The Washington times., 1901-06-30
Eastern Agriculture.

The decadence of farming in the man
ufacturing States north of the Po-
tomac and east of the Alleghenies has
been extensively discussed, and in
manner that is almost pathetic. In
sense. 1t is pathetic, for the abandon
ing of old farms, however sterile they
may be. means the destruction of
homes around which cluster the dear
est and most treasured Of memories.
Bat there is nothing unnatural, or, in
an economic sense. improbable, in the
passing of agriculture as great in
dustry in the section referred to. II
simply exemplifies the economic truths
that industrial development, left un-
hampered, viii make its greatest strides
along the lines of least resistance. ars1s
that in any section or country, so far
as possible, the less remunerative call
ings will be abandoned for those which
promise greater returns.
It is unreasonable to expect men to
toll on forever cuItivating the rocky
and barren slopes Of the New England
mountains, feeding live stock through a
winter that lasts more than half the
year. when twice the money can be
earned with half the labor at some
other industry or at farming itself in
other sections of the country. Hence.
the rural population Of the East is
gradually finding its way to the cities of
that section, where wealth is more
easily acquired, or to the more fertile
farming regions Of the West
Fra
mendous growth of manufacturing in
the East would give strong support TO
the agriculture Of the same region; but
in fact 1t does so only to a limited ex-
tent. So far as the populous towns and
cities can furnish markets for milk,
butter, vegetables. fruits. and all of the
more perishabIe products OF the farms,
they very greatly benefit the country
Immediately around them. But this
only applies TO a comparatively re-
stricted area. for if one-half of the New
England and Middle States were de-
voted to garden truck and fruits, the
markets would be glutted, and the
prices would fall below the line Of
profit. Even in many of these things
the East cannot successfully compete
with the West, because Of the difference
in the cost Of production and the ease
with which they can now be carried
long distances by rail.
But it must not be supposed that, be-
cause the East is falling behind in agri-
culture, it Is not fairly holding its own
when all things are considered. 1t has.
IN fact. become the great seat of the
counuy's accumulated money wealth,
and apart from agriculture its indus
tries are growing at a tremendous pace,
while it is not tagging any in the
growth OF its population. The gain Of
twenty-five per cent in population
shown by the already densely
State of Massachusetts during the dec
ade just ended was one of the surprises
of the last census. and several other
Eastern States made gains considerably
in excess of those shown by some of
the newer Western States.
II is not to be supposed that this can
be continued indefinitely; for. as manu-
featuring finds its way extensively into
the West and South, with their greater
agricultural resources and vastly larger
area, those sections viii have unques-
toned advantages. Still, there is no
reason to doubt that the East viii al
ways be a highly important segment of
the country. Its commercial facilities.
its mineral wealth, its natural adapt
ability 10 mixed manufacturing, and,
above ALL the immense massing Of cap
ital within its borders, will effectuaIly
safeguard it against anything like gem
eral decadence either actual or rela-
tive. This growth on other lines can
not fail ultimately to improve the con
dition of local agriculture, for 1t viii
constantly increase the demand for
those things which cannot quite SO well
be brought from a distance, as result
of which the crops will be adjusted
more and more to nearby market re-
quirements.
The United States is great country