. possibly six
per cent. may ultimately be added to the
food and fibre bearing areas; and an addi-
tional five per cent. may, within two or
three decades. result from the drainage Of
swamps. the irrigation Of arid tracts. and
the opening of q new farm here and there,
principally west Of the Mississippi.
All told. the additions to the cult
waited area. which are likely to be |
made within thirty years. would possibly |
augment the area now under staples by If |
teen per cent.-although we must not for
get that considerable part OF the limited |
areas which can be reclaimed will be re- |
quired for minor crops-and these additions |
would be equivalent to the requirements of |
less than seven years addition to the popu-
lation. AS the areas recently employed in |
producing food for expectation would fur |
nish subsistence to such additions to tho |
population as will be made in the next two |
years. we may say that were it possible to |
make all these waste acres fruitful as fast as |
the now population required the products.
the remainder Of this century could be |
gotten over without materially lowering |
tho standard Of living.
Probably not the half OF these possibly |
productive acres will be utilized during tho |
coming ten years.
After that where can any fraction OF the
landloss found new farms: how are the |
nddad neonle to Ia fed. what will he tbe |