The Delta independent., 1907-03-07
THE NATIONS FUTURE
Continued fr,nn last Week.

Continued frnn last Week.
The people have neglected the preser-
walton of the soil. They take away all
and give nothing back. Thorough fer
tilization of the land has no place in the
general work on the American farm.
Average American agriculture means
the extraction from nature of the great
est immediate return at the lowest
possible outlay of labor or money. with
sublime disregard of consequences.
Except at scattered experiment stations
and in isolated instances there is little
done in the United States towards farm
economies. Scientific adaptation of soil
to product, intelligent rotation of crops.
diversification of industry, intensive
farming g-constitute the rare exception
and not the rule.
Only two states in the Union show an
average total value of farm products in
excess of $50 per acre of improved land.
The figure for Illinois in 1900 was sl2 IS;
for North Carolina, slO.72; for Min
hesota. 1914. BY proper cultivation
these returns could easily be doubled
and still leave the soils resources unim-
paired. The doubling of all products of
the farm would add to the wealth of
this country from 5000. OOO. 600 to
e, 000, ,0o0. 600 every year, according to
the crop yield of the season and the
range Of market prices. -.- - .
Therefore. and this is the focal point
Of the whole matter, the country is
approaching the inevitable advent of a
population of $50, 600, 600 or 200, ooO, 600
within the lifetime of those now grown
to mans estate. with potential food
supply that falls as the draft upon it
advances. How are these people to be
fed?
FOREIGN TRADE NO REsoUCE.
The foreign trade of the United States
has been made an object of more or
less solicitude and self-gratulation.
What we do is to export in immense
volumes two great schedules of COM
modities. One contains raw materials.
the products of the upper and the under
earth. 1t includes. adding articles like
flour. provisions and refined oil, which
are but one degree removed from the
raw state, changed in form for economy
OF transportation, three-fourths of our
entire exports of domestic commodities.
The treasury of our future is being
despoiled to swell the rapidly growing
riches of the day. The remaining thirty
per cent. or less, which is all that can
properly be classed as products of man.
ufacture. is this stored treasure in
another form. Exports of domestic
manufactures. constituting the term with
proper strictness, constitute trife
more than twenty per cent. of the total.
This pitiful showing in the markets
of the world where our people might
find occupation. where larger proper
tion of them must find it in the future
If all are to survive or remain, a show
ing that not even the endeavors of
boosters can improve, is the inevitable
consequence of a policy more destructive
than that of the spendthrift. Lest the
conditions of life should be made too
favorable for this people, its home
markets are surrendered, bound rigidly
by law, to the comparatively small
number who control domestic supplies
of raw material for manufacture, At
the same time the cost of production
effectually prevents the securing of any
considerable or permanent control in
the markets of the outer world, where
alone.our millions of tomorrow could
find outlet for this form of their activity.
IRRIGATION.
The single intelligent advance on
practical lines made by public authority
within the last quarter of a century is
the reclamation law. Initiated and paid
for by few western railway companies,
it provides for real addition to the
sources of food supply and the opportun-
ity for employment. But it is only
light breeze blowing in the face of a
cyclone. If every project contemplated
as feasible were executed, and if all
were completed instantly by the rub of
magic lamp, some 10000, 900 acres