The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-10-11
TILLERS OF THE SOIL
HOLD KEYS To FUTURE
They Must Unlock the Treas.
uries for the Support OF
Millions.
BY j. j. HILL
Great Railroad Maanate and Student
OF Affairs Makes an
Interesting Fore
cast.

CHICAGO. Oct. Johannes J. Hill. pres
dent OF the Great Northern railroad.
Nas the principal speaker Saturday
sight AT the banquet given at the audi
orIum hotel under the auspices OF the
Commercial association. His theme was
The Development OF the Northwest"
and his remarks were greeted with add
ii attention. because OF the great deal
n ore lands which he closed recently In
behalf OF the Great Northern rail-.
toad.
David II. Forgan. president OF tho
commercial association. presided at the
banquet. which was attended by about
80 members OF the association and their
friends. Sir Thomas Upton was ono
IL the chief guests of the evening. 9th
Or speakers were Congressman George
:. Foss and Ernest r.. Bicknell. Air
3iCkncll represented the Chicago Com.
ncrcinl association In the relief meas
ires At san Francisco after the earth.
quake.
Must Plan for Future.
After reviewing the progress made iTi
he northwest Ia the past nfty years.
Mr.. illll said:
The first business and the hlshcs, duty
the northwest IL TO prepare for the bur
zen and heat OF III coming day and te
'oStponc the long ;nening OF the shadows
hat Must surely fail Within certain linz
" We may know exactly what Is To hap-
zen In this country and the northwest III
orccs now operating continue. and II tho
cudcncics uow active are unchecked.
'hVEe. briefly. are tho CcTtaintics OF the
ext nfty years, supported by facts ascer-
aimed beyond possibility OF error. by tho
uIdulc Of this century. within the lifetime
u thousands now living. our population
Ill bc more than 1u.ui.0a. Where arc
heSc people To ind profitable occups .iong
low are they To obtain the necessities or
ksg
The question IL already pressing upon
rcat cities like Chicago. whore lmmiFra-
ION concentrates. Eut the newcomers
nnnoi he excluded. Labor was never as
Carcc. wages were never as high as at
he present day. We cannot stop the In
low or check the natural inCTcaScs. We
aust determine. however. upon 4 national
economy diIcrent from the present when
Iur population IN approaching three times
khlt " WAS Ia isSl.
Striking as has been found the contrast
between $50 and 1890 that between tho
lrcscnt and 1870 viii reveal more serious
natures.
irrigation viii Help.
Practically speaking. our public lands
ire all occupied. The Irrigation OF land
" the general government will do some
Eilllks uAk Win NtA ktlf hfFFfNt hlAtlN AltFg
viii furnish land Tor fewer than i.SppCp
u small farms 81 forty acres each or for
population Of 1.oD.uOJ or S.CctO0C people,
our other natural resources have been
Exploited with a lavish hauu. our exports
" which We love Tn boast consist mostly
n the products OF the soil. our iron ana
:Dal supplies will begin 20 show sigUs 90
nhaustion before My years have passed.
the former ut the present rate OF inrTcas.
rs production will DO greatly reduced.
Dur forests are rapidly going, our vast
supply OF mineral OIL flows To the ends 81
he Garth: we cannot continue - supply
he world and recruit our own r.EuuTr, :
~ the methods OF trade that now obtain.
because the minerals scored Ga the ground
10 not rcCrcatc themselves. once used
hey are gone forever. We shall, with
.hrsc coming millions To provide TOR. H.
brown back upon the soll. IN" only re-
fpurce of mankind that IL capable 81 IN.
iui.r renewal and that osfcIs llfc Iut
generation after generation.
The period az TlusaCkiuE the national
store house % see what can d" sent over
teas and sold must br changed TO an era
n which We shall consider the prrsCryA-
Ton and Improvement OF what g. IuEda.
mentally. our chief maintenance. For up.
81 the cultivation OF IN" soil all varied
commercial activity. Of whatever intrinsic
'orm or interest L. mainly built: ard
lpon Il depends the future ~ mankind and
Ile nature and stability Of It's institutions.
Are We Going Backward?
In some things We are going backwards.
The SOL OF the country is being imp0y-
trishcd by careless treatment. Forests nrc
,ut down that the sun may bake It and
he Hood Ecour Il into the ocean 10 has
Sscn cropped with IN" same grain year
after year until itS productive power ia
tom" OF tn" richest portions OF the Cpvu-
.ry has dctcrioratcd fully ~ per cent Tho
census returns show an actual decrease Ia
arm values In large number ot the
states IL ~ easily dcmonStrahlc that n
'cforn 81 methods 81 cultivation would
Soluble the agricultural products each
rear. add ng from s. On eotnO 20 S5.tnp u.U, 70
10 To- the national wealth. while the resort
% small farms and the adngilon OF the In
icnEIvC cultivation would CIV" an ~ruul
iddit onal Increment. These are POSSIBLE
ties Ia when necessity will lend a moro
pertinent and compelling aspect with tho
Ioming years Of IN" present century.
The CostllCst error VIII be a Cliug,ug To
The dcluslon that we are tn continue 10 In
crease our exports AMI 10 live upon the
lru"fg .. 'hc FOREIGN mHrkc' The tim" n
coming when we shall need our wheat crop
TOR home consumption and ycvd: when oar
~ nos will not yield except at increased
'osi the iron and coal required Cor manu-
Iauturcd commodities consumed ~ home;
and when the cheap labor ~ the orient.
whose wage. We cannot hope To meet.
Vrulppcd with cur machinery. and with
the patience and initiative instinct there Su
highly developed, Will Nlguuish all com.
pet .urr n every market. Though our
trade was uuyhackl.d from tho legislative
e
aud free expansion. 70 would rot ufrD~ ~
Tor LONG any other reliance than o broken
,s.I.
Every nation that enjoys prosperity and
that exhibits healthy national vitality
~ rooted in the soil: and all ifs other ~,
dustr'cg arc clustered about til'lCc az the
branches ~uTinE from the parent stock
that uuursSh jh"m nil. To tn r,HtIgatlpY
80 our uusiiiuu. 'u o. return To- agriculture
To q Jealous care ~ our land resource
both Is 20 uuHni'" 1rd equality, and io q
mode 90 cultivation that FhuI' no once Tnu'
ttuIy the 'ld rrr Iyr" Hui r,es tore Instead
% -. truytuG uru luriiNc uu too. We mu
com" without delay % W. uro 10 "sgap,
disaster.
Next in importance To- the productive,
Of al" soil comes thg' az transport { IN
Already tho growth or our commerce 10
tween Iru MlsSlrslppi river and the Allan
tic coast nnds itsolf delayed md hmm
TtTsl Tor want ~ additional ~ lwuE Ire
aul uT terminal facilities. And through
out the whole country there is "a rising cal
Tor more tracks. more "uEir"s. more carr
and more transportation facilities ~ al
Kinds To furnish what g. required vii
,HI for the tugtgtupfff nf MANY hundred.