Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
| CHICAGO LAST NIGHT
At Banquet Of the Commercial Mems
Association.
WONDERFUL CONTRASTS CITED
The Phenomenal Growth Of the Coun-
try Demands a National Economy
Different From the Present.

CHICAGO, October 6-James J., Hill was
the principal speaker tonight at a banquet
given at the Auditorium Hotel under the
auspices Of the Chicago Commercial Asso-
citation. His theme was 1.-The Development
OF the Northwest and his remarks were
accorded close attention because of the deal
in ore lands which he closed recently in
behalf Of the Great Northern railroad
David r. Forgan. president Of the asso-
citation, presided at the banquet, which was
attended by about $50 persons. Sir Thomas
Upton was one Of the chief guests.
Mr.. Hill said In part:
These, briefly, are the certainties Of the
next fifty years supported by facts ascer-
tanned beyond possibility Of error. By the
middle Of this century our population will
be more than 2oO,Oo0.OO9 Where are these
people to find profitable occupation? How
are they to obtain the necessities of life?
The question is already pressing upon great
cities like Chicago, where immigration con-
centrates. But these new corners cannot be
excluded. Labor was never as scarce,
wages were never as high as at the pres
ent day. We cannot stop the inflow or
check the natural increase. We must de-
termtne. however. upon a national economy
different from the present when our popula-
ton Is approaching three times what it was
in 1900 Striking as has been found the
contrast between 1880 and 1860. that be-
tween the present and 1850 will reveal more
practically speaking. our public lands
are all occupied. The irrigation of land by
the general government will do something.
but all present plans will furnish land for
less than 100000 small farms of forty
acres each or for a population Of seven or
eight million. Our other natural resources
have been exploited with lavish hand
Our exports, Of which we love to boast. con-
afof ,ff 10 of tha aOtl Onr
iron and coal supplies will begin to show
signs of exhaustion before fifty years have
passed. The former. at the present rate Of
increasing production will be greatly re-
dueed Our forests are rapidly going: our
vast supply OF mineral oil flows to the ends
Of the earth
1--WE cannot continue to supply the whole
world and recruit our own resources by
the methods of trade that now obtain, be-
cause the minerals stored in the ground
do not recreate themselves. Once used
they are gone forever. We shall, with these
coming millions to provide for, be thrown
back upon the soil, the only resources Of
mankind that Is capable OF infinite renewal.
Upon the cultivation Of the soil depend the
future Of mankind and the nature and sta
bi1ity of its institutions
Things Worth Thinking About.
'"rhe costIiest error will be in clinging
to the deiusion that we are to continue to
incur our exports and to live upon the
profits of the fOre.gn market. The time Is
coming when we shall need our wheat. crop
for home consumption and seed, when our
mines will not yield. except rat increased
cost, the iron and coal required to manu-
facture commodities consumed at home.
and when the cheap labor of the orient
whose wages we cannot hope to meet.
equipped with our machinery. will vanquish
all competitors. To return to agriculture.
to a jealous care Of our land resources we
must come without delay II we are to es-
cape disaster.
Next in Importance to the soil comes
transportation. Already the growth Of our
commerce between. the Mississippi river
and the Atlantic coast finds itself delayed
and hampered for want Of additional lines
and terminal facilities. And throughout
the whole country there is rising call for
more tracks. more engines. more cars.
But money invested In railways expects
fair return, and It also expects the same
measure of protection that is accorded
other property.
1.-THE enormous pressure Of masses of
people seem to crush out the hope and en-
ergy and prosperity of large proportion
of them. and the great problem Of modern
progress. after all, is how to deal with this
tendency-how to prevent the forces Of adj
vancing social evolution from being de-
structive as well creative. This is the
problem of the nation, and it is, in a special
sense the problem of the northwest.