The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-09-08
HILL SEES DANGER
In Presen, Shortage Of Labor Throughout
Country

a OOeHNN
u AT the opening Of the Minnesota
= State Fair Jas. j. Hill delivered a
Z speech in which he predicts evil re-
y suits OF the present labor shortage in
this country.
The address Of Mr. Hill was. in sub
stance. as follows
n Notwithstanding the addition Of
more than million people year from
4 abroad, nearly all OF them men and
\ women who must work for a living,
Z labor outside Of the cities was never as
scarce or wages as high as at the pre-
sent time.
THE farmers stretch out their hands
In vain. A considerable portion OF
Z this years magnificent crop will be-
! either reduced in quality or altogether
= lost 10y reason Of the impossibility OF
Y getting labor to handle il properly.
= Discouraged small farmers now are
selling their land to neutrality-suspicious.
y who can protitably substitute machin.
= cry for men The country needs more
! workers on the soil
A Within twenty years we must house
4 and employ in some fashion $4,000 600
= Of additional population. No nation
Z in history was ever confronted with a
\ sterner question than this certain pro-
spect sets before us
\ "Our one resource is the productivity
a Of the soil Only one-half Of the land
ia private ownership Is now titled. ON
y the new lands OF the west, where once
y the wheat yield was from twenty to
\ thirty bushels per acre, II is now from
\ twelve to eighteen Frankly, and
\ without shame, this is attributed TO
Z the wearing out of the soil
q THE official estimated value Of all
y farm products Of the country last year
was 50, 14j, 600. 900 Discount this for
\ high prices and generally favorable
a conditions by 90 per cent and over
4 IS. 900, O00 600 remains We should be
able TO increase this minimum present
n yield and add $40 600 600, 900 or SIS,
\ 900, 600, 900 every year to the national
wealth III we so choose
= There are three essentials to any
a agriculture worthy of the name The
first is rotation OF crops. Our low
average yield is due TO the antiquated
III system all too prevalent of raising the
same crop indefinitely on the same
and, until il has been worn out or 50
- reduced that the owner is in danger ot
poverty The second method o.
Z increasing yield and preserving soil
y productivity the more liberal use OF
ii fertilizing material.
y 1T can be shown that AN average OF
= two persons or more may be supported
a on every acre of tillable land by the
= highest form Of intensive farming
a Adopting provisionally--.that ratio
u the 4l4, 49s. 49, ..acres Of improved farm
= land in the United States on the date
a of the last official report, an area
material enlarged by the present time,
would support in comfort 3l7, $50, 40I
- people.
Let Us be warned in time. ON
every side there is menace if our ma.
tional activity be not re-organized .on
q the basis Of the old fashioned common
sense. The conclusion reached point,
y out and emphasizes national duty I'd
y imminent that IL should take precedence
Y over All else. II is the foe that Ia.
u overthrown civilizations az proud. a.
n prosperous and tar more strongly forti-
- fed than our own.
= A clear recognition on the part OF
y the whole people from the highest
y down 90 the lowest that the tillage OF
= the soil is the natural and most desir
n able occupation for man. 20 which
- every other is subsidiary and 70 which
= all else must in the end yield. il the
> first requisite.
y Then there will be- check admin.
y stored 10 the city movement that low
n cred the percentage Of agricultural
n labor TO the whole body Of persons en-
= gagged in gainful occupations in the
= United States from a. in 1880 10 81. 2
y in 1890 and to Is. in 1900.
y with public interest firmly fixed
\ upon the future the country. in mere
n self preservation, must give serious at.
y tention 10 the practical occupation OF
= restoring agriculture TO It's due position
y in the nation