Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-25
ANOTHER RECORD BREAKER.

The fiscal year ending June 30 was
another record breaker in the history
OF immigration. The total of new ar
rivals from various parts of the world
was 1,2s5,349. The figures for the pre-
ceding year were 1,100.735. and those
for 1905, which were the first to pass
the million mark. 1,026,499. For the
five fiscal years, 1909 TO 1907, the addi-
lions to our population by immigration
were 5,0s2,499 an unprecedented num-
Der for such a term, though 1t is to be
noted that there is a smaller stream
the other way and some loss by this
returning current which affects the
question of net increase. Another sig
nificant feature of the immigration
since the beginning of this century is
a change in the racial elements which
has put Russia, Italy and Austria Hun
gary far in the lead as contributors to
our immigrant population.
Immigration figures are fiuctuating.
There was, says the Chicago Record
Herald, pretty steady increase with
slight setbacks from 1874 to 1854, then
sudden drop. BY 1862 the immigra-
tion reached a very low point Then
there were large gains and some losses
till 1873, when the figure for 1874 was
passed for the first time. This record
was followed by another rapid decline,
but a quick recovery came. which sent
the figures from 1875. 469 in 1878 TO 1885,
500 in 1852.
President Hill, OF the Northern Pacific
railroad, has estimated that in less
than fifty years from now, this country
will have to take care of 200, 100000 pso-
pie. and that does not seem to be an
exaggerated estimate, considering the
rate at which the nation is growing.
How is this vast aggregation OF hum
anity 10 be employed, and how provided
for? Mr.. Hill has some practical sug-
gestlons ON this subject. He says;
only one-half OF the land In private
ownership is now tiled, That tillage
does not produce one-half of what the
land might be made 10 yield, without
losing an atom OF its fertility. YET the
waste OF our treasure has proceeded so
far, that the actual value OF the soil for
productive purposes has already dete-
rorated more than 1t should have done
in FIVE centuries Of use, There IL, ex-
cept in Isolated and individual cases,
little approaching intensive agriculture
ia the United States. There are only
the annual Swimming OF the rich cream,
the exhaustion OF virgin fertility, the
extraction from the earth by the most
rapid process of lts productive powers,
the deterioration of llfe's sole mainte-
nance And all this with that army OF
another hundred million people march
ing IN plain sight toward us. and ex-
pecting and demanding TO be fed.
Every farm properly cared foi
should be worth more money for each
year of It's life. The increase OF popu-
iation and demand, the growth of the
cities and markets, and the develop
ment OF diversified farming with densi-
~ OF settlement Even whore large
quantities OF new and fertile land arc
opened. these influences, together win
the lowest cost OF transportation In tho
world, should make the growth Of values
steady"
These are practical suggestions. win
proper development OF the possibilities
OF tho soil. there Is no reason why this
country should not take care Of IN,
millions who are heading this wa,
every year.