The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-07
Must Solve the Problem.

But these newcomers cannot De eX-
Guided. Labor was never as scarce,
wages were never as high as at the
present day. We cannot stop the IN
flow or check the natural increase. We
must determine, however, upon an
economy different from the present
when our population is approaching
three times what il was in 1900. Strik-
ing as has been found the contrast be-
tween 1850 and 1900, that between the
present and 1850 will reveal more Sc
rious features. Practically speaking,
our public lands are all occupied The
irrigation of land by the general gov
eminent will do something, but when
all the present plans are completed they
will furnish land for fewer than 1900
600 small farms of forty acres each, or
for a population of 7,000,000 or 5000. 600
people.
Back to the Soil.
Our other natural resources have
been exploited VIII a lavish hand. Our
exports of which we love to boast
consist mostly of the products of the
soil. Our iron and coal supplies will
begin to show signs of exhaustion be-
fore fifty years have passed. The for
mer, at the present rate of increasing
production, Will be greatly reduced.
Our forests ere rapidly going, our vast
supply Ol OH HO"S " lilt SIiuS
of the earth We cannot continue 10
supply the whole world and recruit our
own resources by the methods OF trade
that now obtain, because the minerals
stored in the ground do not re-create
themselves. Once used they are gone
forever We shall, with these coming
millions to provide for, be thrown back
upon the soil, the only resource of man
kind that is capable of infinite renewal
and that offers life for generation after
generation. The period of ransacking
the national stOrehOuse to see what can
be sent over seas and sold must be
changed to an era in which we shall
consider the preservation and improve
ment of what is, fundamentally, our
chief maintenance. For upon the cul-
tivation Of the soil all varied CONNER
cial activity. intrinsic or intact, is
mainly built; and upon it depend the
future of mankind and the nature and
stability of its institutions.
Going Backward.
I'm some things we are going back
ward. The soil of the country is being
| impoverished by careless treatment
! Forests are cut down that the sur
may bake it and the floods scour il
! into the ocean. 1t has been cropped
with the same grain year after year
until its productive power in some o.
/ the richest portions of the country ha!
deteriorated fully so per cent. Th'
census returns show an actual de
! crease in farm values in a large mum
Der of the states 1t is easily demon
| strated that a reform of methods o
cultivation would double the agricul
( tural production each year. adding t
the whole country from $4,000. 100000 t.
$1,000, 100000 TO the national wealth
| while the resort to small farms an,
the adoption of the intensive cultiva
ton would give an equal additional in
crease These are possibilities +
| which necessity will lend more per
| tinent and compelling aspect with tn
coming years of the present century
! The costliest error will be in cling
ing to the delusion that we are to con
| tinue to increase our exports and I
live upon the profits of the foreig1
| market The time is coming when "
shall need our wheat crop for hom
consumption and seed; when our mine
will not yield, except at increased cost
the iron and coal for consumption a
home, and when the cheap labor of tn
I.Orient, whose wages we cannot hope t
meet, equipped with our machinery an
with the patience and initiative IN
stinet there so highly developed Wi
vanquish all competition in every mar
ket.
There Is No Escape.
Though our trade was unshackle
from the legislative bonds that no.
prevent it's natural growth and free eS
pansion il would not offer us for Ion
| any other reliance than a broken reeC
Every nation that enjoys prosperit
and that exhibits healthy nations
vitality is rooted in the soil: and q
its other Industries aSe clustere